Truth About the Split — Page 191
191 as Khalifa. The most important article I wrote on the subject was the one published during the lifetime of Hadrat Khalifatul Masih I ra. Accordingly, if holding this belief is really a valid ground for my deposition from the Khilafat, the blame attaches to Sayyid Sahib who, in spite of my holding the belief, was so strong in his support of my election as Khalifa. Besides, it may also be noted that on the eve of the meeting at which God was pleased to decide the question of successor to the Khilafat, Maulawi Muhammad Ali came to pay me a call. There were present on the occasion Maulawi Muhammad Ahsan, Dr. Khalifa Rashiduddin, and Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan, Jagirdar of Malerkotla. Maulawi Muhammad Ali at that time laid stress upon this very question. He pointed out that it was difficult to proceed with the election of a Khalifa, because there was such serious disparity of beliefs prevailing in the Community. One party regarded the Promised Messiah as as a Nabi and his deniers as kuffar while the other party refused to subscribe to any such doctrine. Upon this, it was Maulawi Muhammad Ahsan who engaged Maulawi Muhammad Ali in argument, and tried to establish the validity of our beliefs. But I restrained him pointing out that the occasion was not one for the settlement of differences of belief. The question immediately before