Nurul-Haqq (Part I)

The Light of Truth (Part I)

Background

The defeat of the Christians after Jang-e-Muqaddas had unnerved them so much that they embarked upon writing books and tracts in abusive, filthy and vile language, attacking the noble personage of Muhammad(sa). Subsequent events showed that they felt this defeat most bitterly in their heart of hearts, though, they took extra care at the time not to show it in any way. It was a pitched battle that had taken place between recognized representatives of the two faiths. Hitherto, Christianity had posed as the dominant religion and the converts to it were paraded as learned people of other “faith” who had found the light of Christianity. Christendom, therefore, felt a rude shock at this terrible encounter, which it had experienced with the living and superior forces of Islam through the Promised Messiah(as).

Padre ‘Imad-ud-Din, a native convert from Islam, was a paid servant of the Christians for a long time. He had already made himself notorious by his rabid and scurrilous attacks upon the Holy Founder of Islam. His books Tarikh-e-Muhammadi and Hidayatul-Muslimin had inflicted deep wounds upon religious susceptibilities of the Muslims. Even the Ra’i Hind and Prakash of Amritsar had protested against his bitter attacks. Another Hindu paper, Aftab-e-Punjab had also condemned his writings. Muslims exposed this paid preacher of Christians in a book entitled ‘Uqubatud Dallin. Even the organ of the American Mission, Shamsul Akhbar of Lucknow had admitted the abusive nature of Padre ‘Imad-ud-Din and his colleagues Maulavi Karam Din, Nizamud Din, Ilahi Bakhsh, Hamidullah Khan, etc., who were called Maulavis and learned men to deceive the public. The Promised Messiah(as) offered five thousand rupees as a reward if they could jointly produce a book like the one entitled Nurul-Haqq.1

The Book

In the first part of this book, the Promised Messiah(as) refuted the allegations, levelled against him as to his disloyalty to the Government. He referred to the services that his father and brother had rendered, and regarding his own he said:

I had no worldly resources, horses or soldiers except that I wield my pen and decided that I would not write any book without mentioning the blessings of the reign of Queen Victoria for which all Muslims ought to be grateful … It is our duty according to our religion. He, who is not thankful to men, cannot be grateful to God Who loves fairness I have published these books not only in India but also in Arabia and other countries This is what I have done for the British Government. God above is the witness of the sincerity of my motives. I have not served the Government out of fear, nor have I ever expected a reward at its hands On the other hand, I have a right to say that I am like a shield for the British Government to protect it from calamities. God has told me that He will not let harm come to it while I am with it. Hence, there is no one else like me in respect of the help that I have rendered to the British Government, which it will find out soon if it has any insight into people.2

Specimen of Writing

I have seen Jesus, on whom be peace, several times in my dreams and my visions. He has eaten with me at the same table and once I asked him about that which had befallen his people. He was much perturbed and recalled the greatness of Allah and proclaimed His Holiness and pointed to the earth and said: I am from the earth and am innocent of that which they attribute to me. I found him a humble and courteous person.3

On page 184, the Promised Messiah(as) made a fervent prayer:

Oh God! Am I not from You? At this time, when there is an onslaught of disbelievers, Oh God, you come to my aid from sky and help this humble self.

And within one month of this prayer, God accepted his prayer and the lunar and solar escalipes took place on 28th of Ramadhan-the same sign Ahadith spoke of that will appear in support of the advent of Mahdi.

Impact

His writings, in beautiful Arabic, were an open challenge to all those who called themselves Maulavis. They all smarted under the pressure of the Promised Messiah(as)’s unequalled Divine learning, rhetoric, eloquence and vigour. They tried in vain to pick holes in his grammar, but the time limit fixed by the Promised Messiah(as), passed away and none of his opponents came forward and could produce anything which might stand in comparison to the Promised Messiah(as)’s marvellous work. Their ignorance was colossal and they were all utterly exposed. The “Scribes and Pharisees” were laid low and the Promised Messiah(as)’s prestige went up high and high.