Post Office lawsuit

Post Office lawsuit

In 1877 a Christian named Ralya Ram Vakeel filed a court case against Hadhrat Ahmad (AS) which is referred to as the 'Post office Case'. The Promised Messiah, peace be on him, had written a treatise in support of the superiority of Islam, refuting allegations leveled by the Arya Samaj. He mailed this manuscript to a publishing house Vakeel Press in Amritsar at the rate prescribed for newspapers. Also included in the package was a letter addressed to the Manager containing instructions.

According to the postal regulations it was illegal to include a letter in a package because of cheaper postal rates for packages, it carried a fine of Rs. 500 or imprisonment for six months. Hadhrat Ahmad (AS) was not aware of such a regulation. Upon arrival of the package, Ralya Ram at once informed the postal authorities of this irregularity. A lawsuit was filed against Hudhoor (AS). At this time Hudhoor saw in a dream that Ralya Ram had sent him a venomous snake but Hudhoor fried it and sent it back to him.

When the case came up for trial, Hudhoor's attorney advised him that the only way he could escape conviction was to give an affidavit to the court that he did not place the letter in the package. Instead it was Ralya Ram who had placed the letter there in order to get him into trouble. Hadhrat Ahmad (AS) rejected this advice, saying: " The fact of the matter is that I had myself placed this letter in the package, therefore, I will not deny it so as to be spared of the sentence". “ In that case”, his attorney Sheikh Ali Ahmed shrugged his shoulders and said, “there is no chance for your acquittal.” Hudhoor replied, “come what may, I will not tell a lie.”

Hudhoor appeared before the British magistrate in Gurdaspur without a lawyer. During the hearing the judge inquired of Hudhoor if he had in fact placed the letter in the package? “Yes Indeed” Hudhoor responded, “ but I was't aware that by doing so I was breaking the postal regulations, nor did I intend to defraud the post office”.

The plaintiff was overjoyed that Hudhoor had confessed his guilt. As a consequence he will be given the due sentence. But the judge was so much impressed with Hudoor's truthfulness and strength of character that he gave him an honorable discharge. This was indeed the blessing of truthfulness that God Almighty gave him victory in this case.

Hudoor's elder brother Mirza Ghulam Qadir passed away in 1881. As he had no children, Hudhoor (AS) was entitled to all of his estate, but he did not do so for the sake of his sister in law. The property remained in the possession of other relatives for a long time.