UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE

becoming His true worshipper. The supplementary requirements refer to the laws given for external life, which guide the behavior of believers in various situations and contexts. The fundamental requirement is always desired from every person in every situation and remains unaffected by time or circumstances. This is the core and most significant achievement for a person in this world, and attaining it is the highest form of success. In contrast, secondary requirements are desired based on circumstances, and the degree of responsibility for them varies with one’s sphere of influence. If the contextual relationship exists, then that requirement will also be necessarily sought, like the fundamental requirement. However, if the context does not exist, then believers bear no responsibility regarding that command. Therefore, the difference between the essential and supplementary aspects is simply a distinction in the type of command—i.e., when a particular command is needed. Once something becomes obligatory, there is no difference in terms of fulfilling the requirement. The conceptual shift I’ve described above fundamentally alters how one perceives a religious ‘mission.’ The element that serves as the unifying principle of a whole holds the position that if it comes into existence, it is as though everything else has also come into existence.