Malfuzat – Volume X — Page 499
17 May 1908 499 handed over the reign of governance to these people who are competent. If they are strict with some, it is for some cause. Sometimes lack of understanding is an issue. They can be excused in mat- ters where they do not have [proper] information as even pious and righteous persons can make a mistake out of ignorance. They do not at all permit injustice wilfully. Many a time, con- scientious officials work hard with diligence and true spirit of justice to get to the bottom of the legal cases and to unmask the real truth, sometimes even discounting apparently obvious facts if they seem suspect. Take the example of the case brought against me of attempted murder that was brought by a well-respected priest, alleging that I had sent a man named Abdul Hameed to kill him. Eight or nine witnesses had already made depositions in the case. Not only that, Maulawi Abu Saeed Muhammad Husain, who is renowned as a leader of Muslims, had also testified to the same. The name of the fair-minded official, in whose court my case was being heard, was Douglas. He observed, despite all the above circumstances, that he could not commit the atrocity of sending an innocent man to the gallows in this manner. And although the case had become eligible to be referred to the ses- sions court [for criminal justice], he ordered the Police Chief to conduct a fresh and thorough investigation. Eventually, Abdul Hameed admitted that, indeed, he had been coached by the priests to say that, and that there was no truth in it. At this discovery, he was so jubilant and I sensed from his smile, that he was happier than a person who had just received a lot of wealth and riches. In the end, he congratulated me and said that I was acquitted. Now, tell me if such a case had been heard in the court of a Muslim judge, could he have done the same? Would he have