Malfuzat - Volume VIII — Page 122
Malf uza t - English translation of Urdu Volume 8 122 Even in the future, as Islam progresses, it shall do so by follow- ing this same path and no other. Thus, since the sword was never drawn to propagate Islam, it is sinful even to entertain such an idea now, especially when everyone is living in peace and plenty of means and wherewithal are available to propagate one’s faith. I am immensely saddened at having to say that the Christians and other detractors have never tried to consider the facts before launching attacks on Islam. If they had, they would have understood that all the enemies were out to anni- hilate Islam and the Muslims at that time. They had all joined forces to conspire against Islam and persecute the Muslims. Confronted with such pain and anguish, what other recourse was left to the Muslims but to save their lives? Referring to this, the Holy Quran says: 1 َنِذُا َنْيِذَّلِل َنْوُلَتٰقُي ْمُهَّنَاِب اْوُمِلُظ َنِذُا َنْيِذَّلِل َنْوُلَتٰقُي ْمُهَّنَاِب اْوُمِلُظ This shows that when the cruelties perpetrated against the Muslims crossed all limits, then and only then were they permit- ted to fight back in self-defence. This permission was granted specifically to confront the situation which prevailed at that time and was not for every other situation. Accordingly, the hallmark given for the arrival of the Promised Messiah was: ُ یَضَع ُ یَضَع َ َالْـحَرْب الْـحَرْب [ ya d a‘ul- h arb —that he would abolish religious war]. The proof of the authenticity of the Promised Messiah is that he would not wage religious wars. The reason is indeed that the opponents have also stopped waging religious wars in this age. The confrontation has, of course, assumed another shape and complexion. Now they use the pen to raise objections against Islam. Take the Christians, for example; the circulation 1. Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been wronged ( S u rah al- H ajj, 22:40). [Publisher]