Page:Ranjit Singh (Griffin).djvu/216

210 religious leader, Syad Ahmad Sháh, a Muhammadan of Nasírábád, in the North-Western Provinces, who with the righteous purpose of defending his creed and co-religionists against Sikh attack, emigrated to the Pesháwar hill country and preached a jihád or holy war against the infidels. This man was the founder of the sect of Indian Wahábís, who have at different times given much trouble to the Indian Government, though many of them are a loyal, law-abiding people, distinguished from other Muhammadans by a simpler and purer worship. Others, a fierce, fanatical and seditious body, have always been in opposition to the Government, and in times of trouble have tried to stir up hatred and disaffection. But while a jihád against the British Government, which gives more absolute religious liberty to Muhammadans than is enjoyed in any Mussulman country, has usually been recognised by Indian Muhammadans as illegal, a jihád against the Sikhs, in 1823, was a very different matter. During the time of their supremacy the Muhammadans had persecuted the Sikhs and killed their prophets and defiled their temples, and now the day of vengeance had come and the men of Islám were rolled in the dust by the triumphant followers of Govind Singh.

Sirdár Harí Singh Nalwa had been appointed governor of Hazára, and his harsh conduct and hatred of Muhammadans was always causing fanatical outbreaks. In 1824, there was an insurrection in Dráband (Darband), and the following year he was nearly