The Light of the Holy Qur'an — Page 81
T H e J O u r NA l—F AT e H M A S IH T H e J O u r NA l—F AT e H M A S IH 81 would have undoubtedly interacted with His Eminence respect- fully and courteously. Human governments have no recourse but to render obeisance and deference to Divine Government. Are you unaware that the Byzantine Emperor —who was a Christian monarch during the time of the Holy Prophet s as , and was no less in grandeur than this government— proclaimed that if he could have the good fortune to remain in the company of that Magnificent Prophet, he would have occupied himself with the washing of his feet? This felicitous government would have certainly said the very same statement that the Byzantine Emperor said; nay, rather it would say even greater than this! If you can prove that even a lowly landlord of the time had uttered these words with regard to the Messiah that the Byzantine Emperor uttered with regard to the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him—which are preserved to this day recorded in highly accurate historic accounts and authentic a ha d i th —then I shall give you one thousand rupees cash as a reward right now. However, if you are unable to furnish this evi- dence, then death ought to be better for you than such an abased life because I have proven that the Byzantine Emperor was equal in status to this government; rather, history shows that there was no other power in the world equal to his power at that time— whereas our government has not reached such a status. Still, when the Caesar, with all of his majesty, heaves a sigh and proclaims that had he been able to reach that Hallowed and August Personage s as [the Holy Prophet], he would have washed his feet —would this government have done any less? I assert with full conviction that this government would have felt honoured to kneel at the feet of such a king [as the Holy Prophet], for this government does not