Truth About the Split — Page 103
103 relating to M. Zahiruddin, is that the Khalifa started correspondence with Zahiruddin after a perusal of the book. As a matter of fact, the correspondence was started not by the Khalifa but by Zahiruddin. The reason why Maulawi Muhammad Ali has used language which would convey that it was the Khalifa who started the correspondence seems to be that Maulawi Muhammad Ali wants to prove that the Khalifa, when he read the book, was highly displeased with it and wrote to Zahiruddin about it. But as would appear from the contemporary notices of these events, correspondence on the subject was initiated by Zahiruddin and the occasion for it, as can be ascertained from Al-Hakam of 14th October 1912, arose as follows: The Khalifatul Masih ra had gone to Lahore to take part in a certain function. There he delivered a speech on this same question, which divides to-day the two sections of Ahmadis—the adherents and the seceders. The editor of the Zami ń dar was also present at the speech of which he subsequently published a garbled report 5 in his paper. He wrote that Khalifatul Masih I ra had declared all non-Ahmadis to be Muslims. Zahiruddin, when he 5 This report was wrong. The editor of the Al-Hakam had recorded the whole speech which, after due perusal and corrections by the Khalifatul Masih was published by him in his own paper. Between this authoritative report and the Zami ń dar report there was a great difference.