Truth About the Split — Page 4
4 Therefore, it cannot be said that the publication of his book was prompted either by the solicitude of the author for the advancement of the Movement or by an apprehension entertained by him that the propagation of my views would retard the progress of the Movement. There remains, however, another possible motive. Can it be that the Maulawi Sahib was moved to write this book by the thought that although it was through my efforts that the Movement had obtained a footing in foreign lands, yet publication by the Maulawi Sahib of the 'true' doctrines was likely to accelerate its spread at least in foreign lands? But what are the actual facts? In spite of the "strange and paradoxical" nature of my views, thousands of people year after year continue to enter my Bai‘at (oath of spiritual allegiance) even in India which, in the matter of religion, may still be regarded as the teacher of all Eastern Asia and where in comparison with other countries there prevails a more active interest in, and a wider diffusion of, the knowledge of religion. In contrast to this, it may be noticed that the Maulawi Sahib and his friends who, to quote his own words, form "a large number of the educated members of the Community" and who are men of great "moral courage" have within the last eight years been unable