Malfuzat - Volume IX — Page 332
Malf uza t - English translation of Urdu Volume 9 332 [Ahmadiyya] Movement. But do not imagine that there is any bravery from your side in not making a mistake. Not at all. This also is a blessing of God Almighty that you did not fall into error; otherwise, many great and learned scholars and maulaw i s have faltered at this juncture. 1 August 1907 2 It is Not Permissible for Everyone to Investigate A person submitted: ‘I sell sugar at a shop in a village. Sometimes, boys or the servants and employees of the landlords bring cotton or wheat or something similar and barter it for merchandise, as is the general prac- tice in villages; but some boys or servants bring these things without the knowledge of the owner. Is it permissible to give the merchandise in this situation or not?’ The Promised Messiah as replied: When it is certain that an item is stolen property then to take it is impermissible, but to put oneself into undue suspi- cion is an undesirable act. To investigate such matters, and for no reason prove someone as a thief, is not the prerogative of the shopkeeper. If the shopkeeper will engage himself in such 1. Badr, vol. 6, no. 32, p. 8–9, dated 8 August 1907; see also al- H akam, vol. 11 , no. 29, p. 11, dated 17 August 1907 2. Only August 1907 is written on this diary. It is estimated that these dis- courses are from a date during the period of 2–5 August. Allah knows best. (Compiler)