Ahmadiyyat or Qadianism! Islam or Apostasy? — Page 131
not necessarily minimise the impact which his mission created in reversing the tide against the enemies of Islam. This is clearly indicated by the grief of the Muslim leadership which mourned the sad demise of. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and admitted that he: 'was unique in defending Islam against its opponents and he performed his duties like a victorious general. '38. The author of these words, was not a stranger to the state of the. Ummah in India. Nor was he unacquainted with Hazrat Mirza Ghulam. Ahmad's endeavours to protect the honour of Islam from the menacing attack of its opponents, particularly the Christian missionaries who were being patronised by the British monarch. Depicting the state of Muslims in India and their timely rescue by the Imam Mahdi from Qadian,. Allama Abul Kalam Azad, an Indian Muslim leader and later President of India stated: 'The extent of the weakness and helplessness of the Muslims was so acute that they did not possess even arrows in the face of cannons. . They were neither able to take an offensive against the enemy nor could they go on the defensive and defend themselves. It was at this critical juncture that he [Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian] arrived at the scene to defend Islam. And not only did he shatter the magical influence of Christianity but he also saved hundreds and thousands of Muslims from the deadly and dangerous onslaught. of. Christian missionaries who enjoyed special privilege due to their being under the protection of a Christian monarch. ' 39. Hence, at that point in time when the Ummah found itself in a miserable plight, it fell upon Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's lot to come forward and protect the Ummah of our beloved Prophet from the dangerous onslaught of Islam's enemies. And, according to the Muslim leadership of his age, he not only shattered 'the magical spell of. Christianity which went up in a smoke' 40 but he also 'turned the tables and the vanquished became the victorious. 41 38. Azad, Maulana Abul Kalam: Vakil, Amritsar: May, 1908 39. Ibid 40. lbid 132 41. Ibid