Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 188
188 AHMADIYY AT Almighty has called His creatures His servants. The burden of this servitude is difficult to carry for oneself. How can one carry it for others? Keeping in view the difference of temperaments, great courage is needed for the establishment of unity. I have always wondered at the enterprise ofHazrat Sahib. He enjoyed indifferent health and carried a heavy burden of writing in prose and verse and of several other important projects. I am of about the same age as he was, but he enjoyed the daily support of God and my condition is not worth mentioning. This is why God Almighty has said: 'You became like brethren by His grace' (3:1°4). All this depends upon divine grace. . . . Remember that all good proceeds from unity. Now, in whichever direction your minds may be inclined you will haye to obey my orders. If this is acceptable to you I would be willing to carry this burden willy nilly. A community that has no chief is already dead. His address was received with great acclamation and all those who were present made the covenant of ba'iat at his hand. Thereafter he led the funeral prayers for the Promised Messiah, whose interment in the Heavenly Graveyard was then carried out. Leading Muslim newspapers and journals paid glowing tributes to the Promised Messiah, drawing attention to his victorious championship of Islam and his high moral, intel- lectual and spiritual qualities. Even non-Muslim papers made courteous and appreciative references to him. One or two bitterly hostile critics expressed opposition to his doctrines, but on the whole in comparatively restrained language. There were some who opined hopefully that the Move- ment he had founded would now disintegrate as he was no longer there to lead and guide it. The unity and speed with which the Community agreed upon the choice of his succes- sor, whose great qualities and capacities were well known, made it clear that the expectations so fondly entertained by his hostile opponents were bound to be disappointed. The one great reality that emerged now that his physical presence had been removed from the scene of his activities, was that he had possessedan extraordinary and astonishing