A Verdict Required — Page 53
HADRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMAD AS 53 British rule in this nation. And they were not content even with this, but from Peshawar to Mumbai, Kolkata, Allahabad, etc. , large processions were organized and accounts were published in the newspapers on the basis of sheer slander and the ignorant maulawīs and the ignorant masses were incited. Thousands of flyers filled with curses were distributed throughout the country. They endeavoured to give people the impression that the reli- gion of Islam is worthless, and some maulawis—the [grovelling] dogs of the world-began to agree with them in unison. And this fitnah was greater than all the other fitnas because it was not merely an attack on me personally, but the main objective was to make a show by disgracing and belittling Islam. The maulawis possessing the traits of Jews, joined them in this accusation of falsehood, saying: 'What harm is there if the Christians accuse him of falsehood? This person is himself a kāfir [disbeliever]!' However, they were well aware that the Christians consider me a Muslim as well, and ultimately regard me as the leader of a sect of Muslims. Consequently, out of their unjustified enmity towards me, these oppressors mocked the religion of Islam through the tongues of Christians; moreover, they repeatedly instigated them to file a lawsuit [against me]. THE SECOND FITNAH, which ranks second, is the fitnah of Sheikh Muhammad Husain of Batala. This cruel man instigated a fitnah the likes of which would be difficult to find in the lives of the past ulema throughout Islamic history. He had the men- tally disturbed Nazeer Husain affix his seal on the edict of dis- belief. He declared hundreds of Muslims as kāfir condemned to