Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 89
THE RENAISSANCE OF ISLAM 89 with an offence and affording him an opportunity of clearing himself. When at long last such an opportunity was granted, he was brought to the trial, if it can be so described, loaded with his heavy chains and fetters and eight guards with drawn swords kept watch over him, so that he might be overawed and handicapped in replying to the charges pre- ferred against him. The Amir realized that the discussion might lead to the loss of the life of an innocent person, he should, therefore, have been present himself in the course of the discussion; but not having done so he should have insisted that the written record of the discussion should be submitted to him. Indeed, not only should he have himself perused the record of the discussion to satisfy himself of the guilt of the accused person, he should have directed the publication of the entire record to show that the Sahibzada Sahib had failed to set forth any proof in support of the claim of the Qadiani Promised Messiah, or in support- of the prohibition of Jehad by the sword, or in support of the death of Jesus. He should at least have inquired from the Muftis on what was their condemna- tion of the Sahibzada based, and whether, in view of the differences that divided the various sects of Muslims, all of them, except one, should be similarly condemned. The next morning the Sahibzada Sahib was summoned to the Salam Khana where a large crowd was gathered. The Amir left the citadel and on his way to the Salam Khana noticed the Sahibzada Sahib at one place and asked him what had been decided in the discussion. He returned no answer to the Amir's query, but one of the guards said that he had been condemned. When the Amir arrived in the Salam Khana he called for SahibzadaSahib and said to him: 'You have been declared an apostate. Will you now repent, or will you submit to the penalty?' He replied that he could not repent of the truth and would not subscribe to falsehood to save his life. The Amir urged him again to repent and promised to let him go free if he would recant. The Sahibzada Sahib firmly declined and said that he would never give up the truth. The