Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part III — Page 10
BarĀhĪn-e-a H madiyya — Part three 10 therefore be a great pity if the Muslim ulema failed to widely publicize this issue with unanimous agreement, thereby allowing uninformed people to make verbal and written attacks which portray their religion as weak and cause undue damage in their worldly affairs. In the opinion of this humble one, the best course of action would be for the Islamic societies of Lahore, Calcutta, Bombay, etc. , to choose some renowned maulav i s, with a well-established reputation for their nobility, knowledge, piety, and righteousness, who will in turn invite learned men from far and wide with somewhat of a standing in their local region, to prepare scholarly dissertations clearly prohibiting jihad against the beneficent British government, which is the protector and benefactor of Indian Muslims, citing the dictates of Islamic Law in support of their edicts; then send them, duly bearing their seal, to the aforementioned team of ulema selected for this task. When all such declarations have been received, the collection, which may be named Makt u b a t-e-‘Ulam a ’-e-Hind [Letters from the Ulema of India], could be printed, with due regard for accuracy, at a quality press. Ten to twenty copies may then be forwarded to the Government, and the rest distributed in different areas of the Punjab and India, especially in the areas of the Frontier. 1 It is true that some sympathetic Muslims have written in refutation of Dr. Hunter’s thoughts, but the refutation by a handful of Muslims cannot be a substitute for a refutation by the whole community, which will be so strong and powerful that all the doctor’s writings will cease to have any effect and, at the same time, ignorant Muslims will be educated about the true and pure teachings of their religion. The British govern- ment will also be well-informed that the Muslims are pure-hearted and well-wishing citizens. Moreover, this book will also serve to admonish and reform the ignorant people of the mountainous region. 1. In those days, ‘the Frontier region’ referred to the Northwestern Frontier Province of India (present-day Pakistan) and contiguous regions of Afghanistan. [Publisher]