Two Forms of Devotion

There are two forms of devotion: one is mandatory, the other is supereroga­tory.

Mandatory devotion is that from which the benefit is limited to one person, that is, to the performer of that devotion, whether it be canoni­cal prayers [ namaz], fasting, pilgrimage to Arabia, invocations [wazaaif], repetitions of the rosary [tasbih], or the like.

But supererogatory devotion is that which brings benefit and comfort to others, whether through the expenditure of money or demonstration of compassion or other ways of helping one's fellow man. Such actions are called supererogatory devotion. Their re­ward is incalculable; it is limitless.

In mandatory devotion one must be sincere to merit divine acceptance, but in supererogatory devotion even one's lapses become a source of reward! May God grant success!

Hazrat Nizam-uddin Aulia Mehboob-e-Elahi , RA, Morals for the Heart