Malfuzat – Volume II — Page 164
164 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad gion? How will such people develop an inclination towards those who call them to religion? I am correct when I say that people have not contemplated as to why Christi- anity continues to plant itself into the people without anyone noticing. I have reflected on this matter deeply. I have found that everything at this time pushes people towards Christianity—especially when the Christian clergy have left no stone unturned in spreading their faith. They have employed every means for the propagation of their religion, irrespective of whether it is lawful or not. It is due to the effects of British fashion that now alcohol is consumed openly. There is nothing to restrain one from committing fornication; in fact, factors that en- courage and support this act continue to multiply. Though gambling is forbidden under the law, ways have been devised which for all intents and purposes bring it within the bounds of the law. Then, Christian women walk about unveiled and generally mix with unrelated men. This has caused such dangerous outcomes that many men enjoy walking in public with their wives unveiled. They raise objec- tions against the Muslims and assert that men and women have equal rights, so women should not be made to take the veil, arguing that this is cruel. The Islamic Veil To raise allegations against the Islamic concept of the veil is foolish on the part of these people. Allah the Exalted has not given any such instructions in relation to the veil that are objectionable. The Quran instructs Muslim men and women to lower their gaze. When both men and women do not cast glances at one another, both will remain protected. The Quran is not like the Gospel, which commands a person to not look with lust. It is regretful that the writer of the Gospel was unable to realise that a ‘lustful glance’ means nothing. It is the glance itself which arouses lustful thoughts in a person. The outcome of this teaching is not hidden to those who read the newspapers; they are probably aware of the utterly shameful displays that are reported to take place in London’s parks and Parisian hotels. The Islamic veil does not at all mean that women be imprisoned as though they were locked in jail. The purport of the Holy Quran is that women cover them- selves and refrain from gazing at men that are beyond the permissible bounds. Women are not barred from leaving the house to tend to their societal needs. They are welcome to go out and about, but must control their gaze. Islam has made no distinction between men and women in acts of virtue, nor