Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 492
B AR Ā H Ī N-E-A H M ADIY YA — PART F IV E 492 in diagnosing diseases, and draw sagacious people closer to guidance. Despite all this, however, I do not like it at all that people of my Jam a ‘at should, without an unavoidable desperate need, make it an occupa- tion of publishing my photo routinely because this is how innovations slowly take root and culminate into idolatry. I, therefore, admonish my Jam a ‘at here, too, to refrain from such deeds as far as is possible for them. I have seen cards of some people on the back of which I have noticed my picture in a corner. I am vehemently against such publication. I do not want anyone in my Jam a ‘at to be guilty of such an act. It is one thing to do something for a legitimate and useful cause, and quite another to be like the Hindus who hang the pictures of their elders on the walls everywhere. It has always been observed that such frivolous deeds end up in idolatry and grave errors, like those which found their way among the Hindus and the Christians. And I expect that anyone who views my admonitions with hon- our and deference and is my true follower will henceforth abstain from such acts; otherwise, he will be deemed to conduct himself against my instructions and interfere in the Shariah with insolence. Some people who neither have any knowledge of faith nor of my circumstances have also published, merely out of narrow-mindedness and lack of appreciation, such allegations against me that only go to prove, if anything, that, in contrast to the efforts they put forth to acquire for this world and to achieve worldly offices and ranks, they do not have even a thousandth of that focus on faith. Hearing their objec- tions, one is wonderstruck as to how ignorant these people are of Islam despite being called Muslims! Well! Let us consider the nature of their objections. For example, they say that this is a ruse for collecting money and his helpers are on the payroll. Now, let anyone who has some fear of God in his heart consider whether this is not the same evil suspicion that people who are blind at heart have always entertained against the past Prophets, peace be upon them. Pharaoh also thought ill of M u s a and, addressing his own people, said that ‘The real objective of this man is to dispossess