Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 205
THE RENAISSANCE OF ISLAM 2°5 do I attach any value to the action of any Anjuman in that context. Should the Anjuman leave me I would not pay any attention to its action. No one has the power to deprive me of the robe of the Khilafat. Hearken! I had never had any desire to become Khalifa. At the time when I was not yet a follower of the Promised Messiah I. dressed in the same manner in which I dress now. I have met the nobility as a person of honour, in the same dress. When I became the follower of the Promised Messiah I made no change in my way of life. After his death whatever happened was brought about by God Almighty. I had not the least idea that I would become the Khalifa, but God Almighty so willed it out of His wisdom, and He made me your Imam and Khalifa. Those who in your estimation were better entitled to the office accepted me under the Divine will and are obedient to me. Then who are you that you should raise objections against me? If you have any objection, raise it against God, but beware of the consequences of such impertinence. I do not flatter anyone. I do not need anyone's greeting, nor do I depend upon your offerings and provisions. I seek refuge with God that any such notion should pass through my mind. God Almighty has bestowed a secret treasure upon me, of which no one has any knowledge. My wife and children are not dependent upon any of you. God Almighty looks after them. You have no capacity to look after anyone. Allah is Self-Sufficient; it is you who are needy. He who is present should listen carefully and he who is not present should be informed by those who are present, that to raise the objection that the Khilafat has not been bestowed upon someone who was better entitled to it, is the doctrine of those who rejected the Khilafat of Abu Bakr and Umar. Turn away from any such thought. Allah, the Exalted, has made that one Khalifa whom He considered best entitled to the office. He who opposes him is false and is disobedient to God. Submit and obey like the angels; do not behave like Iblis. Despite my illness I have taken advantage of this opportunity to impress upon you that the Khilafat is no light affair. You can derive no benefit by agitating this question. No one will make any of you Khalifa, nor can anyone else become Khalifa in my lifetime. When I die it will be only that one concerning whom God so wills who will become Khalifa and God will raise him to this office Himself. You have made a covenant with me. You should not raise the