THE FORTY-EIGHTH DISCOURSE On what the believer must attend to

It beseems a believer that he should first attend to the obligatory duties, and when he has accomplished them he should attend to the Sunnah or the practice of the Holy Prophet. It is only when he has finished with these that he should take to the optional and extra duties. When a man has not performed his obligatory duties, if he attends to the Sunnah it will be foolishness and stupidity, and if he attends to the Sunnah and nafal or supererogatory duties before he has performed his obligatory duties it will not be accepted of him and he will be abased. His example is like the example of a man who is asked by the king to serve him but he does not come to him (the king) but stays to serve the chief who is the slave of the king, and his servant, and is under his power and sovereignty. It is reported by Hazrat Ali, son of Abu Talib (God be pleased with him), that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The instance of a man who says supererogatory prayers while he is in arrears with regard to his obligatory prayers is like the instance of a pregnant woman who carries, but when she approaches the time of delivery she aborts. Thus she no longer remains pregnant nor does she become a mother." Similar is the case of the praying man from whom God does not accept supererogatory prayers so long as he has not performed his obligatory prayers. Also, the instance of a man who prays is like that of a business man who cannot have any profit unless he has first laid his hand on the capital. Similarly, if a man says supererogatory prayers, these will not be accepted of him unless he has first attended to his obligatory prayers. The same is the case of one who discards the Sunnah and takes to supererogatory prayers such as have not been included in the obligatory duties, nor have they been clearly stated and emphasised by any order. So among the obligatory duties is the discarding of unlawful things, of associating anything with God, of taking exception to His dispensation and decrees, of responding to the voice of people and following their wishes, and of turning away from the commandment of God and from obedience to Him. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said: "No obedience is due to any man where sinning against God is involved."