The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 55
54 Ā'ĪNA-E-KAMĀLĀT-E-ISLĀM―DĀFI‘UL-WASĀWIS their hearts nevertheless conceal such idols of superstition that are hin- dering their path from accessing the true Qiblah [direction and focus of worship]. I am absolutely certain that it is the will of God Almighty to break these idols. No argument can make me doubt that the time has come that these idols be completely shattered, and for the worshippers of God to rediscover lost verities [of spirituality]. Almighty God, who is aware of all secrets, is well aware that people have strayed far away from the essence of Islam, and they have abandoned the blessed light of truthfulness. Such is the internal calamity, as I have briefly described above. But the condition of our [non-Muslim] opponents is beyond descrip- tion—they are laden with criticisms and misgivings the way a tree may be laden with fruit. Their rancour towards Islam has increased greatly in our time and everyone has started criticising Islam in accordance with their ability and capacity. If, from among our opponents, some- one has some knowledge of the physical sciences, he raises objections in the context of these same physical sciences and wishes to prove that Islam sets forth things opposed to the proven facts of physical science. If an opponent has acquired something of the knowledge of medicine and the work of a physician, he presents the investigative studies of the same discipline in a wholly deceitful manner to raise objections against Islam, alleging that Islam sets forth matters opposed to those evident and ascertained experiments that have been proven to a perfect degree by means of modern research. Similarly, someone who has a passing knowledge of modern astronomy is engaged in finding fault with the teachings of Islam from that perspective. In short, as far as I have been able to ascertain, about 3,000 objections have been raised by short- sighted people against Islam, the teachings of the Holy Quran, and our Leader and Master [the Holy Prophet $ªs]. At first thought, one becomes restless and grieved at such a storm of opposition; however, upon closer examination, these objections are not truly harmful to Islam. Nay, if we ourselves are not negligent, they