Malfuzat - Volume IX — Page 56
Malf uza t - English translation of Urdu Volume 9 56 in the most aggressive of manners, yet—taking into account the freedom it has afforded to the Christians to rebut other reli- gions and propagate their faith—being under their protection, we have the same right, and their innate [sense of ] justice has not inclined to violate this equality, and has provided everyone the full freedom to propagate their religion. Moreover, something even more amazing than this is that when a gentlemanly priest filed a case against me alleging conspiracy to murder, the Government demonstrated its per- fect standard of justice. If there had been any grudge against me, this was an excellent opportunity to cause me grief, but I observed that no preferential treatment was shown to this gen- tlemanly priest over me. The District Magistrate addressed me respectfully and continued to provide me a chair [to be seated respectfully]. Eventually, when he became well aware that case was brought against me purely out of mischief and was utterly false, he stated that he could not be so dishonourable as to pun- ish me, so he acquitted me with honour. 1 This behaviour is not unique to me alone; rather, equal rights are available to all. Even if I had not experienced this personally, I still find much cause to express gratefulness. In addition to this, it is clear that God Almighty does not grant a nation so much ascendancy, and so many victories over foreign lands unless it possesses excellence. And it is manifestly evi- dent that if this Government was not here at this time, every- one would perish fighting one another. This is such an impar- tial arbitrator that through its justice and prestige it has saved 1. From Badr : ‘I have heard that he was presented with recommendations to act [unfairly] against me, but he responded that he could not be so dishonourable as to punish a respectable person who is innocent. Thus, he acquitted me with honour and congratulated me in the court. ’ ( Badr, vol. 6, no. 3, p. 8, dated 17 January 1907)