Life of Ahmad — Page 777
as THE WHITE MINARET 777 Mirza Ni za m D i n wrote to the authorities on May 1st, 1903, that Ahmad as was laying the foundations of a new religion. The Minaret was an innovation and it was being erected as a private building to take possession of the mosque etc. There existed, he said, a real danger of a breach of the peace. He also feared that if the Minaret tumbled down people would lose their lives. The officiating Tahsildar of Batala, Mot i R a m, came to Qadian on May 8th, 1903, and made some enquiries. In view of his suspicious attitude a memorial was sent to him on May 9th, 1903, under the signatures of about 30 Ahmadis of Qadian. That was probably the total number of the adult male population of Ahmadis at that time living in Qadian. Ahmad as addressed the Tahsildar again on May 10th, 1903, as follows: 'I understand that a few persons have, actuated only by enmity, put forward some points against the construction of the Minaret of the mosque which are not based on facts. Real facts have been concealed. Therefore I have to submit the following: (1) The construction of the Minaret of the mosque is for the performance of the religious duty of Muslims and for the good of the public, as is clear from our Ishtih a r. (2) It appears that most of the complainants. . . whose names have not been intimated to me, nor have their complaints been shown to me. . . or their leaders are Hindus, who