The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 153
THE PROMISED MESSIAH AND MAHDI malicious, and care nothing for the truth of the accusation, namely, that Hadhrat Ahmad was characterized by a servile attitude of flattery towards the British, and the British rule in India. These people ignore the specific conditions prevailing in the country at the time of British advent in this sub-continent, of which certain evident aspects. impelled the Promised Messiah in all sincerity of purpose, to bestow just and well merited measure of praise and appreciation on the. British. The background of history, which made the Promised. Messiah favorably disposed towards the British rule at that time, has two special aspects, which no fair-minded person will find it in his heart to dismiss lightly and thoughtlessly. In the first place, the advent of the British had been preceded by a widespread anarchy in the. Punjab and all over India, especially in this part of the country where the Promised Messiah lived. Leaving aside, to some extent, the reign of Maharajah Ranjit Singh, there had been the greatest lawlessness and barbarism, almost of every kind, so much so that in the villages the Muslims were even forbidden to announce the Azan, the Call to. Prayer. Many mosques had been turned into gurudawaras by the. Sikhs, who wielded the political power. In Qadian itself, two former mosques exist even today in the form of gurudawaras. General lawlessness and lack of religious tolerance was at a most painful level. The Promised Messiah had witnessed all these harrowing scenes with his own eyes, as he grew to manhood. To breathe in an air of peace, after one had passed through the painful experience which had fallen to the lot of the Punjab, was naturally a cause for sincere thanks on the part of all reasonable people; and who could be more grateful than the Promised Messiah, where the situation justly called for thanks to be rendered to anybody?. Secondly, we must not forget that Hadhrat Ahmad was not at political leader. On the contrary, like Jesus of Nazareth, he had been raised solely for the religious and spiritual regeneration and reformation of the people by peaceful means; and naturally, therefore, he viewed everything from this and this angle alone. Since, in the matter of religious freedom British policy extended to all its subjects, it was particularly commendable in the eyes of the Promised Messiah, 153