TheEvidencePresentedintheCase 399 3.20 Tributes to Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Translator’snote It is alleged by our opponents that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad has been universally considered by all Muslims to be a kafir and outside the fold of Islam. This is a totally false assertion.Itis onlythepetty-mindedmosquepreach- ers, the ignorant mullas, and political aspirants seeking to exploit the ignorance of the masses, who have condemned Hazrat Mirza as kafir. Eminent Muslim religious scholars andleaders,especiallythosewhowerehiscontemporaries, havenotonlyregardedHazratMirzaas aMuslimbuthave proclaimed him to be a great servant and champion of Is- lam.In thisSection we presenttributestoHazrat Mirza by prominent Muslims of his time and after. Many of these reviews are his obituaries which appeared in well-known Muslimjournalsoftheday. 1.MirzaHairatofDelhi He was editor of the Curzon Gazette. In his obituary of HazratMirza,hewrote: “Theservicesofthedeceased,whichherenderedto Islam in confrontation with the Christians and the AryaSamajists,deservethehighestpraise.Hecom- pletely changed the flow of the debate, and laid the foundationsofa newliteratureinIndia. Weadmit,notbecauseofourbeingMuslimsbutbe- ingseekersaftertruth,thatthetopmostAryaSamaj leader or Christian missionary could not dare open his mouth to confront the late Mirza sahib. The in- comparable books which he wrote in refutation of 400 The AhmadiyyaCase the Arya Samaj and Christian creeds, and the shat- teringreplieshegavetotheopponentsofIslam,we have not seen any rational refutation of these ex- cept that the Aryas have been hurling abuse at the Founder and the teachings of Islam in an uncouth manner, withoutbeing able to givea sensiblereply. Although the deceased was a Punjabi, yet his pen wassopowerfulthattodayinthewholeofthePun- jab,eveninthewholeofIndia,thereisnoauthorof such power. ...and it is true that, on reading some of his writings, one goes into a state of ecstasy. Al- though he did not receive any regular education in Arabic language, literature or grammar, he gained suchaproficiencyinArabicbyhisGod-givenintel- lectandnaturethathecouldwriteitquitenaturally. ... His followers are not only common and unlearned people, but include able and bright graduates, viz., B.A., M.A., and very learned Ulama. It is a matter of no small pride for a religious leader of this day that persons educated on traditional lines as well as persons educated on modern lines, both types, should become his followers. Surviving the heat of predictions of his death, opposition, and criticism, he cleared his way to reach the highest pinnacle of progress.” (CurzonGazette,Delhi,1stJune1908) 2.MaulaviBashir-ud-Din Theeditor of Sadiq-ul-Akhbar,Rewari (U.P., India),wrote asfollowsinhisobituary: “As Mirza sahib, with his forceful speeches and magnificent writings,shattered the foul criticismof TheEvidencePresentedintheCase 401 the opponents of Islam, silencing them forever and provingthattruthisafterallthetruth,andasheleft no stone unturned in the service of Islam by cham- pioning its cause to the full, justice requires that one should condole the sudden and untimely death of such a resolute defender of Islam, helper of the Muslims,andaneminentandirreplaceablescholar.” (Sadiq-ul-Akhbar,May1908) 3.MaulaviSayyidWaheed-ud-Din Theeditorof AligarhInstituteGazettewrote: “The deceased was an acknowledged author and founderoftheAhmadiyyaSect....Hehaslefteighty writings, twenty of which are in Arabic. Undoubt- edly, the deceased was a great fighter for Islam.” (AligarhInstituteGazette,June1908) 4.LahoreMunicipalGazette Theeditorwrote: “The Mirza sahib was specially renowned for his knowledge and scholarship. His writings were also eloquent. In any case, we are grieved by his death forthereasonthathewasaMuslim.Webelievethat a scholar has been taken from the world.” (Munici- palGazette,Lahore,1908) 5.MaulanaAbulKalamAzad He was a very famous Islamic scholar, author and jour- nalist in India this century. He was also President of the Indian National Congress before independence, and after the independenceof Indiahe held highpostsin thefederal 402 The AhmadiyyaCase cabinet of the Indian Republic. At the time of the death of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, he was acting as the editor of a well-known Muslim newspaper, the Wakeel of Amrit- sar. We give below extracts from the lengthy obituary of HazratMirzathatMaulanaAbulKalamAzad wroteinit: “That man, that very great man, whose pen was a magic wand and whose tongue spell-binding; that manwhosebrainwasacomplexofwonders,whose eye could revive the dying and whose call aroused those in the graves, whose fingers held the wires of revolution and whose fists were electrical batteries; that man who for thirty years was an earth-quake and typhoon for the religious world, who, like the trumpet of Doomsday, awakened those lost in the slumberoflife,hehaslefttheworldempty-handed. Thisbitterdeath,thiscupofpoison,whichentrusted the deceased to dust,willremainon thousands,nay millions of tongues, as words of bitter disappoint- ment and regret. The stroke of death which slaugh- tered, alongwithone whowas verymuchalive,the hopes and longings of many, and the wails it raises of lament, will remain in memories for a long time tocome. The demise of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad sahib of Qa- dianisnotsuchaneventthatalessonshouldnotbe learntfromit,norshoulditbeconsignedtothepas- sage of time to efface. Such people who produce a religious or intellectual revolution are not born of- ten. These sons of history, in whom it rightly takes pride, appear but rarely on the world scene, and when they do they bring about a revolution for all tosee. In spite of our strong differences with Mirza sahib TheEvidencePresentedintheCase 403 inrespectofsomeofhisclaimsandbeliefs,hissep- aration for ever has convinced the educated and en- lightened Muslims that one of their very great per- sonages has left them. And with him the mighty defence of Islam against its opponents, which was linkedwithhisperson,hascometoanend.Hisspe- cialcharacteristic,thatheactedagainsttheenemies of Islam as a victorious general, compels us to ex- press openly our feeling that the grand movement which for so long defeated and trod over our oppo- nentsshouldbecontinuedinthefuturealso. Mirza sahib appeared in the front line of devotees who,forthecauseofIslam,acceptedthededication to sacrifice their time from the cradle, through the springsandautumns,totheirgravesinfulfillingthe pledge of loyalty to their beautiful beloved Islam. ... The literature produced by Mirza sahib in his con- frontation with the Christians and the Aryas has re- ceivedthesealofgeneralapproval,andforthisdis- tinction he needs no introduction. We have to ac- knowledgethe valueand greatness of this literature from the bottom of our hearts, now that it has done its work. This is because that time cannot be for- gotten nor effaced from the mind when Islam was besieged by attacks on all sides, and the Muslims, who had been entrusted with the defence of Islam by the Real Defender, as the means of defence in thisworldofcausesandmeans,werelyingflatsob- bing in the aftermath of their shortcomings, doing nothing for Islam or not being able to do anything forit.... Then began that counter-attack from the side of the 404 The AhmadiyyaCase Muslims in which Mirza sahib had a part. That de- fence not only shattered to bits the initial influence of Christianity, which it really had due to support fromthegovernment,andsavedthousands,naymil- lions,ofMuslimsfromthisdangerousattack which would have succeeded, but the talisman of Chris- tianityitselfwasblownawaylikesmoke.... So, this service rendered by Mirza sahib will place the coming generations under a debt of gratitude, in that he fulfilled his duty of the defence of Is- lam by joining the front rank of those engaged in the jihad by the pen, and he left behind him as a memorialsuchliteratureaswilllastsolongasMus- lims have blood flowing in their veins and the urge to support Islam remains their prominent national characteristic. Besides this, Mirza sahib performed averyspecialserviceforIslambycrushingthepoi- sonous fangs of the Arya Samaj. ...His writings againsttheAryaSamajshedclearlightontheclaim that, however much the scope of our defence may be widened in the future, it is impossible that these writingscouldeverbeoverlooked. Natural intelligence, application and dexterity, and continuous debates, had lent Mirza sahib a special splendour. He had vast knowledge, not only of his ownreligion,butalsoofotherreligions.Andhewas abletousehisvastknowledgewithgreatfinesse.In the art of preaching and teaching, he had acquired the accomplishment that the person whom he ad- dressed,ofwhateverunderstandingorreligion,was thrown into deep thought by his spontaneous reply. India today is an exhibition house of religions, and the number of great and small faiths found here, TheEvidencePresentedintheCase 405 along with their mutual struggles which announce theirexistence,cannotbematchedanywhereelsein the world. Mirza sahib’s claim was that he was the arbiter and judge for them all, but there is no doubt thathepossessedaspecialtalenttomakeIslampre- eminent among all these religions. This was due to his natural ability, taste for study, and hard work. It is not likely that a man of this grandeur will be born again in the religious world of the Indian sub- continent, who would devote his highest desires in thiswaytothestudyofreligions.” (Wakeel,Amritsar) 6.MaulanaAbdullahAl-Imadi He was the permanent editor of Wakeel, and he added his owntributeafewdayslaterasfollows: “Although Mirza sahib had not received systematic educationincurrentknowledgeandtheology,yetan assessment of his life shows that he had a unique nature not granted to everyone: by the aid of his own study and his upright nature, he had attained sufficient mastery overreligious literature. In about 1877, when he was 35 or 36 years old, we find him charged with unusual religious fervour. He is lead- ing the life of a true and piousMuslim.His heart is unimpressed by worldly attractions. He is as happy in solitude as if he were in congenial company,and when in company he is enjoying the bliss of soli- tude. We find him restless, and it appears as if he is in search of a lost thing, no trace of which can be found in the mortal world. Islam has so over- whelmed him that he holds debates with the Aryas, and writes voluminous books in support of Islam. 406 The AhmadiyyaCase His debates in Hoshiarpur in 1886 were so delight- ful that the feeling of enjoyment has still not been forgotten.... The state of ecstacy created by reading his invalu- able books which were written to counter other re- ligions and to uphold Islam, still has not faded. His BarahinAhmadiyyaoverawedthenon-Muslimsand raised the spirits of the Muslims. He presented to the world a captivating picture of the religion [of Islam], cleansed of the blots and dust that had col- lecteduponitasaresultofthesuperstitionandnat- ural weaknesses of the ignorant. In short, this book raisedaloudechointheworld,atleastwithinIndia, whichisstillreverberatinginourears.Thoughsome Muslim religious leaders may now pass an adverse verdict on Barahin Ahmadiyya, ...the best time to pass judgmentwas 1880 when it was published. At that time, however, Muslims unanimously decided infavourofMirzasahib. As to his character, there is not the slightest trace of a blot on it. He lived a virtuous life, the life of a righteous, God-fearing person. To conclude, the first fifty years of his life, in terms of high morals and commendable habits, and in terms of services to the religion, raised him to an enviable position ofdistinctionandhonouramongtheMuslimsofIn- dia.” (Wakeel,Amritsar,30May1908) 7.MaulaviSiraj-ud-Din MaulaviSiraj-ud-DinwastheeditoroftheleadingMuslim Urdu daily paper, the Zamindar of Lahore, at the time of HazratMirza’sdeath.Hewasthefather ofthewell-known TheEvidencePresentedintheCase 407 Maulavi Zafar Ali Khan, who himself later became editor of Zamindar. In his obituary of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ah- madpublishedinZamindar,MaulaviSiraj-ud-Dinwrote: “Mirza Ghulam Ahmad sahib was a clerk near the district of Sialkot in about 1860 or 1861. He would be about 22 or 23 years of age at the time. We can say from personal experience that, even in his youth, he was a very virtuous and righteous per- son. After work all his time was spent in religious studies. He did not much meet people. In 1877 we hadthehonourofhishospitalityathishomeinQa- dian for one night. In those days too, he was so en- grossed in worship and devotion that he conversed little, even with guests. ...We have often said, and we again say, that even if his claims were the re- sult of mental pre-occupation, he was innocent of pretence or fabrication. ...Scholarly figures such as Maulavi Nur-ud-Din and Maulavi Muhammad Ahsan, and products of modern education such as Khawaja Jamal-ud-Din, B.A., Khawaja Kamal-ud- Din, B.A., and Maulavi Muhammad Ali, M.A., are amonghisfollowers.Thoughwepersonallydidnot have the honour of believing in his claims or reve- lations,nonethelessweconsiderhimtobeaperfect Muslim.”(Zamindar,8June1908) 8.MaulaviMuhammadHusainBatalvi He was a leader of the Ahl-i-Hadith sect, and editor of a journal Isha‘at as-Sunna, who later became a chief oppo- nent of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Earlier, he wrote a comprehensive review on Hazrat Mirza’s book Barahin Ahmadiyya when it appeared in 1884, highly praising the work.Givenbelowaresomeextracts: 408 The AhmadiyyaCase i. In our opinion this book, at this time and in view of thepresent circumstances,is suchthatthe likeof ithas not appeared in Islam up to now, while nothing can be said about the future. Its author too has been so con- stant in the service of Islam, with his money, life, pen andtongue,andpersonalexperience,thatveryfewpar- allelscanbefoundintheMuslims.Ifanyoneconsiders our words to be an Asian exaggeration, let him show usatleastonesuchbookwhichsovigorouslyfightsall the opponents of Islam, especially the Arya and Bra- hamo Samaj, and let him name two or three persons who have supported Islam, not only with their wealth, lives,pen andtongue,butalsobypersonalspiritualex- perience, and who have boldly thrown the challenge to all the opponents of Islam and the deniers of Divine revelation,thatwhoeverdoubtsthetruthofGodspeak- ing to man, he may come and observe it for himself, thus giving other religions a taste of this experience.” (Isha‘atas-Sunna,vol.vii, no.6, June toAugust1884, pp.169–170) ii. “According to the experience and observationof friend and foe alike, the author of Barahin Ahmadiyya lives bytheShari‘ahofIslam,isGod-fearingandtruthfulby habit.”(ibid.,p.284) iii. “The excellence of this book, and the benefit accruing to Islam from it, will not remain hidden to those who readitwithafair mind,or tothereaders ofthisreview. Therefore,inaccordancewiththeDivinecommand,‘Is not the reward for good but good’, all the followers of Islam, be they Ahl-i Hadith, Hanafi, Shiah or Sunni, are obliged to support this book and its printing. The author of Barahin Ahmadiyya has saved the honour of the Muslims. He has challenged the opponents of Is-