Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 144
144 his life, the louder he would be in praise of his purity, righteousness and love of humanity. What greater test can there be of the purity of a man’s life than this, that friends and foes alike, who are familiar with the whole course of his life, should unite in praising his integrity, purity and high moral character. The Promised Messiah as , like Jesus as , chal- lenged his enemies in these words: 'I have spent forty years of my life among you, and you have seen that I am not given to lies and imposture and that God has guarded me against all evil. How is it possible, then, that a man who has for forty years avoided all manner of falsehood, trickery, fraud and dishonesty, and has never told a lie concerning the affairs of men, should suddenly embark on a course of imposture, contrary to his previous habits and ways?' 62 And, 'Which of you can find fault with anything in my life? God has, out of His especial grace, throughout guarded me against evil. ' 63 These claims and testimonies show that not only was his life free from blemish of every kind, but that it was so characterized by purity and righteousness that even his enemies, who rejected his claim to prophethood, were unanimous in deposing to the purity and beauty of his life. As has been said, sure virtue is that which is admitted by one’s enemies. 62 Tiry a qul Qul u b , (Edition II, page 157-158). 63 Tadhkiratul Shah a datain , p. 62.