Truth About the Split — Page 377
377 Sadruddin. Now, if the posting of cards by the Anjuman Ansarullah was a conspiracy, was not the action of Maulawi Sadruddin also conspiracy? Yet another method designed to defame me was to say that those who had assembled on the occasion had been tutored beforehand to suggest my name when time came for the election of the Khalifa. In support of this, it is said that even during the lifetime of Hadrat Khalifatul Masih I ra , Maulawi Muhammad Ismail asked some people to prepare 40 men who when the time came should pledge their Bai‘at to me. I am sorry to have to say that, forced by circumstances, Maulawi Muhammad Ismail did really commit an indiscretion. He has, however, made a frank confession to me of the facts which are as follows: A friend of Maulawi Muhammad Ismail brought him the report that Maulawi Muhammad Ali had been asked by Dr. Mirza Ya‘qub Baig to hold himself in readiness for the office of Khalifa, to which the former had replied that he was not equal to the burden. Upon this, the doctor had reassured him saying that he need not worry about the burden, as the doctor Sahib and his friends would render him all necessary help. [This story was current at Qadian at the time with the further addition that doctor Sahib said at the end that if Maulawi Muhammad Ali was