Malfuzat - Volume IX — Page 276
Malf uza t - English translation of Urdu Volume 9 276 with all your heart and soul. The British are a thousand times better than the Muslims who are your adversaries as they do not think that you merit being murdered. They do not wish to dishonour you. It was not too long ago that a [Christian] priest had brought a case of intent to murder against me in the court of Captain Douglas. That wise and just-minded Deputy Commissioner discovered that the case was completely false and fabricated. He, therefore, acquitted me with honour, rather gave me permission, if I so desired, to prosecute those who had made a false case against me to have them punished. So, it is clear from this example, how justly and equitably the British treat us. And remember that, in my opinion, there is no other issue that defames Islam more than the issue of jihad in Islam. The religion whose teaching is excellent; the religion that God has shown miracles to manifest its truth and is continuing to show them—what need does such a religion have for jihad? At the time of our Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, transgressors attacked Islam with the sword and desired to annihilate Islam with the sword. Therefore, those who wielded swords were indeed killed by the sword. So that war was only a defensive war. To spread such ideologies now without any basis, that some bloodthirsty Mahdi will come and capture the Christian kings are simply fictitious tales that have cor- rupted and hardened the hearts of the Muslims opposing me. And those who hold such beliefs are dangerous men, and such beliefs may, at some time, become the cause of mutiny for the ignorant; rather, they certainly will be. Therefore, I am striving to free Muslims from such beliefs. Remember, that religion cannot be from God in which there is no compassion for humanity. God has taught us to be