Life of Ahmad — Page 781
as THE WHITE MINARET 781 How can a Muslim be displeased with a mosque and the construction of its minaret? Hindus not only here but throughout British India can never be pleased with the construction of mosques on account of their religions’ differences. Therefore no notice should be taken of the displeasure of the opposite party (15) Mosques and their minarets are pillars of religion which are properly respected and honoured even by the Government. When the observance of ordinary customs devised by common people themselves is not interfered with, how then can religious matters and their enforcement be interfered with? It may be further added that to say that the mosque Minaret is going to be a place of amusement for sightseers is an insult to the mosque and an insult to our religion. A mosque is not a place of amusement. The Minaret is built for three purposes: Adh a n , light and a clock for indicating the times of prayer. Mosques are the places of worship, to call them places of amusement is an insult and deception. To turn mosques into places of amusement is a sin with us. ' In spite of all these reasons the Tahsildar, Mot i R a m, made on 12th May, 1903, an adverse report to the Deputy Commissioner who was happily a sensible man. He understood the situation and passed his final orders on 13th May, 1903, to the effect that there was