Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part IV — Page 11
The Perilous Condition of the Muslims & the British Government 11 Muslims who can sympathize even for their own faith—just tell me how such a nation can progress? 1 َّنِا َهّٰللا اَل ُرِّيَغُي اَم ٍمْوَقِب ىّٰتَح اْوُرِّيَغُي اَم ْمِهِسُفْنَاِب Sympathy for the faith is to be found among the affluent of every reli- gion, except for the Muslims. Yes indeed, there is only an insignificant minority among wealthy Muslims who feel even an iota of concern for their true and holy religion. A short while ago, my humble self had appealed to a naww a b who is of a very pious nature, righteous, renowned for his scholarly excellences, and is very knowledgeable of the commands of Allah and His Messenger, for a donation towards the book Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya. It would not have been a matter of regret if the esteemed naww a b had written back saying that in his opinion the book is not of such a stand- ard that would merit his help. However, initially the esteemed gentle- man wrote to me that he would certainly buy fifteen to twenty copies of the book, but when he was reminded of it, he said that it was con- trary to the desires of the British government to purchase or to make any contribution towards books pertaining to religious debates, and so I should not entertain any hope that his State would be making a purchase or helping in any other way. So, I too do not place any hope in the naww a b. The Benevolent God alone is my hope and He indeed is sufficient. (May the British government be well-pleased with the naww a b. ) But I wish to say with all due respect, that such notions are a sugar-coated critique of the Government. It is not a principle of the British government to stop anyone from proving the truth of his religion or from giving a donation [for the publication] of religious books. The Government would only inter- vene if a piece of writing disrupts the peace or is subversive to the State. 1. Surely, Allah changes not the condition of a people until they change that which is in their hearts ( S u rah ar-Ra‘d, 13:12). [Publisher]