Courtesy: S.S. Ahmad, Boise ID

In the November issue of the Al-Fazl, Qadian, Hadhrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad, ra), son of the Promised Messiah (AS) wrote an article in Urdu with the heading, “The month of Ramadan has a special effect in purifying one’s self. Members of the Jama‘at should take its full advantage.” In his article, he enumerated weaknesses and asked members to choose one and strive to get rid of it during the course of the month and be completely free of it by the end of the month. Here we rewrite those weaknesses in English for the benefit of the English-speaking members.

1.       Procrastination/laziness in offering obligatory Salat.

2.       Laziness in offering Salat in congregation.

3.       Not offering Salat behind an Imam or stopping to offer Salat behind an Imam due to a disagreement with the Imam.

4.       Being careless with regard to proper cleanliness associated with Salat.

5.       Laziness in offering Sunnah.

6.       Laziness in offering Tahajjud.

7.       Laziness in keeping fast, that is, not keeping fast because of frivolous excuses without any credible reason.

8.       Laziness in making up or paying Fidya (prescribed alms) in lieu of missed fasts.

9.       Laziness in paying Zakat despite being obligated to.

10.   Laziness in searching and finding to confirm the obligation to pay Zakat.

11.   Laziness in paying the Jama‘at dues according to the prescribed rates.

12.   Laziness in paying Jama‘at dues regularly and on time.

13.   Laziness in the promulgation of Wasiyyat (willing at least 1/10th of income and property to community for spending in the cause of Islam) despite being able to.

14.   Laziness in making proper arrangements for the payment of obligations of Wasiyyat (willing at least 1/10th of income and property to community for spending in the cause of Islam) despite knowing that there can be a dispute after one’s death.

15.   Laziness in obtaining the higher level of Wasiyyat (willing at least 1/10th of income and property to community for spending in the cause of Islam) despite being able to.

16.   Laziness in inviting people towards Allah.

17.   Laziness in paying proper attention towards the training of the members of the family, neighbors, and friends.

18.   Laziness in initiating, or continuing regularly, the readings of the Holy Qur’an or the readings of the books of the Promised Messiah, ‘alaihissalam, in one’s home.

19.   Laziness in making Salat a habit of your children, and laziness in taking them to the Masjid.

20.   Laziness in taking significant part and interest in local activities of the Jama‘at.

21.   Not paying proper attention to and carelessness in adequate obedience to the local amir or president.

22.   Laziness in visiting the (worldwide) Center again and again and in taking advantage of the blessings of Khilafat.

23.   Laziness in prescribing to Jama‘at publications such as Al-Fazl and other papers and magazines from Center despite being able to.

24.   Laziness and carelessness, or showing favor, in reporting the accusations of mischief mongers and hypocrites after hearing them.

25.   To abstain from giving the true witness due to relationship or friendship.

26.   To tell a lie.

27.   To make baseless accusations.

28.   Being unemployed. That is, despite being able and fit to work, wasting one’s time unemployed by not accepting a job considering it lowly in status or wages.

29.   Despite being able to give services for voluntary work to the community, and despite having time to serve, not presenting your services and wasting your time uselessly.

30.   Waywardness of eyes.

31.   Misuse of human energy and resource.

32.   Breaking the limits of sexual segregation.

33.   Misdealing. Delaying the payment of debts or delaying the returning of borrowed property. Postponing the payment or return of property with weak and false excuses.

34.   Swearing. Use of uncultured and immoral language while angry.

35.   Smoking.

36.   Other unhealthy uses of tobacco, as an example, eating tobacco as condiment or snorting tobacco.

37.   Shaving beard against shari‘ah under the influence of the contemporary culture.

38.   To wed against the teachings of the Promised Messiah, ‘alaihissalam.

39.   To wed outside of the community without due permission from the center.

40.   To offer funeral services against the teachings of the community.

41.   Laziness in performing Hajj despite having the means and despite fulfilling other prescribed conditions.

42.   Laziness in service and obedience of the Parents.

43.   Being rude or harsh to the spouse or being lazy in their service.

44.   Taking bribe.

45.   Giving bribe.

46.   Dishonesty or laziness in the discharge of assigned responsibility.

47.   Drinking or using drugs.

48.   To take or give interest…

49.   Misuse or dishonest use of the property of orphans.

50.   Laziness or carelessness in the upbringing of orphans.

51.   Unwarranted harshness or cruelty to servants.

52.   Habit of suing. Suing for superficial reasons. Suing despite having other avenues open.

53.   Laziness and procrastination. Ignoring and not recognizing the value of time and thus being lazy and sluggish at work.

54.   Being spendthrift, that is, to spend more than the income.

55.   Wasting time in useless and damaging games like chess, cards, etc.

56.   Waste in food and waste of food.

57.   Unwarranted love of children.

58.   Mistrust. Searching for bad intentions in every action of others.

59.   Unnecessary crying or wailing on the death of friends or relatives.

60.   Spending more than one’s resources on weddings.

61.   Being brave in taking loans and/or taking loans for insignificant and unnecessary expenditures.