A Gift for the Queen — Page 12
12 HADRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMAD use of another; similarly, when an objective can be attained one way, the other way of achieving it automatically becomes dormant. For the same purposes, I take it as my duty to take advantage of the freedom granted by the British rule concerning religious discussions, and call upon the Islamic zealots to stop their unwar- ranted thoughts and inclinations. Muslim masses were waiting for a militant messiah , and were also waiting for a militant mahdi. These beliefs are so dangerous that a fabricator and liar can drown a world in blood by claiming to be the promised Mahdi, because Muslims have a tendency to this day to be ready to join any mendi- cant inviting to jihad. They probably cannot have such fidelity even to a king. Allah desired that such wrong thoughts be erased, and so by giving me the titles of the Promised Messiah and the Promised Mahdi, He clarified to me that waiting for a militant Mahdi or a militant Messiah is a totally wrong notion. Rather, God desires to spread the truth in the world through heavenly signs. Therefore, my principle is that the kingdoms of the world belong to the worldly kings, we do not have anything to do with their empires or wealth. The heavenly kingdom is ours. But it is necessary to also convey the message to the kings with goodly intent and true sympathy. As for this British government, since we can live peacefully under this government, it is our duty to go further and pray for its present and its future. Alas, ever since I conveyed to the Indian Muslims that no mili- tant mahdi or militant messiah is to appear in the world, and that instead a person was to come in peace and I am that person, the ignorant mullahs have turned against me. They consider me an infidel and outside the faith. It is surprising that these people relish the bloodshed of humans even though it is not the teaching