Life of Ahmad — Page 523
as PT. LEKHR A M’S DEATH 523 The excitement of the Hindus can be judged from the fact that the above newspaper remarked that the Hindus started to threaten even Christians in this connection. Ahmad as issued several leaflets to counteract the evil effect of the mischievous propaganda carried on by the Hindus. He was grateful to God for the conclusive manner in which He had vindicated his honour. It was a victory for Islam. But he was sorry for Pt. Lekhr a m. He was a humanitarian in the true sense of the word. He was grieved at the affliction which had overtaken a fellow-being. He declared most sincerely and solemnly that he would have done everything to save the unfortunate victim if it had been in his power to do so. The spectacle of human suffering always distressed him. As a matter of fact, it was his heart’s sole ambition to serve his fellow- beings and save them from the wrath of the Divine Being. He recalled how Pt. Lekhr a m had once come across him when, about a year before the murder, Ahmad as was performing his ablutions in a small mosque at Lahore and Lekhr a m happened to come there and stood watching him. He regretted that he did not have the opportunity at that time of speaking to Lekhr a m. He might have listened to Ahmad as if he had been left alone. But it was not to be. He had transgressed beyond all limits and the question was no longer that of an individual, the honour of Islam was at stake. Surely no amount of individual feeling could justify the sacrifice of truth upon which depends the