Blessings of Khilafat — Page 84
84 antagonism that we had suffered under the Sikh rule when we came under the aegis of the British government. ’ He also asks, who were our saviours when we were being cruelly treated by the Sikhs. Was it the Turks who came to our help? No! They were the English. At the time of the Sikh rule, people kept their religion secret and yet they were scared. But, today we declare our faith openly. One need not go into detail regarding the religious persecutions that were in existence before; let alone offering prayers in mosques, one could not even say God’s name in his own house. But the British government has given us such freedom that Muslim employees are allowed to build mosques within the bona fide premises of their offices and railway stations. It is sad though that the Muslims have let this reward go to waste due to their own foolishness. Having raised the ill-timed question of permanent allotment of the given land to mosques, they have forced the government to deprive them of this freedom in the future, thereby keeping the premises of its bona fide offices and railway stations from becoming havens for religious conflicts. Such facilities would have increased in the future if the Muslims had not raised unnecessary hue and cry, and the day was not far when the Muslim employees in every office could have attained the great reward of offering prayers in congregation. In short, the British government has done us so many favours. We are leading a peaceful and comfortable life, freely discharging our religious obligations. Our biggest responsibility is to propagate our faith, and for that we have been granted every freedom. We can propagate in whatever part of the country we want. Should we ever need to travel to other countries for this purpose, the British government extends its help to us in those countries as well. Should we have to accept, though I