Fazle Umar
Qadian after partition The members of the Movement who were directed to stay on in Qadian, after the departure of the Khalifatul Masih for Pakistan, found themselves in a situation of great peril, but they faced it with firmness and steadfastness. Their attitude was one of prayerful humility and cheerful acceptance of the role of honour that had been assigned to them of safeguarding the holy places at the centre of the Movement. The influx of non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan still continued, and though there was an apparent respite in killing and looting, there was extreme tension and currency was given to rumours which portended that violence might erupt at any moment. The police, the army and the representatives of the civil administration, instead of adopting measures that could guarantee everyone’s security and could help to restore and maintain order, were only concerned with putting pressure on the Ahmadis and urging them to move out of Qadian and to proceed to Pakistan by whatever means might be available. On their part the Ahmadis were firmly resolved to hold their ground under all circumstances and at all costs, and to discharge fully and honourably the responsibility that had been placed upon them by the Khalifatul Masih. They had to be fully alert all the time, constantly seeking and relying entirely on the Grace and Mercy of God. Communication with the Khalifatul Masih was maintained off and on, the situation was reported to him from time to time, his guidance was sought and followed. At intervals, while the system of armed convoys was in operation, some of them were directed to move to Pakistan and replacements arrived from Pakistan. These exchanges were put to an end within a few days when the convoy system began to be resented and disturbed by the non-Muslim population along the route and had to be abandoned. By the end of the year, the situation assumed a precarious stability and the Khalifatul Masih determined that three hundred and thirteen of those Ahmadis who were still
259