Intro
In 1852, he was born.
In 1880 (May-27), a series of articles commenced in Nur-i-Afshan of Ludhiana, by Rev. GL Thakur Das, titled “Adam Zuroorat-e-Quran” – The Redundancy of the Quran – which asserted that there was no need for the Quranic teachings as the other scriptures, particularly the Bible, were enough for mankind’s guidance at all times. He implied that the Quranic teachings were not compatible for every era.
In 1885 (Apr-2), the Nur-i-Afshan published an article by GL Thakur Das, under the heading “Jawaab Ishtihar Janaab Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Sahib Raees-e-Qadian Gurdaspur” – Response to the announcement of Respected Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Sahib, Chief of Qadian, Gurdaspur. MGA allegedly claimed to have been granted a higher status than other auliya, who came before him, due to his obedience to Muhammad[sa] Sahib, and hence, in his obedience is goodness and harm in opposition (Nur-i-Afshan, 2 April 1885, Vol. 13, No. 14, pp. 107-108).
In 1895 (Dec-20), Thakur Das wrote an article in the Nur-i-Afshan dated 20 December.
In 1893, at age 65 (MGA was 53), Abdullah Athim agreed to have a written debate with MGA and MGA’s team of writers (See Church Missionary Society, CMS, Punjab and Sindh Mission report of 1900, also found herein). Athim famously debated MGA starting on May-22-1893 at the bungalow of Dr. Henry Martyn Clark. Padre Imad ud Din was also there (See page 152). MGA was getting help from Maulvi Muhammad Ahsan Amrohi, Maulvi Nur ud Din of Bhera (See Church Missionary Society, CMS, Punjab and Sindh Mission report of 1900, page 119, also found herein)(See also Dard, page 392)(see Mujadid e Azim, online abridged version, page 462) and “a noted opponent of Christianity from Ludhiana”. Athim had on his team, Rev. G.L. Thakur Dass of the American United Presbyterian Mission at Gujranwala, the Rev. Mr. Abdullah of the American Presbyterian Mission and Reverend Thomas Howell of the Church Missionary Society (at Clarkabad)(See “Holy War”, page 3). It ended on June 5th, which is 15 days later. Dr. Clark wrote about this written debate here. He offers the other side of the story, he notes that MGA didn’t predict any death in 15 months, MGA had asked for a Mubahila, however, a Mubahila had never happened in Islam and thus, the Christians refused. MGA seems to have had another Mubahila as soon as he left the house of Dr. Clark (see the Punjab Mission News). The biggest issue here is that this is mostly a one-sided story, Ahmadi’s are telling the story and thus, it is biased and dubious. Nevertheless, we have went through the facts and explained the story from a neutral perspective. It seems to us that the only reason that MGA allegedly blurted out that Athim would die in 15 months was because Athim and his team had brought into the debate 3 persons who were deaf, dumb and blind. They asked MGA to heal them, MGA blew a gasket, he was upset. This is when MGA yelled out that Athim would die.
In 1896 (Jan), MGA responded to an article by Thakur Das (Majmu‘ah-e-Ishtiharat [2019], Vol. 2, pp. 118-119 and 124, 125 and 127) of Dec-1895 (See the Nur-i-Afshan dated 20 December 1895). Thakur Das responded to MGA a few months later (see February-21, 28, Mar-6, and April-17, p. 9).
In 1903, Reverend Thakur Das published “The Greatest Discovery Exploded“, this was about the Yuz Asaf theory, the tomb at Cashmere (Kashmir)(Published by the American Tract Society, Lodhiana)(the sub-title of the book says that it is against Mirza Ghulam Ahmad). In this article, Thakur Das refers to an article in the Qadiani newspaper Al-Hakam by S. Abdul Rahman. He argues that Yuz Asaf was an honorary title given to this tomb and really referred to the story of Barlaam and Josaphat. He also quoted the famous Ikmal-ud-Din. He goes on to argue that the 12 tribes of Israel never went to India, per the Bible too. Das talks about the shrine of Lady Eleanor in Kashgar (western china). He mentions Nicholas Notovitch and MGA’s medicine, the Marham-e-Isa. He mentions MGA’s death prophecy vs. Dowie and Piggot. He then mentions the debate with Athim and gives a reference to the Nur Afshan of August 17th, 1894.
In 1919, Thakur Das is mentioned in the ROR of Dec.
In 1920, Reverend GL Thakur Das wrote articles against Islam in the Moslem World magazine.
In 1939, Thakur Das is mentioned in the ROR of Dec.
In 1943, Thakur Das is mentioned in the ROR of May.
Continue reading “Thakur Das vs. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad” →
