Published on Jun 28 2009 

 In response to the allegations that question Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) as a champion defender of Islam during a period where Islam was under attack, or questioned his character and knowledge:  We present the following quotations from eminent Muslim Scholars of the time.

1. Maulvi Bashir-ud-Din, editor of Sadiq-ul-Akhbar, Rewari (U.P., India), wrote as follows in his obituary of the Promised Messiah (as):

"As Mirza Sahib, with his forceful speeches and magnificent writings, shattered the foul criticism of the opponents of Islam, silencing them forever and proving that truth is after all the truth, and as he left no stone unturned in the service of Islam by championing its cause to the full, justice requires that one should condole the sudden and untimely death of such a resolute defender of Islam, helper of the Muslims, and an eminent and irreplaceable scholar."
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2. The editor of the Lahore Municipal Gazette wrote:

"The Mirza sahib was especially renowned for his knowledge and scholarship. His writings were also eloquent. In any case, we are grieved by his death for the reason that he was a Muslim. We believe that a scholar has been taken from the world."
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3. Maulana Abdullah Al-Imadi, editor of Wakeel, of Amritsar, wrote:

"Although Mirza Sahib had not received systematic education in current knowledge and theology, yet an assessment of his life shows that he had a unique nature not granted to everyone: by the aid of his own study and his upright nature, he had attained sufficient mastery over religious literature. In about 1877, when he was 35 or 36 years old, we find him charged with unusual religious fervour. He is leading the life of a true and pious Muslim. His heart is unimpressed by worldly attractions.
"The state of ecstasy created by reading his invaluable books which were written to counter other religions and to uphold Islam still has not faded. His Brahin-e-Ahmadiyya overawed the non-Muslims and raised the spirits of the Muslims. He presented to the world a captivating picture of the religion [of Islam], cleansed of the blots and dust that had collected upon it as a result of the superstition and natural weaknesses of the ignorant.
"As to his character, there is not the slightest trace of a blot on it. He lived a virtuous life, the life of a righteous, God-fearing person."
(Wakeel, Amritsar, 30 May 1908)
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4. Maulvi Siraj-ud-Din was the editor of the leading Muslim Urdu daily paper, the Zamindar of Lahore, at the time of the Promised Messiah’s (as) death. He wrote:

"Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Sahib was a clerk near the district of Sialkot in about 1860 or 1861. He would be about 22 or 23 years of age at the time. We can say from personal experience that, even in his youth, he was a very virtuous and righteous person. After work all his time was spent in religious studies. He did not much meet people. In 1877 we had the honour of his hospitality at his home in Qadian for one night. In those days too, he was so engrossed in worship and devotion that he conversed little, even with guests. ... We have often said, and we again say, that even if his claims were the result of mental preoccupation, he was innocent of pretence or fabrication. ... Scholarly figures such as Maulavi Nur-ud-Din and Maulavi Muhammad Ahsan, and products of modern education such as Khawaja Jamal-ud-Din B.A., Khawaja Kamal-ud-Din B.A., and Maulavi Muhammad Ali M.A., are among his followers. Though we personally did not have the honour of believing in his claims or revelations, nonetheless we consider him to be a perfect Muslim."
(Zamindar, 8 June 1908)
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5. Mirza Hairat of Delhi

He was editor of the Curzon Gazette. In his obituary of the Promised Messiah (as) he wrote:
"The services of the deceased, which he rendered to Islam in confrontation with the Christians and the Arya Samajists, deserve the highest praise. He completely changed the flow of the debate, and laid the foundations of a new literature in India. ...

"The incomparable books which he wrote in refutation of the Arya Samaj and Christian creeds, and the shattering replies he gave to the opponents of Islam, we have not seen any rational refutation of these except that the Aryas have been hurling abuse at the founder and the teachings of Islam in an uncouth manner, without being able to give a sensible reply. Although the deceased was a Punjabi, yet his pen was so powerful that today in the whole of the Punjab, even in the whole of India, there is no author of such power. ... and it is true that, on reading some of his writings, one goes into a state of ecstasy. ...

"His followers are not only common and unlearned people, but include able and bright graduates, viz., B.A., M.A., and very learned ulemma. It is a matter of no small pride for a religious leader of this day that persons educated on traditional lines as well as persons educated on modern lines, both types, should become his followers."
(Curzon Gazette, Delhi, 1st June 1908.)
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6. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

At the time of the death of the Promised Messiah (as), Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was acting editor of a well-known Muslim newspaper, the Wakeel of Amritsar. In a lengthy obituary he wrote:

"Mirza Sahib appeared in the front line of devotees who, for the cause of Islam, accepted the dedication to sacrifice their time from the cradle, through the springs and autumns, to their graves in fulfilling the pledge of loyalty to their beautiful beloved Islam.

"The literature produced by Mirza Sahib in his confrontation with the Christians and the Aryas has received the seal of general approval, and for this distinction he needs no introduction. We have to acknowledge the value and greatness of this literature from the bottom of our hearts, now that it has done its work. This is because that time cannot be forgotten nor effaced from the mind when Islam was besieged by attacks on all sides, and the Muslims, who had been entrusted with the defence of Islam by the Real Defender, as the means of defence in this world of means and causes, were lying flat sobbing in the aftermath of their shortcomings, doing nothing for Islam or not being able to do anything for it.

"So, this service rendered by Mirza Sahib will place the coming generations under a debt of gratitude, in that he fulfilled his duty to the defence of Islam by joining the front rank of those engaged in the jihad by the pen, and he left behind him as a memorial such literature as will last so long as Muslims have blood flowing in their veins and the urge to support Islam remains their prominent national characteristic. Besides this, Mirza Sahib performed a very special service for Islam by crushing the poisonous fangs of the Arya Samaj.... His writings against the Arya Samaj shed clear light on the claim that, however much the scope of our defence will be widened in the future, it is impossible that these writings could ever be overlooked."

"Natural intelligence, application and dexterity, and continuous debates, had lent Mirza Sahib a special splendour. He had vast knowledge, not only of his own religion, but also of other religions. And he was able to use his vast knowledge with great finesse. In the art of preaching and teaching, he had acquired such accomplishment that the person, whom he addressed, of whatever understanding or religion, was thrown into deep thought by his spontaneous reply.

Mirza Sahib's claim was that he was the arbiter and judge for them all, but there is no doubt that he possessed a special talent to make Islam pre-eminent among all these religions. This was due to his natural ability, taste for study, and hard work. It is not likely that a man of this grandeur will be born again in the Indian sub-continent, a man who will devote his highest desires in this way to the study of religions."

(Wakeel, Amritsar)