Malfuzat – Volume X — Page 395
2 May 1908 395 Would someone come only when Islam is totally dead with no breath of life left in it? What would the use and benefit of such a person be if he comes then? Remember it well that if I am false, then Islam is also false. And if Islam is also a dead religion like the others, then what greatness lies in it and what’s its distinction? The Tauhid [Oneness of God] that you and I take pride in, is claimed by the Brahmus and Aryas as well. Once a person gave a lecture right here in Lahore and said, ‘We believe in ُ ل َٓٓ إِلٰه َ إِل َّ هللا [“There is no one worthy of worship except Allah”] then why do we need ِ سُوْل ُ هللا َّ مُحَمَّد ٌ ر [“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”]?’ When this is the state of affairs and other religions also believe in Tauhid, then what is the distinction between you and them? The Essence of Jihad If the tenets of jihad etc. are indeed the only distinction, then beware, it is an egregious error. You are, thus, not a friend of Islam but rather its enemy. You give a bad name to Islam. Look, if I had understood that this was in reality the true intent of the Holy Quran, I would have left this country and chosen a place where I had all the amenities and facilities to implement such commandments, and I would have acted upon those commandments to my heart’s content. But verily I tell you that this is not the intent of the Quran, as has, unfortu- nately, been understood to be the case by some ignorant mul- lahs [Muslim clergy]. The truth is that the Holy Prophet s as was faced with great challenges at that time. Many of his devout and dear friends fell prey to the sword and arrows of the cruel disbelievers. They tor- tured Muslim men and Muslim women in a variety of shameful