The Light of Truth — Page 63
INDIA'S MUSLIM CONVERTS TO CHRISTIANITY how would they fill the plates of idle people? Hence, when these people saw that their fellow Muslims would not pro- vide for their expenses and cared not about their poverty, they turned to the priests, hunting for prey. They congregated in the churches due to the 'wolf's dis- ease' [i. e. hunger] and the agonizing emptiness [of their bel- lies], and out of a longing for the Christians' wealth, and in the hope of achieving similar prosperity. They proceeded to please the priests by using harsh and abusive language against the Best of Creation, and coined new insults and concocted new criti- cisms against him. They did this to show the priests that they had shunned Islam and were deeply devoted to Christianity; and so that, by these means, they may attain nearness to the Christians and fulfil their needs through them, and be seen by them as righteous renouncers. In this manner their arrows hit their target and they fulfilled their desires. You can see how they pursued their elders, looted their wealth, and deceived the ignorant among them. Indeed, they came to love them and grant them favours as though they were an army of righteous believers. The Christians apportioned some of their charitable spending on them and prescribed allowances for them; and every single one of them partakes in this, doing no meaning- ful work, being lazy, and sleeping. You can see the way they strut about arrogantly in their apostasy, like the strutting of a prisoner released from captivity. They revel in delight like the one who has found ease after hardship. They are spending the wealth of the people for their own amusement. Would that this wealth-which is being poured out like water merely for the enjoyment of the foolish—were used to build a bridge for those crossing a river, or an inn for travellers! It would surely have been better, more desirable, and more useful for people 63