Fazl-e-Umar — Page 122
Fazle Umar 122 A P P OI n TM E n T OF H A d H R AT S A H I b Z A d A S A H I b AS P R E SI d E n T OF S A d R A n j UM A n Sometime in 1910, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih [ra] resigned the presidency of the Sadr Anjuman on the grounds that the two offices were incompatible and directed that Sahibzada Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, who was then only 21 years of age, should be president of the Anjuman. But by that time the question of supremacy between the Khalifa and the Anjuman had already come to the surface. 82 P O n y A C C I d E n T OF H A d H R AT K HA L I FAT U L M ASI H I [ra] On Friday, 18 November 1910, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih [ra] fell while riding a pony and received injuries of which one, on his right temple, was serious. For some days his condition was considered grave. While he was in this condition he said one day to Dr. Mirza Yaqub Beg, his principal physician: I am not afraid of death. If in your judgment my condition is serious, you may tell me so frankly, so that I may dictate certain directions. He assured him that he was in no danger, but that if his illness took a turn for the worse he himself would warn him. Yet as soon as he left him and joined his colleagues in Maulvi Muhammad Ali’s room, they put their heads together and despatched him to invite Sahibzada Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad sahib to join them. When he arrived, Khawaja Kamal Uddin explained the situation to him in the words, “We have troubled you to come over as we are told that Hadhrat Maulvi sahib is very ill and weak. Those of us who are from Lahore cannot afford to stay here longer, as we must return to Lahore. We desire that we should consult together and agree upon some plan that should obviate any risk of trouble in case of an emergency. We wish to assure you that none of us desires to be Khalifa, nor does Maulvi Muhammad Ali. ” On this Maulvi Muhammad Ali made an affirmation to that effect, and Khawaja Kamal Uddin proceeded, “We do not consider anyone beside you worthy of being