The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 362
LETTER FROM MUHAMMAD HUSAIN BATĀLAWI 361 In the first place, the revelation that is received by a Prophet or a saint by way of a warning for some person must necessarily be published and conveyed as this is precisely the requirement of that revelation. But if the one bestowing revelations upon you sends you such revelations with a stipulation not to publish until they are reviewed and reconfirmed by someone else, why do you not ask your bestower of revelations whether or not to publish this particular revelation, and whether, if you publish them, you would not be entangled in some legal complication. It seems to me that, by asking such permission, you simply wish to abuse me and plan to write and publish such words as might defame me and hurt and cause grief to me and my rela- tives. You have published such revelations regarding me before, and, at the same time, you also fear the law and consider the Government to be more powerful than the one who is bestow- ing revelations upon you. I cannot, therefore, allow you to pub- lish such revelations in general. Nevertheless, I cannot with- hold permission for the publication of revelations that you and your followers received to the extent that the law permits. And thus, considering the one who bestows revelation upon you to be weak and cowardly (who is certainly not God Almighty, but is Satan) and whom you consider being overpowered by the Government, you must limit your obedience to this bestower of revelation to remain within the law of the Government. If The revelation that must be conveyed; (2) The revelation in regard to which the Mulham has an option to make known or not to make known-which he might publish if there is wisdom in doing so, or otherwise keep it secret; (3) The third type of revelation is that which the recipients of revelation are forbidden from disclosing. This very division [of the types of revelations] is present in the ahadith of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. So this revelation was of the second kind which this humble one had been given the option to publicize or not to publicize, and the Prophets do not always get everything resolved by God; they also make use of their own judgement in this world of cause and effect. So ponder. Author