The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 353
352 Α'ΙΝΑ-Ε-ΚΑMĀLĀT-E-ISLAM-DAFI UL-WASĀWIS tolerate your criticisms and accusations of apostasy and sinfulness, but at times I deal with your abuse with some harshness, merely with the intent that the evil substance which lies deep within your heart, as the result of a wrong conception of your priestly position and which has possessed you like an evil spirit, may be completely expelled. Verily I say, and God Almighty knows, that I am honestly convinced that you are simply a rogue-utterly devoid of knowledge, understand- ing, and deliberation—and are a foolish man of dull intellect who has never traversed the paths of verities and true divine knowledge. Additionally, you are afflicted with undue pride and conceit that has nearly killed you [spiritually]. Until you become cognizant of your state of ignorance, and the worm of conceit is expelled from your head, you cannot reap any worldly benefit or the benefit of faith. Your greatest friend would be the one who remains engaged in the effort of proving your ignorance and pride to you. I do not know what it is that you are so proud of. A shameful innate nature, a dull understanding, superficial thinking and then such pride and conceit! نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ هَذَا الْجَهَالَةِ وَالْحُمْقِ وَتَرْكِ . الْحَيَاءِ وَالسَّخَافَةِ وَالضَّلَالَةِ - ]We seek Allah's protection from this ignorance, stupidity, shamelessness, pettiness, and misguidance]. And this thought of yours, my dear man, that I have now sent the letter by way of mischief so that the Muslims of Batala may become divided is merely due to your innately suspicious nature. I had not sent the letter to create dissension but merely out of sympathy for your woe- ful condition, lest you fall into the pit of degradation, and so that you might recognize the truth before you pass away. Creating dissension and mischief among Muslims is indeed your habit and is, in fact, your creed and method due to which you declared a Muslim to be a kāfir [disbeliever], faithless, and dajjāl [deceiver]; and deceiving the ulema you got them to issue edicts of disbelief. You also did a disservice to your preceptor Nadhīr Husain, when he was nearing his death, by per- suading him to pronounce the formula by which I was declared a kāfir, thus casting the dust of disgrace on his piety in his old age. You deserve applause' on this 'manly performance' of yours!