Blessings of Khilafat — Page 85
85 personally do not agree with it, that the government is not willing to grant all our rights, even then one has to understand that smaller benefits are to be sacrificed for bigger benefits. There was no harm if to our estimation the Government had failed to provide us with some of our rights since we know that through this government we have been able to achieve many important rights of ours and comforts. The Muslims were being persecuted in most parts of India before the arrival of the British, and they brought them out of that condition of lowliness. Now, having attained some benefit from the British government, the Muslims should remember that they had previously lost everything, and it was the English that restored to them their lost dignity. If someone helps someone find his money, the owner of the money gives away some of it to the one who helped him locate it. The Muslims too had lost their freedom, and it was restored to them by the British. Now if they have held back certain prerogatives for themselves only, or have specified certain posts as for the English only, it is not at all appropriate to respond to the kindness and favour they have shown thus far with unreasonable commotion. Rather, civility demands that we should keep in mind their favours to us and extend our help to them. Muslims must observe patience even if the English have not bestowed upon them every right, and should be thankful to God that by His grace they have been able to secure much of what they had earlier lost through the help of the British. They had lost both their religion as well as their worldly comforts, not to mention their freedom of religion and thought. The English have given them the liberation of every kind as far as religion is concerned, whereas in worldly affairs too, they have granted them much freedom. Hence, they should have been thankful to them, and not been critical of