Fazl-e-Umar — Page 135
Fazle Umar 135 appeal to the Community for funds. This institution has since developed into a Jamia whose graduates are doing splendid work in propagating the message of true Islam in different parts of the world. In the first year of the Khilafat, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih [ra] set up a public library in Qadian and this library was placed under the control of Anjuman Tashheezul Azhan, which was headed by Hadhrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad. Hadhrat Sahibzada Sahib was always very conscious of the education and training of the youth. He felt that students at Qadian, or those who came from outside, could take advantage of having access to all the books of the Community rather than waste their time in other places. 92 After the death of the Promised Messiah [as] there was a spate of criticism of and objections to his claims by his opponents. Several scholars and divines from among the members of the Movement wrote pamphlets and articles in refutation of these objections. Sahibzada Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad sahib, not yet twenty also wrote a booklet on that occasion, the title of which was: Who can put out the Light of the Righteous? Having read it, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih remarked to Maulvi Muhammad Ali, “You and I have both written in refutation of the objections raised by our opponents against the Promised Messiah [as] , but Mian Mahmud has left both of us behind. ” 93 We have seen how in contrast with the preoccupations and activities of the Sadr Anjuman, the life and activities of Sahibzada Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad sahib, even during those early years, held out the promise that he would progressively continue to furnish proof of the truth of the various aspects of the prophecy of the Promised Messiah [as] , set out in the announcement of 20 February 1886. He had grown up and matured with amazing speed. Under that youthful exterior he was a mature defender and champion of Islam with views so sound and deep and far-reaching