Malfuzat - Volume VIII — Page 273
27 December 1905 273 things are pure nonsense. The truth is that one cannot live with- out the truth. Even till now, when I remember this incident of mine, I derive such pleasure that I took the side of God, and He showed such regard for me that it became a Sign. 1 ْنَم ْلَّكَوَتَّي ىَلَع ِهّٰللا َوُهَف ٗهُبْسَح ْنَم ْلَّكَوَتَّي ىَلَع ِهّٰللا َوُهَف ٗهُبْسَح plead that I had not put the letter in the packet, and that Rallia R a m himself must have placed it therein. The lawyers assured me that in such a case, a ver- dict would be issued on the basis of testimony. Moreover, they said that acquittal could be secured with two or three false witnesses; otherwise, the case was a difficult one, with no hope of escape. I told them all categorically that I would not swerve an inch from the truth, come what may. On the very same day or maybe a day after, I appeared in the court of an English magistrate, and a superintendent of the post offices appeared as the plaintiff on behalf of the Government. The magistrate pro- ceeded to record my statement. The very first question he asked me was, ‘Did you put this letter in the packet and were the letter and packet dispatched by you?’ I answered without any hesitation whatsoever, ‘This is my letter, and this is my packet. I myself placed the letter in the packet when I sent it, but I did not do this with any ill-intent to cause a loss of revenue to the Government. I did not consider the letter distinct and separate from the arti- cle enclosed in the packet, nor did the letter contain any personal matter. ’ On hearing this, God Almighty inclined the heart of the magistrate towards me. The superintendent of post offices created an uproar against me and made long speeches in English, which I could not follow, except that each time he made a point, the magistrate would reject it, saying, ‘No, no. ’ When the super- intendent concluded his submission and finished venting his anger, the mag- istrate turned to write his verdict. After writing a line or two, he said, ‘Alright, you may leave. ’ Hearing this, I came out of the courtroom thanking my true Benefactor, who had granted me victory in opposition to an English officer. I know full well that on this occasion, God Almighty delivered me from this misfortune due to the blessings of truthfulness. Before this case, I had seen in a dream that a man stretched forth his hand to take off my cap, whereupon I said, ‘What are you doing?’ At this, he left the cap on my head and said, ‘It is fine, it is fine. ’ ( Badr, vol. 2, no. 5, p. 3, dated 2 February 1906) 1. And he who puts his trust in Allah—He is sufficient for him ( S u rah a t-T al a q, 65:4). [Publisher]