Paigham-e-Sulah

A Message of Peace

Background

The Promised Messiah(as) wrote this treatise just in two days, on May 24, before his demise on May 26, 1908. In this, he made a fervent urgent appeal to two great nations of India, namely, Hindus and Muslims.

The Promised Messiah(as) declared in the book that the gap between the two big nations is based on mutual hatred and differences in cultures and declared that the teaching of Islam clearly inculcates respect and reverence for each others, elders and leaders and to show respect to their values and religious sensibilities. And we regard Ram Chanderji and Krishan, as divine saints and the Vedas are from God. However, the Hindus of the present age are narrow-minded and show little understanding and respect and that is why despite the fact that they have been living together for a long time, there is little consideration, among them for Muslims. The Promised Messiah(as) made an urgent plea to Hindus to show tolerance and understanding and to extend a hand of friendship to Muslims.1

It had always been the effort of the Promised Messiah(as) throughout his life that somehow a working rapprochement could be reached between the two major communities of the Sub-continent—the Hindus and the Muslims.

To this end, he exerted a lot of pressure counselling the extremist Hindus to exercise and display restraint and patience. With this end in view, the Promised Messiah(as) decided to write an appeal with all the earnest at his command. He planned to read his message of peace on May 26, 1908, at the Ahmadiyya Building, Lahore. However, he was summoned by his Creator, after a very brief illness. He died on May 26, 1908, in Lahore. It was, however, published in a booklet form.

The Book

The champion of Islam asked Hindus in general, and the Aryah Samaj in particular, to be respectful and courteous to the Holy Prophet(sa) as Muslims are respectful to Krishna, Nanak and Buddha.

The Promised Messiah(as) made a clarion call:

If, in order to have complete peace, the Hindu gentlemen and the Aryah Samajists are prepared to accept our Holy Prophet(sa) as a true Prophet of God and give up denying and insulting him, I will be the first person to sign an agreement to the effect that we, the members of the Ahmadiyya sect, should always continue to believe in the Vedas and speak of the Krishan in the most respectful terms, and bind ourselves to pay to the Hindus a penalty of Rs. 300,000 in case we fail to fulfill the agreement. If the Hindus cordially wish for this peace, they should also sign a similar agreement. This agreement will be as follows:

We believe in Muhammad Mustafa(sa) and regard him as a true Prophet. We will always speak of him respectfully, as a true believer should. If we fail to fulfil this, we shall pay to the Leader of the Ahmadiyya Movement Rs. 300,000 as a penalty for the breach of the agreement. The members of the Ahmadiyya sect is now numbering not less than four hundred thousand, and the sum of Rs. 300,000 is not a large sum when we consider the number of Ahmadis. The Muslims that are outside the pale of Ahmadiyya Movement recognize no leader whom they think themselves bound to obey. So I cannot say whether they would join hands with us. Even though I am regarded by them as an infidel and anti-Christ, still I hope, when the Hindus make this agreement with me, the other Muslims will not be so foolish as to have their Holy Prophet abused by the Hindus, speaking insultingly of the scriptures and the leaders of such good mannered people. In that case, they themselves will be to blame if the Hindus retaliate, for they themselves will be the cause of abuse. Such a conduct being inconsistent with decency. I do not think that the other Muslims will permit themselves to say anything derogatory to the honour of the Hindus scriptures and the Hindu Rishis after this agreement. In order to make it strong and sure, it will be necessary that it should be signed by at least 10,000 men on both sides.2

At the end of the book, page 50, Ruhani Khaza’in, p. 488, a flyer was also published which says:

There will be a big gathering on June 21, on Sunday 1908, at the Panjab University Hall facing the Museum, where an essay written by His Excellency respected Mirza Ghulam Ahmad will be read. He wrote this essay in his last two days before his demise, which is about how to resolve the differences and division existing in this country. People who are well wishers and support amity and peace are invited to attend this meeting.

This was signed by leading luminaries of the day and included Muhammad Shafi, Barrister, Chaudhary Nabi Bukhsh, pleader Chief Court, Mian Fazal Hussain Barrister, Sheikh Gulab Din pleader Chief Court, Mian Muhammad Shahnawaz Barrister, Maulavi Ahmad Din Pleader Shaikh Fazal Elahi Barrister, Mirza Jalal ud Dun Barrister, Shaikh Muhammd Abdul Aziz Editor and Mian Abdul Aziz Barrister.

Specimen of Writing

The religion is, we refrain from all that is banned by God and we run on His desired paths, and treat all His creation with sympathy and kindness. And to have belief in all the Divine messengers and Prophets of God, who appeared from time to time and we do not discriminate among them and to serve every man with affability, this is the gist of our religion.

But those people who without any justification and without any fear of God use bad words about our exalted Muhammad, peace of Allah be upon him, and level unholy allegations and speak about him rudely, how we can have peace with them. I say with all the emphasis at my command, we may make peace with snakes of saline land and wolves of the wilderness, but we will never make peace with those miscreants who attack our Prophet, who is more dear to us than ourselves and our parents. God give us death before we do anything which may cost us our Islam.3