The Message or A Cry of Anguish — Page 84
84 HADRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMADAS delivered over to a compassionate people. Indeed our officials do not prevent us from holding debates and discussions and never prohibit us if the debate is conducted in a civil manner and with good intent. They do not act unjustly out of prejudice. That is why I glorify their state and find their help like a bounteous rain. I do not see them incensed over the rebuttal and criticism of their faith and religion. This is the fact that drew our hearts to their love and inclined the dispositions towards their obedience and endeared them to us like the Muslim rulers. These are a people who made us captives by their kindness not by the fetters of their rule, and they have imprisoned us by their favours, not by the force of their authority. By Allah, it is incumbent upon us to give our thanks to them and be grateful for their goodness. Those who forbid show- ing gratitude to the British Government and preach that it is against the [Islamic] Shariah, have indeed, been guilty of injustice and falsehood. They followed a course that has not been estab- lished by any Hadith. Do they believe the British Government to be the oppressors? Allah be glorified! This is certainly not the case! On the contrary, their favours are plenty and manifest. Look at our towns and their prosperous inhabitants, be they natives or immigrants. Look how blessed the local people are and how mag- nificent these lands are. Our mosques are filled with people after having been desolate. Our religious rituals have been revived after their abolition; our minarets for the Adhān re-illumined after being consigned to darkness. The minarets of our mosques were rebuilt after having been demolished and we witnessed dawn after a long dark night. We saw canals after suffering from scarcity of water. Central and local mosques were reopened for the remem- brance of the One God and the voice of Tauhid [Oneness of God]