Malfuzat – Volume II — Page 193
193 the Hindus and Sikhs thought that the British would also maintain a ban on the Muslim call to Prayer being made loudly, or like them, would cut off the hand of someone who injured a cow. Anyway, this muezzin who had loudly made the call to Prayer was apprehended. A large mob formed and the man was brought before the Deputy Commissioner. Distinguished chiefs and notables gathered and said: ‘Sir, our food has become polluted and our utensils have been defiled. ’ When the Englishman heard these things, he was greatly astonished as to how a call to Prayer could be so potent as to contaminate food items. He told the head clerk to not move this case forward without a proper investigation. Hence, he instructed the muezzin to make the call to Prayer again, but the muezzin was fearful of committing a second offence. However, when he was assured, he sounded the call to prayer with the same vigour as before. The esteemed officer said: ‘I, for one, have not been harmed in any way by this call to Prayer. ’ He asked the head clerk: ‘Have you been harmed in any way?’ ‘Truly,’ said the head clerk, ‘I have not been harmed either. ’ In the end, the muezzin was released and he was told: ‘You are free to make the call to Prayer as you wish. ’ Indeed! Allah is the greatest! What a shining example of freedom! What a grand favour of God Almighty! Now, after such goodness and favour any heart that still does not appreciate the kindness of this, the British government, is an ungrateful, treacherous heart that ought to be cut out of a person’s chest and thrown away. Religious Freedom Even in my very own village where our mosque is situated, there used to be an area occupied by government officials. This was during my childhood days, but I have heard from credible sources that when the British assumed rule, for some days the old laws prevailed. A certain official was in the area and he was accompa- nied by a Muslim soldier who came to the mosque and told the muezzin to make the call to Prayer. The muezzin made the call for prayer in the same murmuring voice as he was accustomed, to which the soldier said: ‘Is this how you make the call to Prayer?’ ‘Yes,’ said the muezzin. ‘No’, the soldier responded, ‘climb onto the roof of the mosque and make the call to Prayer in a loud voice; and do so in the loudest possible voice. ’ The muezzin was apprehensive, but then he finally made the call to Prayer in a resonating voice. All the Hindus got together and took hold of the mullah. The poor man was petrified and was worried that the officer would hang him. The soldier reassured him saying: ‘I am with you. ’ Ultimately, the cruel,