Life of Ahmad — Page 434
434 CHAPTER 43 AHMAD as NEVER WISHED ILL When the priests saw that his words had power over men and that those who heard him were affected, they said to the people, 'Listen not to his words, nor read his books; for he hath all this from Satan and, turneth the hearts of men by magic and causeth falsehood to appear as truth. ' Christian missionaries said: 'This man dishonoureth Jesus', Muslim priests strove to excite the multitude against him by saying, 'This man blasphemeth,' for they were afraid that if they did not oppose him, the people would leave them and follow him. They invented falsehoods concerning him, and circulated handbills in which they abused him in most offensive terms, and discovered new and ingenious modes of persecuting him, such as had not been thought of by the enemies of previous Prophets. These things, however, did not interfere with him and he went on working as God commanded. He preached during the day and prayed during the night, beseeching God to have mercy on mankind and to reveal His face unto them. Thus day followed day and