The Message or A Cry of Anguish — Page 23
THE MESSAGE OR A CRY OF ANGUISH 23 has read the books by Imad-ud-Din, Indarman, Kanhaiya Lal and Dayananda Saraswati's Satyarth Prakash, would blame me in the slightest. For the harshness shown occasionally in response to these books bears as much comparison to the heaps of bitter expressions, foul-language, insults and denigrations contained in these books as does a tiny particle with a mountain. Moreover, whatever little was written in my books by way of defence, it is the above authors who were to blame for it, since their harsh language compelled me to produce such writings. For instance, if Person X, out of sheer spite, calls Person Y's father a pure idiot and Person Y responds in kind, then obviously Person Y is not to blame for the harshness, because in fact it is Person X's spiteful expression that provoked Person Y to respond in the first place. The same is the case with us, and Allah the Almighty knows it. A thousand pities for one who has not analysed the situation correctly, or has deliberately exploited this fabrication and false- hood for his own vested interests. Anjuman-e-Himāyat-e-Islām or its supporters are of the opinion, as appears in the issue of The Observer dated 6 May 1898, that in fact all harsh words have issued from a particular sect of Islam i. e. , from this humble one, otherwise the writings by all the opponents [of Islam] preceding it were civil and no abusive word was ever used therein. It goes without saying how biased, mendacious and dishonest such an opinion is. Anyone looking at the date of their publications can easily judge whether my books were written prior to their harsh language or after, merely by way of defence. Indeed, it is no hidden matter that our opponents have treated us with so much harshness, and showing little fear of God, they have mounted attacks on our faith and the founder