Lahore–August 5, 1962

Respected and Honourable

Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullah

I received your letter dated July 25. After years of writing and interacting with many people, I have developed enough ability to gauge a person’s mental state by reading their work. After reading your article, the impression I get is that, on the one hand, you have built a strong sense of self-confidence and pride. On the other hand, you also seem to have a significant aversion to the perspective you intend to challenge.

You have even gone so far as to harshly criticize the person presenting this view. After reaching this point, you now turn to me. Do you expect me to engage in a debate with you? Please review your article critically, considering the standpoint from which you are speaking and the assumptions you have made about me from start to finish. If you still have any capacity for self-reflection, I hope that, after critically examining your own article, you will understand why I have taken this stance. No other course of action would have been appropriate.

Afterwards, if you are willing to step down from the elevated position from which you have spoken and recognize that the person you have repeatedly critiqued is at least not a novice, then there may be an opportunity for me to engage in discussion on the issues you have raised in your article. If not, the only options before you are those I have previously mentioned.

Please do not mistake my candor for anger. I have no intention of leaving you with any misunderstandings. That’s why I spoke plainly before, and I am doing so again now.

Humbly,

Abul Ala