Those ignorant people who are oblivious to the principle of showing gratitude to a benefactor for their favours equate such of my statements and writings to flattery. However, my God knows best that it is impossible for me to flatter any person on earth – it is not in my nature.
Of course, to show gratitude for a favour is a part of my nature. God Almighty, by His grace, has kept me free of the impure traces of ingratitude and disloyalty. I appreciate the favours of the British government and deem it a divine favour that in order to grant us deliverance from the oppressive era of the Sikhs, God sent from thousands of miles afar, a just government to rule over us.
If this empire had not been present now, I truthfully say I would not have been able to even direct my attention towards these allegations, let alone respond to them.
In the present circumstances, I am at complete liberty to respond to these allegations. If then, I were to show disregard for this favour of Allah Almighty, you could be sure that I was immensely ungrateful and unappreciative. I have been granted the opportunity to reflect and contemplate, to immerse myself in prayer, and in this way the gates of divine grace have been opened to me. Although Allah the Almighty is the fountainhead of grace, man becomes able through his own effort to an extent and then receives divine grace in accordance with his individual capacity and ability. It is a matter of joy that due to this opportunity, the people of India, and the Punjab, in particular are being transformed into able gems and their intellectual faculties are developing as well.
(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Malfuzat, Vol. 1, pp. 237-238)
