The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 51
50 Ā'ĪNA-E-KAMĀLĀT-E-ISLĀM―DĀFI‘UL-WASĀWIS In general, it is a pity that all of the ulema alleging disbelief affixed their seals on Baṭālawi's edict of disbelief without any inquiry or investiga- tion. They did not read my books from beginning to end, or enquire anything from me by letter or correspondence. Had they affixed their seals with good intention, the light of their heart would have inevita- bly perturbed them to ask me first, and to seek the unravelling of the meaning of my words directly from myself. If after due inquiry, those words were proven to be truly the words of heresy, then with a heavy heart, they might have proceeded to document their testimony regard- ing the disbelief of a brother. Had they done so and not been hasty, they would have been acquitted of the charges that can be made by God against a hasty heretic-hunter. But alas! They did not do so. On the contrary, as a s a sheep follows another sheep and nibbles whatever the other is eating, some of our ulema have embraced this very approach in accusing others of disbelief. plain to anyone but Allah]. [However, I do not com- Who does not know that it is a very serious issue to declare some- one a kafir even though he is a Muslim believing in the One True God and facing the Qiblah, particularly when he repeatedly affirms in his speeches and writings that he is a Muslim and believes in Allah and the Messenger; the Angels of Allah, the Lord of all Glory; His Books; His Messengers; and the Resurrection-precisely in the way that Allah, glorified be His eminence, and the Messenger of Allah, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, have declared in their teaching? Moreover, he proclaims to abide by all the commandments, Saum [the Fast] and Salāt [Prayer] that have been ordained by Allah and His Messengeras. Is it the work of people who are righteous, God-fearing, good-natured, and bearers of goodwill to declare such a Muslim to be a kāfir and to call him a great disbeliever and dajjāl? Although, as I have just described, it is undeniably true that it has been the case of the ulema since the earliest of times that, when they failed to comprehend the various diverse truths, spiritual insights, sub- tleties, and sublime intricacies in the books of the holy elders, the pious