A Present to Kings — Page 33
( 33. Mussalmans themselves become an obstacle in their path, because the lives of the latter are not such a view of which would induce a man to accept Islam. Thus the harm which. Islam is suffering from the Mussalmans is more than what it is suffering from strangers. . Precept alone can never produce the same effect on man as example. There was a time when, as soon as any person heard about Islam, he at once felt a love for it, though many were deterred from openly joining it out of regard for worldly connections. But when they had once seen a Mussalman, they ceased to regard all worldly obstacles and accepted Islam in thousands. A study of Indian history will show that in India the spread of Islam was effected through the means of Hazrat. Moin-ud-Din Chisti (may the mercy of God be on him) and his Khalifahs. But to-day things have been quite reversed. . There are many persons who, after they have made a study of Islam, wish to embrace the faith. But it is in the nature of man that he wishes to see examples. Such men, therefore, before they accept Islam wish to see the condition of the. Mussalmans. But when they go to any Islamic country and see the indifference, the indolence and the indulgence in crimes on the part of the Mussalmans, their minds feel a revulsion to. Islam. In short, whereas in the early days of Islam the. Mussalmans served to illustrate the greatness of Islam, to-day the existence of the Mussalmans has proved a great obstacle to the progress of Islam which thwarts thousands of good souls from accepting its truth. . For instance, it has been learnt from a reliable source that there was a certain Englishman who made a study of the principles of Islam and resolved to accept the faith. He was already convinced of the truth of the religion, but then the idea occurred to him that he should take a trip to some Islamic country and see for himself the condition of the Mussalmans and the practical example of Islam presented by them. With this object in view he arrived at the capital of a Muslim State. . But unfortunately it so happened that it was then the time of the festival of Muharram, and the inhabitants of the city were