British Agent

Alahazrat’s enemies accuse him of being a British agent (during their rule in India) and conspired with them to create a rift among Muslims. This vile accusation has no basis. This keeps popping up every now and then, in spite of being debunked by many scholars. Állāmah Arshad[1] summed it thus:[2]

Often, I have challenged those who try to clean the dirt upon their faces by trying to wipe it with the mantle of Alahazrat, to show us proof for their claims; regardless of such proofs in the books of his admirers or in those of his adversaries. Show us a single instance where Alahazrat was invited by any officer of the British government; or that any grant or pension was given by the British to Alahazrat; or that he was given economic assistance by the British at any time; or that Alahazrat had met any British officer anywhere; or that Alahazrat ever went to an Englishman’s residence to meet him; or that any representative of the British government ever visited Alahazrat in his home. If this is not possible, then show us a single example where Alahazrat has praised the British in his writing, whether it is in his prose or his poetry. Contrast this with examples of Deobandī[3] and Qadiyani leaders, mentioned in their own literature, which clearly shows who really had cordial relations with the British.

An incident[4] is narrated by Maulavi Muĥammad Ĥusayn Meeruti, about the visit of Amīr Habibullah Khān, the governor of Afghanistan in 1905. Apparently, there was a disarray in the arrangements made for the army accompanying the Amīr, as there was a change in the scope of work and the contractors were unprepared to respond to additional requirements. The narrator was involved in this contract himself, and he says that he went to Alahazrat to request him to pray for him; after he had explained the situation, the following exchange took place:

Alahazrat: The army; is it the Amīr’s own army?

Maulavi Muĥammad Ĥusayn: No, it is the British army.

Alahazrat: If this was the Amīr’s own army, I would have prayed for you.

The rest of the story describes how things fell into place and the narrator escaped hardship and according to the narrator, due to the barakah of Alahazrat. But the aspect of this story that is relevant here, is that Alahazrat refused to pray for his own disciple, because this was for the benefit of the British, albeit indirectly. Alahazrat would go to such lengths to keep his distance from the British; yet, Deobandīs continue to slander that he was an agent without furnishing a shred of evidence.

[1] Mawlānā Arshad al-Qādirī [1343-1422/1925-2002] was a famous debator, prolific author, prominent activist and educationist; his books include Zalzalah, Lālah Zār and Zeyr o Zabar.

[2] Foreword to Sawāniĥ Imām Aĥmad Riđā by Shaykh Badruddīn Aĥmad. Dr. Masúūd has written a monograph titled Gunāh e Bey-Gunāhi [The Sin of Innocence] examining and refuting this mendacious charge.

[3] Rashīd Gangohī famously pleaded in the aftermath of the Sepoy Rebellion, that he was a servant of the [English] government.

[4] Ĥayāt e Alahazrat, 2/541.