The Message or A Cry of Anguish — Page 80
80 HADRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMADAS Islam, and to enrage the hearts of the ummah of the Best of the Prophetssas. Thus, it happened exactly as this mischievous man desired. Every one possessing faith in their heart felt the pain on account of his words. His foul words inflicted such an excruciating and festering wound on the Muslims as is not going to be healed. They thought that if they did not take revenge like true believers, they would certainly be counted among the guilty. This reminded them of the [glorious] days of their forefathers. Had the honour of this kind Government not held them back and had they not kept the favours of the British Government in mind, they would surely have acted like the fanatics. No doubt, this shameless man has crossed all limits in his discourse and provoked the general Muslims by his ignorance and exceeded all bounds like transgres- sors. Hence, the general clamour and outcry. People wailed like mourners. This brazenness inflamed the tempers and newspapers were filled with such episodes. Every valorous person stood up in protest against the persecution inflicted by the transgressors. The truth of the matter is that he fabricated lies and accused the innocent one and sought to uproot the truth and to destroy it. He interposed a thick veil so as to deceive the people and desired to extinguish the lights of the lamp. Thus provoked, the Muslims rose up in fury. And in protest and rage, they took up different approaches. Some proposed that this matter be reported to the officials and a case be filed as retaliation; others were inclined towards the refutation of these misconceptions, believing it to be among Islamic duties. Those who preferred to take the matter to the officials presented their complaint to His Excellency, the Viceroy of India and sent a written memorandum to him regard- ing this issue. The other group turned their attention to writing a