Bounties of the Gracious God — Page 39
Details of My Statement in Brief 39 inoculation; rather I acknowledge the great benefit it holds. And I also realize that it has a cure for people and there is no risk or danger in it. This is why when the government saw that the attack of the plague had become much severe and the destruction caused by it was touching extremes, it preferred inoculation over every other measure and spent huge amounts of money to provide the means for it. Out of sympathy, it made its best efforts for the sake of the people suffering from the plague so as to put the sword of the plague back into its sheath. This policy was being practiced for a few years and I had never heard any credible people citing any adverse effects of this policy, rather the people who were in the know of the matter praised the remedy and considered it to be the quickest and most effective means of cure. The policy contin- ued until I wrote my book Kasht i -e-N uh and, under divine com- mand, opposed the inoculation and said that the most effective and lasting protection, which is farthest from painful suffering, is possessed by me and not by those who are getting inoculated. I said that if what I had said was not true, then I surely am not from Allah Almighty. Voices were then raised to taunt me and criticize me and it was said to me, ‘You oppose this practice in spite of the fact that safety hinges on it. And, this revelation of yours that you are speaking of is nothing noteworthy and you will soon regret- fully retreat from your position, or a great calamity will befall you and your followers. All safety lies in being inoculated and those who have tried it have experienced this. Hence, those who will get inoculated will have no fear nor will they be afflicted by the plague. ’ At this, my heart became anguished and tears flowed from my eyes, because I found people conducting themselves in a manner