Hazrat Ahmad — Page 17
HADHRAT AHMAD 17 should take place. This state of affairs continued until the missionaries were convinced that the governance of India belonged to British crown and not the missionaries and that Queen Victoria's. Government was not at all in favor of spreading Christianity by the power of the sword and causing an affront to the religious sentiments of any section of the people. . In short, at that time relations between the Muslims and the. Christians were under excessive strain, and the civility of the missionaries was extended only to those who reacted to their propaganda in a spirit of assent. Against those who questioned it their wrath knew no bounds. Yet the probity, sincerity and piety of. Ahmad had created a very favorable impression upon the Rev. Mr. . Butler, the Missionary at Sialkot, in spite of the fact that Ahmad entertained a very jealous regard for his own faith and deferred to no opponent in the field of religious controversy. Mr. Butler knew that he had no chance of winning over his rival to his own faith, that on the contrary it was possible that he himself might be won over by his rival. He may even have resented the intellectual superiority of his rival. In spite of all this Mr. Butler could not help according him treatment which was not accorded to other religious opponents. This was strikingly demonstrated when Mr. Butler was about to depart for England. He called at the Deputy. Commissioner's office and on the latter's enquiry told him that his purpose was to say goodbye to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. On being directed, he went straight to him, sat and talked with him awhile and then bade him farewell. . Resignation of Appointment. Ahmad remained in his appointment for four years but with the utmost reluctance. At last, with the consent of his father, he forthwith tendered his resignation and returned home. Then at the request of his father he began to look after the lawsuits connected with the family estate. But his mind was never in the work. His sense of filial obedience persuaded him to carry out his father's wishes, but he felt no interest in his occupation. At times when he returned home after having lost a case his face looked so cheery that people supposed that the case had been decided in his favor, till enquiry revealed the contrary. On being asked the reason for his cheerfulness he would say that he had done his part of the work and the result was as God had determined it to be, but now that the