Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 215
THE RENAISSANCE OF ISLAM 215 The end came nine days later on Friday 13 March, shortly after 2 p. m. He had been born in 1841 and was thus six years younger than the Promised Messiah. He died six years after the death of the Promised Messiah and thus at the time of his death his age was the same as was the age of the Promised Messiah at the time of his death. The same was the case with Hazrat Abu Bakr, the First Successor of the Holy Prophet. He also died when he arrived at the same age at which the Holy Prophet had died. On the evening of the same day Maulvi Muhammad Ali Sahib met the Sahibzada Sahib and suggested that nothing should be determined consequent on the death of the Khalifa- tul Masih in a hurry, but that everything should be settled after mutual consultation. The Sahibzada Sahib agreed and said that by the next day most people of note in the Com- munity would have arrived in Qadian, and that a consul- tation could take place after their arrival. Maulvi Sahib demurred to this and pr~posed that as there was a difference of views on certain matters among different sections of the Community, time should be taken for full discussion so that a unanimous decision might be reached. He expressed the view that the Community shoul~ reflect upon the situation for four to five months and thereafter should come to a decision after an exchange of views. The Sahibzada Sahib pointed out the impracticability of such a course and finally said that he and those who saw eye to eye with him were prepared to make the covenant of BaJiat at the hands of anyone whom Maulvi Muhammad Ali Sahib and his' group might put forward for the office of Khalifa; but Maulvi Sahib would not agree. Later the same evening the Sahibzada Sahib summoned sixty leading members of the Community who were present in Qadian for consultation. After some assessment of the situation it was unanimously agreed that before the inter- ment of the Khalifatul MasID his successor, who should command the obedience of the Community, should be elected and should lead the funeral prayers of the deceased Khalifa and should arrange for his burial.