The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 50
PREFACE 49 is Baṭālawi and the first to issue the declaration of disbelief is Miyān Nadhīr Ḥusain; all others are their followers who generally walk in their footsteps to appease Baṭālawi and show respect to Dehlawi's right as a teacher. It is nothing new for these ulema to declare someone a disbeliever; indeed, this habit has deeply obsessed this group during this age in par- ticular-with each sect declaring the other to be outside of the Faith. Nevertheless, if there is regret, it is only to the extent that these edicts merit condemnation not only on account of their errors of judgement, but also because they can be clearly seen as contrary to trust and taqwa [righteousness]. Personal jealousies are concealed from view and are publicly expressed in the garb of religious issues. Is it not surprising that in this critical matter, such a degree of audacity is shown in declaring someone a disbeliever that an individ- ual repeatedly affirms his [faith in] Islam, and exonerates himself from the false accusations of disbelief, and yet he is branded a disbeliever? Moreover, people are told that in spite of declaring the Kalimah— There is no one worthy of worship except] لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُوْلُ اللهِ Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah]—and despite believ- ing in Tauḥid [Oneness of God] and obeying the obligatory tenets of Islam, observing Saum [the Fast] and Salāt [Prayer], and being among the People of the Qiblah [i. e. the Muslims], he is still a kāfir [disbe- liever] and like other polytheists and disbelievers, he will abide eter- nally in Hell and will never get out of it! چوں نترسی از خدائے ذوالجلال ایکہ دجالم بچشمت نیز ضال Oye who vieweth me a deceiver and astray! Why do you not fear the Lord of Glory? مومنی را نام کافر سے نہی کا فرم گر مومنی با این خیال You give the name kafir [disbeliever] to a believer; I would indeed be a kafir if you-with this belief of yours- remain a believer.