Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 254
254 AHMADIYY AT the hospitality that was extended to them and the favourable publicity that was given to their visit. But nemesis was not long delayed. King Amanul1ah's modernizing methods were deeply resented by the mullas who roused the populace against him. Soon after his return from Europe a scalliwag called Bacha Saqua (son of water carrier) headed a rising against him and advanced upon Kabul. He met with no opposition in Kabul, and Amanullah finding himself deserted by everyone departed in the utmost haste from Kabul, accompanied by his wife, and requested the British authori- ties of India to provide him with facilities for travel to Italy. Arrived in Rome he rented an apartment and settled down to an inglorious existence of degrading humiliation. His wife and daughter were disgusted with him and left him to die in lonely misery. This was the end of the line of Amir Abdur Rahman Khan, at whose instance Maulvi Abdur Rahman, a discipleofSahibzada Abdul Latif, had been strangled to death while in custody. Before leaving England and starting on his return journey to India, the Khalifatul Masih laid the foundation stone of the London Mosque on 19 October 1924. The construction of the Mosque was completed in the s:ummer of 1926, and the opening ceremony was performed on 3 October 1926 by Shaikh Sir Abdul Qadir in the presence of a distinguished gathering of Muslims from all countries and British guests prominent in public life. Four English gentlemen announced their acceptance of Islam. This was the first mosque esta b- lished within the area of Greater London. In the late 1920Sa graceless and shameless member of the Arya Samaj named Rajpal published a most scurrilous and disgraceful book concerning the Holy Prophet of Islam, peace be on him, which he called Rangila Rasul (The Rakish Messenger). The publication of the book sent a thrill of horror through the minds of the Muslims and the govern- ment prosecuted Rajpal for the offence of insulting the memory of the Founder of a religion and thus provoking