Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 88
88 AHMADIYY AT doctrines to which they objected, and that if the arguments in support of his belief were effectively refuted he could be condemned and punished. The Amir approved. ofhis sugges- tion and Khan Mulla Khan and eight Muftis were selected to enter into discussion with the Sahibzada Sahib. A doctor from the Punjab, of the name of Abdul Ghani, who was bitterly opposed to the Promised Messiah's claim and teach- ings was appointed as umpire. The discussion started at 7. 00 a. m. and continued till 3. 00 p. m. There was a large gathering in the mosque where the discussion was being held, but the exchange of views was carried on in writing and nothing was said orally. At the end of the written discussion the Sahibzada Sahib was asked that if this Qaisani was the Promised Messiah, what did he think about the second coming of Jesus? The Sahibzada Sahib affirmed stoutly that Jesus had died and would not appear again, and that the Holy Quran proclaimed his death and stood in the way of his coming again. Upon this the Muftis burst out in abuse against him and proclaimed that no doubt was left of his infidelity; and they prepared and subscribed to the formal declaration of his apostacy. Thereafter Sahibzada Sahib was returned to his cell burdened with his heavy chains and fetters. Throughout the course of the discussion eight guards with drawn swords had stood around the Sahibzada Sahib. The declaration of the Muftis was submitted to the Amir at night without the record of the discussion, which is a strong indication that the Muftis had not been able to refute the arguments of Sahibzada Sahib. The Amir acting solely upon the declaration of the Muftis passed the sentence of death on him. This was a most irresponsible action for which the Amir laid himself open to serious blame. Indeed the whole proce- dure was most unjust and tyrannical. There was not the slightest justification for subjecting the Sahibzada Sahib to the torment of the most painful kind of durance for a period of four months without charging him