Malfuzat - Volume IX — Page 332
332 MALFŪZĀT - ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF URDU VOLUME 9 [Ahmadiyya] Movement. But do not imagine that there is any bravery from your side in not making a mistake. Not at all. This also is a blessing of God Almighty that you did not fall into error; otherwise, many great and learned scholars and maulawis have faltered at this juncture. ¹ AUGUST 19072 It is Not Permissible for Everyone to Investigate A person submitted: 'I sell sugar at a shop in a village. Sometimes, boys or the servants and employees of the landlords bring cotton or wheat or something similar and barter it for merchandise, as is the general prac- tice in villages; but some boys or servants bring these things without the knowledge of the owner. Is it permissible to give the merchandise in this situation or not?' The Promised Messiahas replied: When it is certain that an item is stolen property then to take it is impermissible, but to put oneself into undue suspi- cion is an undesirable act. To investigate such matters, and for no reason prove someone as a thief, is not the prerogative of the shopkeeper. If the shopkeeper will engage himself in such 1. Badr, vol. 6, no. 32, p. 8-9, dated 8 August 1907; see also al-Hakam, vol. 11, no. 29, p. 11, dated 17 August 1907 2. Only August 1907 is written on this diary. It is estimated that these dis- courses are from a date during the period of 2-5 August. Allah knows best. (Compiler)