The Colonial era began in 17th Century when European Powers started colonizing various parts of the globe. British, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Belgain - all of them took part in this fight for the spoils.
British came to India as traders in 18th Century and gradually usurped the power from Muslims who had been ruling the Indian Subcontinent for 1000 years. They faced repeated uprisings especially from the Muslim quarters. This was the same Movement of Jihad which had earlier forced them to leave Sudan. The Independence Movement of 1857 and the Jihad Movement of Syed Ahmed Shaheed were nearly successful in uprooting them from the Indian soil but for some black sheeps amongst the Muslim ranks, who took sides with the Colonial Masters for their petty interests and compromised Muslim resistance.
A commission of inquiry consisting of Members of British Parliament, Church Officials and Journalists, came to India in 1868 to find out ways and means of controlling this spirit of jihad. In 1870 they submitted their report entitling “THE ARRIVAL OF BRITISH EMPIRE IN INDIA.” In this report they recommended that :
“THE MENTALITY OF INDIAN MUSLIMS IS SUCH THAT IF THEY ACCEPT SOMEBODY AS THEIR RELIGIOUS LEADER, THEN THEY FOLLOW THEM BLINDLY. IF WE CAN FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN CLAIM TO BE AN APOSTOLIC PROPHET, OUR TARGET CAN BE ACHIEVED.”
Now let us see what Mirza himself had to say about his relationship with the British:
I am the "Self-implanted/Self-cultivated Seedling " of the British Government. “Government should take great care regarding this SELF-IMPLANTED SEEDLING . . . . .should instruct its officers to treat ME and MY JAMA’AT with special kindness and favours. Our family has never hesitated in shedding their blood in the way of British Rulers and did not stop from laying down their lives neither do they hesitate now.” (Roohani Khazain vol.13 p.350)
"From my early age till now when I am 65 years of age, I have been engaged , with my pen and tongue, in an important task to turn the hearts of Muslims towards the true love & Goodwill & sympathy for the British Government and to obliterate the idea of Jehad from the hearts of stupid (Muslims). " (Kitab-ul-Bariyah, Roohani Khazain vol 13 p.350)
" . . . . for the sake of British Government, I have published & distributed 50,000 leaflets in this country (India) other Islamic countries(against jehad). . . . the result is that hundreds of thousands of people have given up their filthy ideas about Jihad." (Roohani Khazain vol 15 p.114)
An official Biographer of Mirza Ghulam Ahmed writes:
"His father was sent to Peshawar in 1842 as the Commander of his Ranjit Singh’s) foot soldiers to fight against the famous jihad of Syed Ahmed Shaheed and his companions. Further it is also stated that apart from this loyalty to the government, Ghulam Murtaza’s brother the Mirza’s uncle too, rendered services in the mutiny of 1848, and valiantly fought against the enemies of the Sikhs (the Muslims) and inflicted upon them a decisive defeat.(Sirat i Masih i Mau’ud p.3-4 by Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmed.
–“The English Government has bountifully rewarded, helped, and favored us to the extent that if we leave this country neither Mecca, nor Istanbul would shelter us. So how came you to doubt its goodness”. (Ahmadiyan Talks, vol 1 pp.146)
–“I am unable to perform what I wish in Mecca, Medina, Domascus, Persia, Kabul or Rome except under this government’s protection for whose glory and victory I do pray God”. (Conveying the Message by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, vol VI pp. 69)
–“Oh, just think a little which land all over the world will shelter you if you leave this country. Mention one government that will welcome and shelter you. All Muslim countries detest you and wish to kill you because, in their opinion, you are disbelievers. So estimate well the heavenly favor (the favor of British occupation) and be aware that Allah had not brought the British into this country except for your welfare and interests. If catastrophes befall the British you will not escape their dire effect. And if you demand a proof of what I say, go and find shelter under any other regime and when you do this you will see what happens to you. The British are Allah’s mercy and blessing, and a citadel for your protection. Estimate the British well and love them dearly because they are a thousand times better than Muslims who oppose you. It is sufficient to convince you with only one thing: the British do not wish to humiliate or slaughter you”.
Relevant Quranic Ayats
“O you who believe! Take not the Jews or Christians for friends, they are friends of one another. He among you who take them as friends is one of them” [TMQ 5:51]
“O you who believe! Choose not My enemy and your enemy for friends. Do you give them friendship when they disbelieve in that Truth which has come to you?” [TMQ 60:1]
“Bear unto the hypocrites the tidings that for them there is a painful doom; those who choose disbelievers as friends instead of believers. Do they look for power at their hands? Lo! All power belongs to Allah.” [TMQ 4: 138-9]