The Need for the Imam — Page 80
80 Ahmad. Although some of them did say that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s personal income was considerable and that it was taxable, no one was able to provide any clear evidence. I also visited the school and the guest house in Qadian. The school is still in an early stage and is largely built of mud. Some houses have also been built for the followers. There were guests in the guest house, and I noted that all the followers who were present in Qadian on that day had their meals in the guest house. In my humble opinion, if Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s personal income is taken to derive from Ta‘alluqad a r i and his orchard alone—as is clear form the evidence, and the income from his followers is regarded as charitable contribution, then the tax imposed on Mirza Ghulam Ahmad cannot be upheld. On the other hand, when we consider that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad comes of a respected and influential family and his ancestors have been important chiefs with substantial incomes, and that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad himself has been in service and in comfortable circumstances, one tends to imagine that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is a rich person and is, therefore, liable to tax. According to Mirza Sahib’s own statement, he has recently mort- gaged his garden to his wife and has received in return ornaments worth Rs. 4000/- and Rs 1000/- in cash. A man whose wife can afford to spare such an amount can