Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 87
87 lays down modes of worship, but is silent as to whether it can lead men to God in this life, its teachings are a mere mockery, and attending to them would be a waste of time. Such a religion would be like a man who causes a proclamation to be made throughout the land with blowing of bugles and beating of drums that a momen- tous discovery has been made and that people should collect together to be told about it,—and that no man should lag behind, for the discovery is so wonderful that the like of it never was before, and that it is necessary that all men should know of it, as it is useful for all and that its benefits exceed those of any other discovery, and that it would be the height of ill-luck not to take advan- tage of it,—and when men have gathered from far and near, leaving their pursuits and occupations, in their eagerness to hear of this wonderful discovery, he makes a speech telling them that a new land has been discov- ered which is so vast that all men can settle in it com- fortably, that it lies at every man’s door, that there are running springs and bubbling brooks in it, and that there is such abundance of flowers and fruits and other deli- cacies that men need not quarrel among themselves, for every one can have as much as he desires, and life in it would be altogether very pleasant; the sun lights up its beautiful surface, and its deep shades afford relief and rest, and a man who enters it once does not desire to leave it again, etc. , etc. Thus exciting the curiosity of his listeners who eagerly enquire as to the whereabouts of this wonderful land so that they might proceed thither and taste of its fruits and delicacies and enjoy the pleas- ant life it affords, he makes answer that the land, no