Life of Ahmad — Page 767
as JIHAD 767 purpose? Can such faith have Divine origin as teaches its adherents the murder of guiltless human beings quite ignorant of its doctrines and excellences and then regards these inhuman deeds as leading to paradise? What a shameful and ignominious deed that we should shed the blood of a guiltless being who is neither at enmity with us, nor is he known to us and who is perhaps at the time buying something for his children at a merchant’s or is engaged in some other business of his own!' Referring to the circumstances under which jihad was permitted Ahmad as says: 'I have already stated that our Prophet sa did not take the initiative in the early Islamic wars. He suffered persecution at the hands of the unbelievers for a long time and showed extraordinary forbearance under these trials. His Companions also trod in his footsteps and showed such fortitude and patience as they had been commanded to show, under the severest pains. They were trampled under feet and submitted with calmness. Their children were torn into pieces and they were tortured with fire and boiling water, but they bore everything with patience and refrained from retaliation as if they were innocent children. One would in vain turn the pages of history to find a similar instance of forbearance and withdrawal from resistance notwithstanding power of revenge,