Moulana Sanaullah Amritsari (Rahimahullah) and His Excellent Character – Assisting The Family of His Attacker

The Urdu text is reproduced in the Mohaddis article, which attributes it to Bazm-e-Arjamandaan by Maulana Muhammad Ishaq Bhatti, pp. 182–183.

“The well-known historian and biographer Maulana Muhammad Ishaq Bhatti writes: 
 
‘On 4 November 1937, in his own city of Amritsar, a murderous attack was made on the servant of Islam, Maulana Sanaullah Amritsari, from which Allah the Exalted preserved his life, though the wounds were extremely severe. The details are these: On 1, 2, and 3 November 1937, a public gathering had been organized in Amritsar by a certain religious sect. In it, some speakers delivered speeches against the Ahl-e-Hadis and, especially taking Maulana’s name, in a state of emotional excitement said several things that caused agitation to spread. 
 
On the next day after the gathering — that is, on 4 November 1937 — a meeting had been arranged in Masjid Mubarak in order to answer the allegations that had been made by the speakers of that sect. To attend the meeting and deliver a speech, after the Asr prayer at about four o’clock, the late Maulana Sanaullah, together with his grandson Maulvi Razaullah and some other gentlemen, set out for the mosque in a horse-carriage. When the carriage reached near Masjid Mubarak, and Maulana got down from it and shook hands with a man named Dr. Muhammad Ishaq, suddenly a young man named Qamar Baig attacked Maulana with a sharp axe/hatchet. The blow was so severe that his turban and cap were cut through, and his blessed head was badly injured, and blood began to pour out rapidly. In the meantime, the assailant struck a second blow, which landed on his face and forehead. 
 
Maulana Sanaullah Amritsari fell to the ground, but at once recovered himself and sat up. Fountains of blood were gushing from the wounds, and his entire body and clothing had become red with blood. In that condition, the first sentence that came from his tongue was: “Fuztu wa Rabbil Ka‘bah” — “By the Lord of the Ka‘bah, I have succeeded in my purpose.” 
 
After this he recited the Arabic verse: 
“Hal anti illa isba‘un damiyt, wa fi sabilillahi ma laqit.” 
(“You are nothing but a finger that has bled; and whatever has befallen you is in the path of Allah.”) 
 
Seeing the great loss of blood, he repeatedly made this supplication: “Allahumma Ahshirni Fil Maqtooleen” — “O Allah, on the Day of Resurrection raise me among those who were slain [as martyrs].” 
 
According to one narration, he also recited this Persian verse: 
‘Agar an sanam zair-e-sitam paye kushtan-e-man be-gunah / Laqad istaqama bi-saifihi wa laqad raditu bima rada.’  (“If that Sanam (idol or beloved), in oppression, is set upon killing me, innocent though I am, then indeed he has acted steadfastly with his sword, and indeed I am pleased with what he has approved / desired.”)
 
The attacker fled, and after a medical examination the police registered the report. However, since the accused had gone into hiding and the police could not find him despite searching, the case could not proceed. At last, after some time, he was caught in Calcutta, and on 27 January 1938 the police brought him to Amritsar. The case was tried, and on 16 April 1938 he was sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment. By this time, Maulana Sanaullah Amritsari had recovered. Maulana’s case was conducted by Mian Abdul Aziz Malwa Dah, who did not take any fee for it. 
 
Here it is necessary to mention that Maulana Sanaullah Amritsari himself was not in favor of filing a case against the attacker, Qamar Baig. But when the accused absconded, various organizations held gatherings and meetings throughout India condemning this vile act, and demanded from the government the arrest of the criminal and that he be given proper punishment. Telegrams were sent from numerous places to the relevant authorities. As a result, the police became more active, the accused was arrested, and the court sentenced him accordingly. 
 
After regaining health, in April 1938 Maulana wrote a treatise titled Noor-e-Tawhid for the greater propagation of Tawhid and Sunnah, had it printed in the thousands, and distributed it free of charge. In this treatise Maulana writes: 
 
“In April 1938, I completed seventy years of age. It is mentioned in a hadith: ‘The ages of my community are between sixty and seventy years, and few of them exceed that.’ (Tirmidhi) 
 
He says: “Some of my ‘well-wishers’ wanted that, in accordance with this hadith, I should depart from this world by martyrdom. Thus, on 4 November 1937, by promising a young man the maidens of Paradise, they had a murderous attack carried out on me. I have already written the details of this in the treatise Shama‘-e-Tawhid. But Divine Decree intended that I should remain among those mentioned in the last phrase of the hadith. Therefore, by the wishes and prayers of friends, I am alive.” 
 
The late Maulana was a man of a cool and composed heart. The feeling of revenge had no place in any corner of his heart or mind. This can be judged from the fact that during the imprisonment of the man who made the murderous attack on him, he continued to have fifty rupees per month secretly delivered to that man’s home for his wife and children. Can an example like this be found anywhere? In this world there are countless scholars belonging to different legal schools, and there is no shortage of political leaders attached to many parties, and people interested in public welfare are found everywhere in abundance — but one will not find a man like Maulana Sanaullah: pure-hearted, courageous, truthful, and genuine — a man who regularly helped the family of the very person who had attacked him with the intention of killing him.’”

The Mohaddis reproduction then adds the concluding detail:

“When Qamar Baig was released and returned, he found that the condition of his household was perfectly fine. He asked his wife about it, and she told him that a certain doctor used to give fifty rupees on behalf of Maulana Sanaullah Sahib, so that his family would not fall into financial hardship. He had instructed that his name should not be disclosed.” End quote.

(So Moulana Sanaullah Amritsari (Rahimahullah) kept sending his attacker’s family ₹50 per month for 4 years till the attacker was released from jail. May Allah reward him abundantly and accept his good deeds.)

(Translated and penned by Mohammed bin Thajammul Hussain Manna from Urdu to English.)