Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 112
112 AHMADIYY AT been even as your Lordship thinks, it could not have been a good ground for hatred and the cessation of friendly relations, for the Holy Bible inculcates love towards enemies. Tr,eat111ent of this nature towards an adversary cannot be expected from the fol- lowers of any religion, not to say anything of a Christian and especially of a Church dignitary, whose duty it is not only himself. to act upon Matt. 5:44, but also to teach that doctrine to the laity and to preach it to the non-Christians. But I may assure you that Mirza Sahib does not assert that he isJesus Christ in person, but one coming in that Prophet's spirit and character and preaching after his manner, as John came in the spirit and power of Elias. More- over, the Muslims honour Jesus as a true and eminent prophet and the Mirza Sahib, being the foremost Muslim of his day, does so pre-eminently, whereas millions of people who do not profess the Christian or Muslim faith do not look upon him even as a prophet and thus offer the greatest affront to his dignity, and your lordship must often, I suppose, have come into contact with such persons. Yet, I do not think that your Lordship has ever expressed the same feeling of hatred towards them as you have expressed towards Mirza Sahib in your letter. In conclusion it was stated: When this matter was referred to the Mirza Sahib and he was asked whether, as your Lordship had declined to meet him in a friendly way, he too was disposed to entertain similar feelings towards your Lordship, he gave the following reply: 'I do not look upon anyone in the world as my enemy. I hate not individuals but the false beliefs they entertain. As regards indivi- ~uals, my feelings towards them are of the utmost sympathy and goodwill. How can I then regard anyone as my enemy who enjoys. respectability among his co-religionists and is honoured for his position and learning? I love him though I do not like his doctrines, but my hatred towards these doctrines extends only so far as the attributes of God are ascribed to human beings, and human faults and weaknesses are ascribed to the Lord of the universe. I am not averse to meeting his Lordship in a friendly way, for it is possible that either party may reap some advantage from the other, as the seed of sincerity must bear fruit. It is the first requisite in the performance of a person's duties as a reformer or a preacher that he should receive those who hold views differing from his own in the most cordial and cheerful manner. In truth, I would not only be