Page:Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din - The Strength of Islam.djvu/28

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THE STRENGTH OF ISLAM

all Muslims who fail to recognize the claims of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad are to be placed outside the pale, and can no longer be regarded as true Muslims.

I look upon this as a very serious matter, for it seems like an attempt to bind the consciences of the whole Muslim world to the views of one particular sect; indeed, it reminds one of a slogan used elsewhere: "No salvation outside the Church."

As I have said elsewhere, the Ahmadi declaration appears to my simple and, I hope, unbiased mind to be far too dictatorial. It must be evident even to the most cursory observer that such ex-cathedra declarations must prove distasteful to a large proportion of the great Muslim community. Not very long ago I informed my friend the Imam of the Southfield Mosque that I could not subscribe to the views he promulgated because they savoured too much of the intolerance we complain of in another Faith, and might almost be inspired by the spirt of the Athanasian Creed which most of us unite in condemning.