Invitation to Ahmadiyyat — Page 144
144 The first proof of the authenticity of a claimant to a spiritual office is his own person and character. In the presence of this, there is no need for any miracles or signs. It is the same proof that God has provided for the truth of Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as. He lived in Qadian which was inhabited by followers of all the three major religions of India—Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims. They all watched him grow up before their very eyes. Nor were the rela - tions of his family with these people such that they would have any sympathy for him. The British had taken possession of Punjab when Hadrat Mirza Sahib was a child. Until then, the inhabitants of Qadian and its environs had lived as tenants and serfs of his family. With the coming of the British, a great change had taken place and the old inhabitants of Qadian were determined to make the most of it. They started working for their release from old con - tracts and commitments through litigation against Mirza Sahib’s father. Mirza Sahib could not remain aloof from these proceed - ings because, for a time, his father instructed him to follow the lawsuits and he became the face of the opposing party in the eyes of these people. The Sikh community, in particular, were hostile to his family because in the past the Sikhs had driven out Mirza Sahib’s family and ruled these lands. Therefore, they were not happy with the success of this family and a sense of rivalry had taken possession of them. Also, from an early age, Hadrat Mirza Sahib had been deeply engrossed in the service of Islam. He would often hold oral and written debates with Christians, Hindus and Sikhs. This made these communities naturally antagonistic towards him. Hadrat Mirza Sahib was known to the people of other