Malfuzat - Volume VIII — Page 273
27 DECEMBER 1905 things are pure nonsense. The truth is that one cannot live with- out the truth. Even till now, when I remember this incident of mine, I derive such pleasure that I took the side of God, and He showed such regard for me that it became a Sign. مَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ 273 plead that I had not put the letter in the packet, and that Rallia Rām himself must have placed it therein. The lawyers assured me that in such a case, a ver- dict would be issued on the basis of testimony. Moreover, they said that acquittal could be secured with two or three false witnesses; otherwise, the case was a difficult one, with no hope of escape. I told them all categorically that I would not swerve an inch from the truth, come what may. On the very same day or maybe a day after, I appeared in the court of an English magistrate, and a superintendent of the post offices appeared as the plaintiff on behalf of the Government. The magistrate pro- ceeded to record my statement. The very first question he asked me was, 'Did you put this letter in the packet and were the letter and packet dispatched by you?' I answered without any hesitation whatsoever, 'This is my letter, and this is my packet. I myself placed the letter in the packet when I sent it, but I did not do this with any ill-intent to cause a loss of revenue to the Government. I did not consider the letter distinct and separate from the arti- cle enclosed in the packet, nor did the letter contain any personal matter. On hearing this, God Almighty inclined the heart of the magistrate towards me. The superintendent of post offices created an uproar against me and made long speeches in English, which I could not follow, except that each time he made a point, the magistrate would reject it, saying, 'No, no. When the super- intendent concluded his submission and finished venting his anger, the mag- istrate turned to write his verdict. After writing a line or two, he said, 'Alright, you may leave. Hearing this, I came out of the courtroom thanking my true Benefactor, who had granted me victory in opposition to an English officer. I know full well that on this occasion, God Almighty delivered me from this misfortune due to the blessings of truthfulness. Before this case, I had seen in a dream that a man stretched forth his hand to take off my cap, whereupon I said, 'What are you doing?' At this, he left the cap on my head and said, 'It is fine, it is fine. (Badr, vol. 2, no. 5, p. 3, dated 2 February 1906) 1. And he who puts his trust in Allah-He is sufficient for him (Sūrah at-Talāq, 65:4). [Publisher]