Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 258
258 BARĀHIN-E-AHMADIYYA - PART FIVE and which is incontrovertible for all Islamic sects, is objectionable in your estimation. How sad! Are these the people who want to become the leaders of Islam who are not even aware of the teachings of God and the doctrines of Islam? -إِنَّا لِله وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْن ]To Allah we belong and to Him shall we return]. O cruel critic! Is this the wherewithal that prompted you to take up the pen? Though you suffer the fervour of prejudice, was it necessary to advertise your ignorance? Every statement, a rank lie; every doubt, sim- ply satanic suspicion! With this knowledge and understanding, what tickled your fancy to criticise the holy revelation of God? It would have been better had you remained silent. You have earned sin for nothing and you have exposed everyone to your [heretofore] concealed igno- rance with your tongue, defaming yourself in public and meriting the application-to your plight of the parable of Shaikh Saʻdī, may God have mercy on him, that is contained in Bostān which is as follows: که در مصر یک چند خاموش بود یکے نیک خلق و خلق پوش بود There was a good and well-renowned fellow in Egypt Who never opened his mouth in speech. جہانی برو بود از صدق جمع چو پروانه ها وقت شب گرد شمع A host of people congregated around him in all sincerity Like moths converging upon a lamp at night. دل خویش اندیشه کرد که پوشیده زیر زبان است مرد One night he said to himself: 'There is a [wise] man concealed beneath my silent tongue; در سرم چه دانند مردم که دانش ورم شبے در اگر ماند فطنت نهان Should my cleverness remain hidden within my head, How would people know that I am a man of intellect?'