In Ahmadpur East Tehsil of the State of Bahawalpur, a man named Abdul Razzaq Mirzai apostatized (renounced Islam). His lawfully wedded wife, Ghulam Aisha, daughter of Maulvi Ilahi Bakhsh, filed a suit for annulment of marriage on 24 July 1926 in the local court of Ahmadpur East. The case went through preliminary stages until 1931 and was then presented in 1932 before the District Judge of Bahawalpur for religious (Sharia-based) investigation. Finally, on 7 February 1935, the verdict was issued in favor of the plaintiff (the wife).

Bahawalpur was an Islamic state. Its ruler, Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan (late), was a true Muslim and a devoted lover of the Prophet ﷺ. He was a follower of Khwaja Ghulam Farid (رحمة الله عليه), and all the spiritual successors (khulafa) of Khwaja Ghulam Farid took deep interest in this case. For pursuing the case, all eyes turned to Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri. Upon the invitation of Maulana Ghulam Muhammad (who was then the head of Jamia Abbasia Bahawalpur and a disciple of Pir Mehr Ali Shah of Golra Sharif), Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri canceled all his programs and came to Bahawalpur.

He said: “I came here thinking that our record of deeds is dark; perhaps this act may become a means of forgiveness that I came to Bahawalpur as a supporter of the Prophet ﷺ. If we do not protect the doctrine of the Finality of Prophethood, then even a street dog is better than us.”

With his arrival, attention from all over India turned toward this case. Scholars such as Maulana Ghulam Muhammad Ghotvi, Maulana Muhammad Hussain Kolotarvi, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, Maulana Murtaza Hasan Chandpuri, Maulana Najmuddin, Maulana Abu al-Wafa Shah Jahanpuri, and Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri delivered inspiring speeches.

Maulana Abu al-Wafa Shah Jahanpuri acted as the counsel for the plaintiff. One day in court, Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri challenged Jalal-ud-Din Shams Mirzai, saying: “If you wish, I can show right here in the court that Mirza Qadiani is burning in Hell.” The faces of the Muslims lit up, and it felt as though a representative of the Prophet ﷺ was speaking.

After the scholars completed their statements, pressure from the British government on the Nawab increased. In this regard, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jalandhri (late) narrated that Nawab Sir Umar Hayat Tiwana, father of Khizr Hayat Tiwana, was in London. The Nawab of Bahawalpur also often spent summers in London. The Nawab consulted Sir Umar Hayat Tiwana, saying that the British government was pressuring him to terminate this case what should he do?

Sir Umar Hayat Tiwana replied: “We may be loyal to the British, but we have not bargained away our religion, faith, or love for our Prophet. Stand firm and tell them the court may decide as it wishes; I do not want to influence justice.”

Maulana Muhammad Ali Jalandhri commented that this statement alone was sufficient for the salvation of both of them.

Attempts were made by the Mirzais to entice Judge Muhammad Akbar (late) with all kinds of temptations, but all their efforts failed.

Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri was so eager for the verdict that when he was leaving Bahawalpur after completing his statements, he said to Maulana Muhammad Sadiq: “If I remain alive, I will hear the verdict myself; if I pass away, then come to my grave and inform me of the decision.” Accordingly, Maulana Muhammad Sadiq fulfilled this will.

In his final days of illness, Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri addressed teachers and students of Darul Uloom Deoband and many scholars, advising them strongly to dedicate themselves to protecting the belief in the Finality of Prophethood and to countering the Qadiani movement. He said that those who desire the intercession of the Prophet ﷺ must engage in this cause.

This case was a great battle between truth and falsehood. When the verdict was delivered on 7 February 1935, the true nature of the Mirzai movement became evident. Indeed, the entire Muslim community is indebted to Judge Muhammad Akbar Khan (late), who with utmost justice, fairness, and hard work wrote such a judgment that every word of it became like a nail in the coffin of Qadianism.

The Qadianis, under the leadership of their so-called caliph Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood, along with Sir Zafarullah Khan (apostate), considered appealing against the verdict. However, they eventually concluded that the decision was so strong and well-founded that any appeal would also go against them.