52 SOCIAL SCIENTIST 40. It is quite interesting that Shah has been designated simply an 'arnil by one of his chief supporters. Does it mean that the claim of independence by Shah posed no challenge to the authority of Birjis Qadar? 41. Fazle Haq Khairabadi, Al Thaurat-al Hindiya (Arabic) edited with comprehensive notes and a useful introduction by Abdul Shahid Khan Sharwani as, Baghi Hindustan, Bijnore, 1947. Urdu translation of the text has also been provided into parallel columns, at the end. See pp.409-413; also compare Syed Moinul Haq, The story of the war of Independence, 1857'-58, Journal of Pakistan Historical Society, VoLV, Pt.I, [Jan, 1957], pp.21-57, especially pp.48-49. Maulana Fazle Haq of Khairabad (1797-1862) happens to be one of the most fascinating and a multifaced persons of his times. Belonging to the well known family of the scholars of Khairabad (Awadh), after perfecting in traditional and rational sciences at his fathers madarasa, he came to t)elhi, where during this period some of the bitter theological controversies were taking place resulting into a vertical division within the sunnis on purely hypothetical issues, such as the question of the intercession of the Prophet (shifa'at) and the finality of the Prophethood (imtina'un-nazir). A man of his genius could not remain a mute witness to such debates even if it involves some polemics. He proved to be one of the most bitter critics of Maulvi Shah Ismai'l of Balakot fame over the question of jehad. But strangly enough during 1857, he changed his position and caused the leading theologians and the divines to issue thefatwa tor jehad. A detailed study of his intellectual environment is worth analysing in order to understand the ideological trends of this period in a better way. For his role during 1857 see Iqbal Husain, Tazle Haq of Khairabad - A scholarly Rebel of 1857', PIHC, 48th session (1987), pp.355-65. 42. Abrar Husain Farooqi, op.cit, for the photographic reproductions of various applications, reports and orders alongwith their transcripts see pp. 192-243. 43. It is strange that the scholars working on this period have seldom touched upon this important aspect. This is inspite of the fact that there is no dearth of material giving the point of view of the 'Vanquished', these proclaimations, Letters and intelligence reports give a peep into the 'rebels point of view. Apart from Syed Moinul Haq and K.M. Ashraf in the recent years Iqbal Husain has taken up this subject seriously. For his important contributions (so far) See P///C, 46th session (1985), pp.371-386; PIHC, 48th session (1987), pp.355-365.