The Message or A Cry of Anguish — Page 74
74 HADRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMADAS sent the time for public rage was already over, but it was a good time to write its rebuttal and it still is. Does the Anjuman not know that only the learned display anger to [such] written books and in fact the learned do have some civility and patience. The poor masses, who mostly are illit- erate, remain unaware of such invectives. The priests have written and published hundreds of such kinds of provocative books, and articles of similar content continue to be printed in their journals. Furthermore, this undertaking [by the clergy] was not for a day or two, rather it has been ongoing for the past sixty years, yet, no matter how inflammatory their writings may be, God Almighty has decreed such that the people who can be provoked sense- lessly mostly happen to be illiterate, while those who can read and peruse such writings are mostly civilised and they wish to respond to a writing with a writing. This is not mere conjecture but a long experience of which the last sixty years testifies to. If such kind of writings could spark any disorder in the first place the writings of Padre Imaduddin had contained such poisonous effect about whom even an English researcher has testified, “If the mutiny of 1857 reoccurs it would be caused only by the writings of Padre Imaduddin. " But I say, this thought is also incorrect, as thirty years have elapsed since the publication of his books, yet still the Muslims have not committed any seditious act. And how could it have been committed because all Muslims—irrespective of their class-know only too well that the Government has nothing to do with these writings. Everyone is demonstrating their inner traits due to freedom of religion. The Government has established to its subjects that, without taking sides, it is reigning over British India with complete justice, fairness, parental kindness and compassion.