Malfuzat – Volume X — Page 379
2 May 1908 379 It has become almost a profession for Muslims, especially the so-called maulawis, to give false testimony. And yet, I am the one receiving their fatwas of apostasy and being accused of so many things. It is my wish and I am eager to see a group of influential Muslims to at least investigate whether these accusations that are levelled against me are indeed true. Is it true that I have abandoned the Holy Quran and the Messenger s as ? Have I— God forbid—made some new religion? Is it true that I insult the Prophets? Preaching by Writing Books or Making Speeches—a Comparison The respected prince asked that if, instead of always staying in Qadian, you were to tour the various towns of Punjab and India and preach and speak, then it would be more beneficial. The Promised Messiah as said: The methods of preaching are different in every age in accord- ance with the time and circumstances. Although the freedom of the present era is a good thing, it also has some drawbacks. I have employed the method of preaching that you have sug- gested and I have also made journeys to some places for this purpose. However, I have seen, through experience, that the real objective cannot be fully achieved this way. Some people interrupt and start speaking during the speech. Some even hurl a few abuses and cause disorder by raising a clamour. Once, right here in Lahore, a person stood up during the course of my speech and hurled abuses right in my face, even though it was my own residence and there was an arrangement