Bismillah Al-Rehman Al-Raheem

Anti Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam 21st July 2003  

Snake in the Grass

by Dr. Syed Rashid Ali

Part I

"You can fend off a danger which you can see, but you are more liable to be taken unawares and be bitten by a snake in the grass." - B A Masri

Al-Hafiz Basheer Ahmad Masri said in his audio recording "The Henchmen of Europe":

"the Qadianis had the benevolent patronage of the British Raj. The Colonial Government in India at that time considered the Muslims a perpetual and potential threat. It was only 35 years earlier that the Muslims had carried out a near successful revolt, known in history as ‘The Mutiny of 1857’. The British administration saw in the Qadianis a useful collaborator in distrupting the established doctorinal framework of Islam and started aiding and abetting them."

"Some of our people become impressed by the apparent organisation of this cult and by their exaggerated claims of success in opening up their mission houses in various parts of the world. Little do they know that these are in reality spy centers in the guise of ‘da’awa (Tabigh) missions’. For that matter, even the Qadiani public doesn’t know what is going on behind the scenes. They are given the impression that all this progress is being made possible by their donations. While the fact is that large sums of money are being paid to the Qadiani Establishment by those countries, whose political and economic interests are at stake in these Islamic countries. Such enemies of Islam have found in Qadianis willing partisans and useful spies. It makes it much easier and safer for the Qadianis/Ahmadis to work as such, for the simple reason that they are functioning under the garb of Islam and are accepted by the non-Muslims as a sect within Islam."

AlHafiz Masri, was a born Qadiani, who later reverted to Islam. His words were not just ramblings of a mad man. He had seen the working of Jamaat at close quarters, and his words in 'Henchmen of Europe' were based on his personal knowledge and observation.

This conclusion is supported by the following facts:

Historical Background:

In the 19th Century, British who came to India as traders, usurped the power from Muslims. Naturally they met with a lot of resistance from Indian Muslims. In 1868 a Commission of Inquiry was sent to India to assess the causes of the resistence and mutiny against the Empire and to suggest ways to deal with this opposition. The commission comprised of British MPs, Church officials and Journalists. After two years of investigations, they returned to London, and presented their findings to the Parliament  as well as at a conference organized in 1870, attended by the commission members as well as prominent missionary heads. They each produced their reports, which were published together in a do*****ent called 'The Arrival of the British Empire in India' (source: Abu Mudassara, Qadian Say Israel Tak, Lahore , 1979, P. 24; History of Khatme Nabuwwat by Agha Shoresh Kashmiri). This report states how the Indian Muslims are very naive and blindly follow their religious leaders. Hence the missionaries suggest to find and put into office a Muslim who would be willing to claim prophethood, and who would abrogate jihad against the British.

“Majority of the population of the country blindly follows their ‘Peers’ (spiritual leaders). If at this stage, we succeed in finding out some who would be ready to declare himself a Zilli Nabi (apostolic prophet) then the large number of people shall rally round him. But for this purpose, it is very difficult to persuade someone from the Muslim masses. If this problem is solved, the prophet-hood of such a person can flourish under the patronage of the Government. We have already overpowered the native governments by mainly pursuing a policy of seeking help from the traitors. That was a different stage for, at that time, the traitors were from the military point of view. Bur now when we have sway over every nook of the country and there is peace and order every where, we ought to undertake measures which might create internal unrest among the country.” (Arrival of the British Empire in India, 1871, quoted in Ahmadiyya, the British-Jewish Connections by Bashir Ahmad M.A., Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, USA., Chapter 1 ; The Files of Church of England Magazine Church of England Quartery Review Church Missionary Intelligence and Church Missionary Record Corroborate the beed of Such an Imperialist lackey. )

Mirza was selected for the task. His family background as well as his own character helped him earn this post.

Family Background:

·         "My father was a well-known landlord in this country and he enjoyed great eminence in the Government's offices. He was truely grateful and well wisher of the British Government. In the mutiny of 1857, he supplied fifty horses and selecting good young men, provided 50 horsemen to aid the British Government. For this favor to the Government, he was very popular among the officials and high officials of government used to meet him to please him, rather many times Deputy Commissioners and Commissioners used to come to the house to meet him." (Izala-e-Auham, Roohani Khazain vol. 3 P. 167, footnote)

·         "I come from a family which is out and out well wisher of this government. My father, Mirza Ghulam Murtaza, was considered loyal and well wisher in the eyes of Government, used to be granted a chair in the Governor's Darbar (cabinet) and has been mentioned by Mr. Griffin in his 'History of Punjab Chiefs. In 1857 C.E. he [Mirza's father] helped the British government beyond his means, that is by providing fifty horses along with fifty riders, helped the English Government right at the time of mutiny. He received letters of commendation from the British government officials, alas some of them have been lost but three of these which been published long time ago are appended here on the margin." (Kitab al-Bariyyah, Roohani Khazain vol.13 p.4)

·         "It is not hidden from the benevolent Government that we are from among their servants since ancient times, their sympathizers and well wishers. We have come to their aid whole heartedly in every hour of need. In the eyes of government my father was held in high position and high esteem; and our services to this Government hold clear distinction. I do not think that the Government will ever forget these services of ours. My father, Mirza Ghulam Murtaza, son of Mirza Ata Muhammad Chief of Qadian, was among the well wisher and sincere friends of this government and enjoyed great respect from them. And this government knew him well, and never had there been any doubts about us, rather our fidelity was proven among all people and became clear to the government officials. The British Government may confirm this from the officers who came here and lived among us; and how we lived with them and how we always remained among those who took the lead in serving the Government." (Noor-ul-Haq, Roohani Khazain, Vol. 8, P. 36)

·         "Then, after the death of my father, my elder brother Mirza Ghulam Qadir remained occupied with services to the government and when the evil-doers encountered the forces of the British government on the highway of Tammun, he participated in the battle on the side of the British Government (under General Nicholson he killed several freedom fighters - Rashid). At the time of the death of my father and brother, I was living in recluse; but, for seventeen years I have been helping and supporting the British Government with my pen." (Roohani Khazain, Vol. 13, P. 4-7)

·         "I am scion of a family which the English Government acknowledges to be faithful to it. British officers have also admitted that my father and my people are amongst those who served the Government in all sincerity and with heart and soul. I can not find the words to express my homage and gratitude to the beneficent Government on account of the peace and composure which we have found as subjects of the Government. For this reason, we - myself, my father and my brother - have girded up our loins that we will exhibit the favors and advantages of this Government, make obedience to it in*****bent on the people and embed it in their hearts." (Tabligh-e-Risalat, Vol. 7, P. 8-9)

·         should render special consideration and kindness to me and my Jamaat. Our family has never hesitated in shedding their blood and laying down their lives in the way of British rulers and nor do they now. Therefore in the light of our services, it is our right to request the full favors and special attentions of British government, so that people don't get encouraged to insult us without reason. Here are the names of few members of my Jamaat:..." (Roohani Khazain, Vol. 13, P. 350)

Treason against Islam: Mirza deprives Muslims of the right of self-defensive (Jihad) against the British

Contrary to the propaganda of Islamophobic/anti-Islamic forces, Jehad is a doctrine of self-defense, and self-discipline in Islam. It teaches an individual how to discipline himself in life in accordance with the laws of shariah; and for the community, lays down the principles to guide it in its right to defend itself against any kind of oppression. It is never an act of aggression, never an act of violence against innocent men, women and children of any faith. It can never be used as an excuse to terrorise people, and those who misuse this term to justify their violence or ulterior motives are in grave error and will be answerable to Allah on the Day of Judgement. Islamic literature is full of principles of Jehad and its application, both in personal life as well at the community level, which is available for any seeker of truth, and an honest analysis of these resources will confirm what is said above.

As British had planned, Mirza started a campaign to deprive Muslims of this right of self defence (Jihad) against the British colonial occupation.

* "I have been writing in favor of and to help the British Government for the past seventeen years. During all these seventeen years, in all the books which I wrote, I have been enticing people to be subservient to and sympathiser of the British Government and wrote very convincing lectures regarding abrogation of Jihad and, then I thought it expedient and to spread this doctrine of the same abrogation of Jehad in other countries, I wrote books in Arabic and Persian, on whose printing and publication thousands of ruppees were spent, and all those books were distributed in Arabia, and Syria and Rome and Egypt and Baghdad and Afghanistan." (Al-Barriyah, Sept. 2, 1867, Roohani Khazain vol 13 p. 7-8)

*"I have filled shelves with books which I wrote in praise of the British, especially about the abrogation of Jihad in which many Muslims believe. This is a big service to the Government. So I hope for an appropriate and good reward." (Tabligh-e-Risalat, Vol. 7, P. 19)

* "I believe that as my followers increase, the believers in the doctrine of Jihad will decrease. For, accepting me to be the Messiah and Mahdi itself means the rejection of the doctrine of Jihad." (Tabligh-e-Risalat, Vol. 7, P. 17; Letter to British Lieutenant Governor)

*"From today, the order of manly Jihad by sword is abrogated, by the commandment of God. From now on, anyone who lifts a sword against the unbelievers and calls himself a Ghazi will be considered to oppose the Prophet of God - the Prophet who had informed 1300 years ago that Jihad with sword will be abrogated in the time of the Promised Messiah. Thus, now after my arrival, there is no Jihad. From our side we have raised the flag of Peace." (Khutba-Ilhamia, Roohany Khazaen, Vol. 16, P. 28-29, Collection of Advertisement P. 295, Vol. 3; Khutba-Ilhamia, P. 28-29; Tabligh-e-Risalat, Vol. 9, P. 47)

*"This sect, which is known as Ahmadiyya, is endeavoring both day and night to erase the nonsensical idea of Jihad from Muslim minds." (Review of Religions, Vol. No. 1, P. 12, 1902; by Maulvi Muhammad Ali)

If there were any doubts remaining, he further explained his position in relation to British:

"For the sake of the British government, I have published fifty thousand books, magazines and posters and distributed them in this and other Islamic countries. I have stressed that the British Government is the benefactor of the Muslims and it is, therefore, in*****bent upon every Muslim to extend his faithful obedience to this Government, express gratitude from the bottom of his heart to that (government), and pray for it. And I have written these books in Urdu, Arabic and Persian and have distributed them throughout the entire Muslim world, so much so that they have reached the two sacred cities of Mecca and Medina; and, as far as possible, also in the Capital of Room - Constantinople and Syria, Egypt and Kabul and many other cities of Afghanistan. As to the best approach, these have been published in Istanbul and in the different cities of countries like Syria, Egypt and Afghanistan. It is as the result of my endeavors that thousands of people have given up thoughts of Jihad which had been propounded by ill-witted mullahs and embedded in the minds of the people. I can rightly feel proud of this that no other Muslim in British India can equal me in this respect." (Sitara-e-Qaisaria, Roohani Khazain, Vol. 15, P. 114; Sitara-e-Qaisaria, P. 3-4; Letter to Queen Victoria; Khutba-Ilhamia, Appendix)

·         "It is binding upon the British Government to be aware of the services of the Qadianis by every care as their Imam (Mirza Ghulam Ahmad) spent twenty two years of his life preaching to the people that Jihad is Haraam (forbidden) and is strictly abrogated. He not only propagated this idea in India, but also in other Muslim countries such as Arabia, Syria and Afghanistan." (Review of Religion, No. 1, P. 2, 1902; by Maulvi Muhammad Ali)

·         "From my early days till now that I am sixty years old, I have been engaged, with my pen and tongue, in the important task of turning the hearts of Muslims to faithful loyalty to the British Government and to create the feeling of goodwill and sympathy for the Government; and that I obliterate false notions like Jihad from minds of the foolish among them, as it is these ideas that prevent them from establishing an open-hearted and sincere link with this government... I have not only made the Muslims of British India sincerely obedient to the British Government, I have also written a number of books in Arabic, Persian and Urdu to apprise Muslims of other Islamic countries of the peace, prosperity and freedom under the benevolent protection of the British Government." (Kitab-ul-Barriyah, Roohani Khazain, Vol. 13, P. 350; Tabligh-e-Risalat, Vol. 7, P. 10; Letter to Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab, Feb. 24, 1898)

·         "I have spent most of my life in 'yeamanship' (supporting and defending) of the British Government and in opposing Jihad. I continued my efforts till the Muslims became sincerely faithful to this Government." (Tiryaq-ul-Quloob, Roohani Khazain, Vol. 15, P. 155; Tiryaq-ul-Quloob, P. 15, Mirza Ghulam Qadiani)

·         "Let the Government ascertain through inquiry whether or not it is a fact that thousands of Muslims who dub me as a Kafir and who deem it their duty to condemn and persecute me and my followers who are to be found in large numbers in the Punjab and India. One of the reasons behind this attitude is that, quite against the sentiments of these foolish Muslims, I published thousands of posters to demonstrate heartfelt gratitude to the British Government and sent books to Arabia, Syria, etc. My claims are not without proof. If the Government so likes, I can produce conclusive proof in support thereof." (Tabligh-e-Risalat, Vol. 7, P. 13; Letter to British Lieutenant Governor)

Mirza Boasts of Un-paralleled service

"Whatever I have performed with full vigour and with great perseverence continuously for the last 17 years, to help the British Government and maintain peace, and to stop the Jehadi thoughts, is there any parallel of such work and of such conspicuous service and of such lenghthy duration, among other Muslims who are against me?" (Ishtihaar Wajib ul Izhaar, for the attention of Queen Victoria and government officials, Roohani Khazain vol.13 p.8)

Mirza spies for the British

Mirza draws up a list of all those muslims who "in their heart consider this country as an enemy country", a list he passes on to the British rulers:

·  "For the welfare of the government, it is expedient to prepare a list of those stupid Muslims who are against the British government inwardly and who consider this country as an enemy country. We hope that our wise government will keep these lists as State Secrets in safe custody in one of its offices. The following are the names and addresses of such persons." (Tabligh-e-Risalat, Vol. 3, P. 11)

·  "For the Attention of the Government from ... Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Qadian...

·  Whereas, it is expedient to make a list of the names of such stupid Muslims who consider British India a country of enemies of Islam against whom Islamic Sharia enjoins war and therefore such rebellious Muslims hide mutiny in their hearts;...

·  Whereas, it is proposed to lay out a format - example below - in which names of such ungrateful individuals should be preserved for all times; although by the good fortune of the British India such Muslim mutineers who are hiding rebellion in their hearts are few;

·  Whereas, it is a most opportune time to identify those insurgents who are having secret designs against the Government;

·  Whereas, we are moved by the political well-wishing of our generous Government to make a list of names of these wicked men who by their beliefs prove their seditious nature;...

·  We Resolve, to inform the Government, in all our humility, that such lists of names shall remain in our custody as 'Political Secrets' till such time that the Government demands it from us. We fully trust that our sagacious Government shall also keep these statements in their offices treating them as a 'National Secret'."

(Majmua Ishtaharat, Vol. 2, P. 227-228; Collection of Posters, Vol. 2, P. 227-228, No. 145; Rabwah)

Even the Germans considered Mirza's followers to be spies for the British:

·  "The whole world considers us to be the agents of the British. That is why an explanation was called from a German Minister, when he attended the opening ceremony of the Ahmadiyya building in Germany, as to why he had attended the celebration of community which was the agent of the British." (Al-Fadl, Nov. 1, 1934; by Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood)

Ahmadiyya participates in Offensive War for the british against muslims - Ahmadis willing to lay down their lives for the British

On the one hands Mirza wrote:

Yet the followers, on the order of Khalifa, successor to Mirza Ghulam, had no qualms about fighting alongside British in their War of Aggression against the Muslims.

If someone thinks that this might be an independent decision of the khalifa and had nothing to do with the founder, well he is sadly mistaken. the guiding principle was laid down by Mirza himself:

Obedience to the British - an articles of faith - disloyalty to British described as sin to God

His loyalty to the Birtish leads him to define Islam as consisting of two parts: obedience to God and obedience to the British government. He actually makes loyalty to the British one of the conditions for joining his movement:

Mirza's son further clarifies:

Mirza describes his aim as "to convert Mulsims towards faith in the British Government":