Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 248
248 AHMADIYY AT participate in the pourparlers. The Khalifatul Masih readily responded to the request and instructed the representatives, whom he nominated for the purpose, that as the Arya Samaj had started the whole affair and had stolen a march against the Muslims it was unrealistic on its part to suggest that the situation should be frozen. This would mean that the Arya Samaj would retain the advantage that it,had already gained and could look forward to resuming and renewing its effort from that point of vantage after a few months. The Ahmadi campaign, therefore, must continue till the last Malkana who had been reconverted had been won back to the Muslim fold. The Arya Samaj thus had no choice but to beat a reluctant and rueful retreat. The non-Ahmadi leadership and press expressed great appreciation of the stand the Khalifatul Masih had taken throughout and of the campaign that he had organized and continued to direct over several months till the 0 bject had been fully achieved. Dr Henry Leitner, an oriental scholar of note, was towards the close of the 19th Century, Principal of the Oriental College, Lahore, one of the institutions affiliated to the University of the Punjab. For a time. he also acted as Registrar of the Punjab University. Before his retirement he conceived the idea of establishing an Oriental Institute in a suitable place within easy reach of London, which should have a Mosque attached to it. For this purpose he sought and obtained substantial contributions from the Muslims of India, the largest. contributors being Her Highness the Begum of Bho- pal and His Excellency Nawab Sir Salar lang, Prime Minister of the State of Hyderabad in South India. Arriving in Eng- land Dr Leitner began to look for a suitable site for the Oriental Institute and Mosque, and found one outside Wok- ing in Surrey at. a distance of 24 miles from London. He acquired the site which comprised a fairly large area and proceeded with the construction of the necessary buildings for the Institute and also of the Mosque. Quite close to the Mosque he constructed a modest residential building which