Life of Ahmad — Page 504
PLEADINGS WITH SCRIBES as 504 sides. Torrents of abuse were poured forth on him. His enemies were implacably vindictive and malevolent. Ahmad as bore every personal insult with perfect dignity. He had no fear. His courage was singularly cool and imperturbable. Nor was he at any time actuated by spite. He was at peace with all the world. He despised the mean arts and unreasonable clamours of demagogues adopted by his opponents. He could not be a traitor to God and betray the trust that He had placed in him. Therefore he carried on his great work with a vigour and determination that knew no hesitation and recognised no obstacle. Hitherto Ahmad as had hesitated in inviting his co- religionists to Mub a hala. There is no doubt that he was allowed to do so by God towards the end of 1892. By that time the mullahs had declared him to be an infidel, and he only wanted to convince them that he was a Muslim and not a kafir. Now the position was different. In spite of his vigorous defence of Islam, the mullahs not only disowned him but also made common cause with the enemies of Islam and poured abuse and ridicule upon him. He had done his best to settle domestic differences by means of debates and conferences in a quiet and reasonable manner but the mullahs would not have a clean and straight fight with him. The only resort left to him, therefore, was to invite them all to a Mub a hala to convince them that he was not an impostor. By rejecting him the mullahs were also rejecting the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet sa. Had they believed in Muhammad sa , they