“All sincere souls who have entered the fold of this humble one should know that the purpose of pledging allegiance is to dampen the worldly ardour, so that the heart is engulfed in the love of the Bountiful God and of the Holy Prophetsa, and to develop such a state of detachment that the Final Journey does not seem an unwelcome prospect.
“But in order to achieve this, it is necessary to stay in my company and to spend a portion of one’s life in this cause, so that—if God Almighty so wills—through witnessing some definite signs, weakness, infirmity and tardiness may be overcome and perfect faith may be born, resulting in fervour and passionate ardour. One should always strive to achieve this goal and pray that God may grant this opportunity. Until this happens, it is essential to meet me now and then. Bai‘at is devoid of all blessings and is a mere formality if one does not care to meet me.”
(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, The Heavenly Decree, p.73)