Free Pir-E-Kamil: The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed Page B

think of you after this...what you were trying to do by giving her those books. Her family will also be very angry. Imama, you should know that you do not have to tell others all about yourself or your community. Even if someone pulls you into an argument, just agree politely with them, otherwise they will make unnecessary and unwelcome comments and will become needlessly suspicious about us,' he counseled.
    'But, Baba, you yourself preach to so many people. Why are you stopping me from doing it?' Imama was puzzled.
    'It's a different thing with me—I talk about religion only with those people with whom I am close and friendly...when I feel they are ready to accept what I have to say. I don't go about distributing books to mere acquaintances,' he clarified.
    'Baba, they are not just acquaintances—we have been friends for years,' objected Imama.
    'Yes, but they are Syeds and their families are very orthodox. You ought to have remembered that.'
    'I only wanted to tell them about our sect so that they do not think we are non-Muslims,' said Imama.
    'Even if they think of us as non-Muslims, what difference does it make? They themselves are non-Muslims,' said Hashim very piously. 'They are the misguided ones, on the wrong path.'
    'Baba, she said that you receive funds from foreign missions, that they pay you to convert people to our faith.'
    Hashim Mubeen shook his head with disdain. 'I get money only from my community—money that our community collects at home and abroad. We have enough finances of our own...haven't we got our own factories? Besides, if foreign missions were to finance me I would accept it happily—what's wrong with it? If Christianity can be preached in this country, then why not our faith? After all, we are another sect of Islam trying to bring people on the path of real guidance,' he elaborated.
    'Don't talk to others about this issue,' he continued. 'There's no point in argument or discussion. We are a minority now, but when we become the majority then such people will not dare to speak up like this—they will be afraid to insult us to our face. However, you should not get involved with such people now.'
    'Baba, why have we been declared non-Muslims and a minority in the constitution when we are a sect of Islam?'
    'All this is the handiwork of the mullahs—for their vested interests, they ganged up against us. When our numbers increase, we too will bring in laws that favor us, and all such amendments to the constitution will be abrogated,' declared Hashim forcefully. 'And you need not lock yourself up like this and cry,' he said as he got up. Imama watched him walk away.
    That was the last day of her friendship with Tehreem. Imama was so heartbroken by Tehreem's diatribe that she could not bring herself to continue their relationship. Tehreem too did not try to bridge the silence between them. Hashim Mubeen was one of the influential leaders of the Ahmadi community. His older brother Azam was also an important Ahmadi leader. Barring one or two people, his entire family had converted to the Qadiani creed many years ago when Azam had begun this mission; those who had not done so had severed ties with the others. Following in his brother's footsteps, Hashim had also converted, and like his brother, he too worked towards its propagation. In about ten or fifteen years, both brothers had made a name for themselves in their community. They were amongst the elite of Islamabad but despite their affluence, their homes were very traditional. Their womenfolk observed purdah but there were no undue restrictions placed on them.
    Imama had also grown up in this environment. Indeed, she was one of those born with a silver spoon in her mouth , and though she knew that her father was actively propagating the Ahmadi faith, she accepted it as a matter of course. She had grown up seeing her father and her uncle preaching their faith and to her it was something being done in the service of Islam.
    Imama regularly attended