A Gift for the Queen — Page 28
28 HADRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMAD can say that this teaching consists of two main purposes. First, to recognize the One God as He in reality exists. To love Him and to put oneself in His true obedience as is the requirement of obedi- ence and love. The second purpose is to engage all capabilities in the service and well-wishing of his people and to treat grate- fully and beneficially everyone—from a king down to an ordinary person—who has done us any favour. That is why a true Muslim, who in reality is aware of his faith, always has a demeanour of sincerity and obedience towards the government under whose shadow of security he lives peacefully. The difference in religion does not hinder him from its true obedience and compliance. But the priests have completely misunderstood this matter and have surmised that Islam teaches its followers to have ill-will, enmity and a blood-thirsty attitude towards other nations. We can accept that the practical condition of some Muslims is not good and as some people of other religions commit unworthy acts by involving themselves in wrong thoughts, such people are also found among Muslims. But as I pointed out, this is not a fault of the teaching of God. Rather, it is because of the faulty attitude of those who do not ponder over the Word of God and are under the influ- ence of their passions. In particular, the matter of jihad, which was conditional upon specific circumstances, has been misunderstood by the unwise and the ignorant so much so that they have moved far away from the Islamic teachings. Islam does not teach us at all that, being the subjects of a ruler of a foreign nation and foreign religion, and living under him in peace from every enemy, we entertain thoughts of malice and mutiny in our hearts. Rather it teaches us that if we do not thank the king under whom we live in peace then we have not even thanked God. The teaching of Islam