Life of Ahmad — Page 645
as POLICE HARASS AHMAD as 645 a breach of the peace in the fulfilment of such a prophecy. But it was completely fulfilled by Muhammad Husain being disgraced in the manner stated in my Ishtih a r dated December 27th, 1898, and the succeeding Ishtih a rs of January 3rd, 6th and 7th, 1899. Muhammad Husain, as I have already submitted, had declared me a kafir and a Dajj a l by means of a fatwa. Now it happened that on the one hand he published his belief that he expected a Gh a z i Mahdi as all other mullahs did and assured the Maulaw i s that such a belief was right (vide Ish a ‘atus-Sunnah , fatwa compiled by Muhammad Husain, page 139). On the other hand, he secretly printed, 152 on October 14th, 1898, a pamphlet in English in which he gave a list of the subjects 153 on which he had been writing in the Ish a ‘atus-Sunnah , and in it he stated in one heading 154 that the traditions concerning the coming of the Mahdi are incorrect. By this he wanted to assure the Government that he did not believe in the coming of a Gh a z i Mahdi. When this belief was 152 At the Victoria Press, Lahore. 153 Articles 'wherein the illegality of rebellion against or opposition to the Govt. and the true nature of jihad is explained. ' (Author) 154 'Criticism of traditions regarding the Mahdi and arguments showing their incorrectness. ' (Author)