A Proper Rejoinder

Truth About the Split

But on the other hand, as a proper rejoinder to the charge, we on our part may mention one incident of which the communicant is no less a person than the well known writer, the late Qazi Abdul Haq. He did not in the beginning pledge his Bai‘at to me. He reported that after the death of Hadrat Khalifatul Masih I (ra) , Maulawi Sadruddin, Woking Missionary and Headmaster of the Muslim High School at Lahore, when he saw that Ahmadis were not disposed to go without a Khalifa, made up his mind that a Khalifa should be elected, and as Maulawi Muhammad Ali by the publication of his secret tract had given away his own case, he proposed that Sayyid Abid Ali Sahib should be elected to the office. It was therefore resolved to prepare 40 men who would agree to pledge their Bai‘at to Sayyid Abid Ali Sahib. For this purpose, says Qazi Abdul Haq, Maulawi Sadruddin, lantern in hand, went round the whole night visiting the 2000 Ahmadis who had assembled on the occasion. He was accompanied in those rounds by Qazi Abdul Haq himself and another person. His object was to find out at least 40 men who would endorse his views, but out of a gathering of 2000 (the majority of whom according to their report entertained the greatest aversion for me), they could not find even that inconsiderable number to support their views. Qazi Abdul Haq, of course, is now dead, but will Maulawi Sadruddin who is still alive affirm on oath that the above incident has no basis in fact; and in view of this incident was he justified in objecting to the activity of Maulawi Muhammad Ismail which was soon abandoned at the instance of Maulawi Sahib’s own friends.

Besides this, there is another testimony in this connection. This is the testimony of Doctor Ilahi Bakhsh Sahib, who says:

"I remember that at the time when the illness of Hadrat Khalifatul Masih I (ra) had not yet reached so serious a stage—though his condition was daily growing worse—I happened one day to speak to Akbar Shah Khan Sahib saying that the condition of Hadrat Sahib was getting more and more critical. May God help us. The conversation led us to the question of Khilafat, and Khan Sahib said that there was of course the danger of a split because the Lahore party would not accept the Khilafat of Miyań Sahib. On the other hand if one were to look to Khwaja Sahib, then there were others who were reluctant to accept him. There was, however, one way open which could prevent the split, and at the same time maintain the Khilafat, I inquired what; to which Khan Sahib replied that if Miyań Sahib could be-magnanimous a way could be found which lay in the selection of Maulawi Muhammad Ali. If Bai‘at were to be pledged to him then the Lahore party as well as others would agree to accept him in common. This was a private talk which took place a considerable time before the death of Hadrat Khalifatul Masih I.

From the above testimony, it is clear that the charge which our opponents wish to prove against us is one of which they themselves stand guilty. As for the charge levelled against us, I have already shown that the incident in question arose out of an indiscretion by one or two of our members. But this was stopped at the instance of other members of our own party before it could produce any results.

Other reports of a similar kind were spread from time to time with a view to prejudice the people against me. But God granted increased strength to the Movement; and although, to begin with, 99 per cent of the members of the Community, according to our opponents’ version, were with them, in a short time God brought them all over to my side so that now by His grace about 99 per cent of the members are with me.