Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 296
296 AHMADIYY AT any time that Islam has been vanquished, if it sees at any time that those who deny me have overcome those who believe in me, then you may conclude that I was an impostor. But if that which I tell you is proved true, then reflect what would be your end, in that you heard the voice of God through my tongue and yet you did not accept it. The meeting at Ludhiana was held on 23 March 1944. On this occasion there was very turbulent opposition to the holding of the meeting. Processions were taken out and all sorts of derisive speeches were made and slogans were shouted against the Khalifatul Masih and the Movement. In the course of his speech he stated: Weare not angry with those who have mocked at that which God Almighty has said. We supplicate God for them and pray: 'What- ever these people have done, they have done out of ignorance and lack of knowledge, forgetting the teachings of the Holy Prophet; peace be on him. Forgive them, Lord, and guide them, and open their hearts to the acceptance of the truth so that as they have ridiculed the faith today, I may be privileged to see them pressing forward to make sacrifices for the faith. '. . . People of Ludhiana, you have opposed me and I pray for you. You have desired my death, and I desire life for you. I have before me the example of my master, Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, peace be on him. When he went to Taif to convey the divine message to the people ofTaif, he was pelted with stones and was expelled from the town while his body was bleeding at several places. In this situation an angel approached him under divine direction and said: 'I could overturn this town if you would so desire. ' But my master, Muhammad, the Chosen one, peace be on him, may my father and mother, and my soul, and every particle of my body be his sacrifice, said: 'No, not so. These people are foolish and ignorant and that is why they persecute me. If they were to be destroyed, then who would be left to believe?' So people of Ludhiana, who have desired my death, I have brought the message of eternal life to you; the message of a life after which there is no death. I have brought you the message of the pleasure of God Almighty, after winning which man experiences no suffering. I am sure that today's opposition will open the hearts