The Outset of Dissension in Islam — Page 40
40 H A D RAT MIRZA BASHIR-UD-DIN MAHMUD AHMAD “I have been in correspondence with them, and it was I who guided them, not they. The people of Madinah are the keenest in creating disorder, but they are the least capable. The people of Kufah raise objections on trivial matters, but they are not afraid of committing grave sins. The people of Basrah attack together, but scatter when they flee. No doubt, it is the people of Egypt who are the most fit for mischief, but their shortcoming is that they become regretful soon after. ” After this, describing the situation of Syria he said, “They are the most obedient to their chiefs and most disobedient to those who mislead them. ” 38 This is the opinion of Ibnul-Kaww a ’ who was a member of the party of Ibnus-Saud a ’. This establishes that Egypt was the most suitable place where Ibnus-Saud a ’ could setup camp. When his shrewd eye of mischief caught sight of this, he selected this as his place of residence and made it a centre of disorder. It was no time before a party had gathered around him. Now, headquarters of mischief had been established in every city. With great skill and intelligence, Ibnus-Saud a ’ began to recruit such people who had either been sentenced, were relatives of such people, or were not content with their condition for one reason or another. He would express his view to such people according to their respective dispositions in order to gain their sympathy. Madinah was safe from mischief and Syria was completely free from it as well. There were three 38. * As shall be proven ahead, he lied when stating that the people of Madinah were not at all involved in this disorder. * T a r i khu t-T abar i , vol. 5, p. 140, Dhikru M a K a na Minal-A h d a thi. . . . . , Published by D a rul-Fikr, Beirut, 2002 edition [Publishers]