Life of Ahmad — Page 605
as POLICE HARASS AHMAD as 605 November 10th, 1898, however, Muhammad Bakhsh of Lahore (manager of the Ja‘far Zatall i , T a jul Hind Press), along with a colleague of his, Abul Hasan Tibbati, published a scurrilous reply. It was full of abuse and provocation, having been inspired by their friend Maulaw i Muhammad Husain, who always abused Ahmad as in his journal. The objectionable and offensive nature of the reply was such that the authorities responsible for the maintenance of law and order could easily have set the law in motion against the offenders, but they were themselves not free from religious prejudice and took no notice. Ahmad as was actuated by higher principles. His mission extended to the whole world. He would appeal to the lowest of the low. He was a friend of publicans and sinners. But he could not stoop so low as to pay back Maulaw i Muhammad Husain and his friends in their own coin. His heart was sore vexed at the spectacle of wickedness before him. So he turned away from the world and took refuge in God, his sole support. He read the abuse and prayed to Him in all earnestness and sincerity. He said, 'If I am, really a liar and an impostor as Muhammad Husain and his friends declare me to be, then let me be disgraced. But if it is not so, O God, then bring disgrace upon them as they have tried to bring disgrace upon me. Let them be disgraced within the next 13 months— December 15th, 1898, to January 15th, 1900. '