Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part IV — Page 12
BarĀhĪn-e-a H madiyya — Part Four 12 Otherwise, the Government permits every people to use all lawful means to promote their respective religions. Why, then, would this just Government be offended if a community—whose religion is in fact true, absolutely perfect, and the truthfulness of which is established by strong irrefutable proofs—were to publish its arguments with good intentions, civility, and humility for the benefit of mankind? Our affluent Muslims seem to be unaware of the fact that it is in the equitable interest of this Government to wholeheartedly ensure freedom. Indeed, I myself have seen many able and good-natured Englishmen who detest duplicity and hypocrisy and appreciate righteousness, kindness, and sincerity. There is no doubt that all good lies in sincerity and fear of God, which makes an impact, sooner or later, on friend and foe; and when God is pleased with someone, His creatures eventually become pleased with him as well. In short, to be engaged in matters of religious and national concern, and to be a truly sincere well-wisher of mankind in worldly and spiritual matters, is such a noble quality that it is an honour for any government to have such people, and the land where such people abide becomes the recipient of blessings from heaven. On the other hand, a government would be extremely unfortunate if all of its subjects were hypocrites, who say one thing in private and another in public. Hence, rest assured that it is indeed fortunate for the British gov- ernment that its subjects become ever more sincere and deal with it frankly, considering the Government as a beneficent friend. This is the very reason that our benevolent officials do not just verbally teach us the lesson of liberty, but by acting freely in matters of religion, they wish to establish us upon liberty through their practical example. Just one instance should suffice here. About a month ago, our fellow countryman, Sir Charles Aitchison Bah a dur, Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab, visited Batala, District Gurdaspur, where, upon laying the foundation stone of a church, he expressed in a simple and informal manner his sympathy for the Christian faith and said that: