A Present to Kings — Page 82
( 82 ) he who was selected to perform the function. He heard about the Promised Messiah and came down to Qadian to see him. . When he returned to Kabul, he was met by a powerful opposition. The Amir was obliged through the outery of the. Ulemas to place him under confinement. Ile challenged all the Ulemas to meet him in a discussion regarding the claims of the Promised Messiah, but nobody ventured to accept the challenge. At last all the Ulemas pronounced against him the fatwa that he should be stened to death. More than once the Amir urged him to renounce, at least outwardly, his opinion but he remained steadfast. Again, at the time of the execution the Amir repeated the request, but he only replied,. To-day is the day of my 'Id. What way it is you would have me go? It is the covenant of God that I am to-day going to fulfill. " When all means failed to persuade him to renounce the truth, then they cruelly stoned him to death. even under the storm of stones he showed not the least sign of perturbation. 46. But. The above event will show to Your Highness the nature of the faith the Promised Messiah has implanted in the minds of his followers, and that not in the hearts of unlettered men who sometimes venture upon such deeds through sheer foolhardiness but in the minds of learned men, like Moulvi Syed. Abdul Latif, who are wont to accept opinions only after thorough deliberation and research. . LOYALTY TO GOVERNMENT A FUNDAMENTAL. ARTICLE OF HIS TEACHINGS. . Besides the general reforms, I wish to mention here one special feature of the work of the Promised Messiah and that is the inclusion into the articles of his discipleship the condition of loyalty to the governing power. He has in almost all his works enjoined upon his followers to observe the strictest fealty towards the government under which they may chance to live. He goes so far as to say that whoever is not faithful to his ruler, or conspires against the authorities. or