Regarding the [offensive] cartoon published by “The Star” – which has already been discussed in the pages of Al Fazl – Maulvi Abdul Rahim Dard[ra] MA, imam of the London Ahmadiyya Mosque, not only compelled the said newspaper to issue an expression of regret but also engaged in direct correspondence with Mr JB Hobbs concerning the matter.
It is gratifying to note that these efforts yielded excellent results. A telegram from London, dated 3 October [1925], reported that Mr JB Hobbs had, with great decency, disassociated himself from the cartoon and expressed his deep regret over its implications.
Below is reproduced the correspondence that took place between Maulvi Abdul Rahim Dard[ra] and Mr Hobbs.
Letter from Maulvi Abdul Rahim Dard to Mr JB Hobbs
On 27 August 1925, Maulvi AR Dard[ra] sent the following letter to Mr Hobbs:
“Dear Sir,
“Although I have not had the honour of a personal acquaintance with you, I trust you will forgive me for addressing you without prior introduction. I do so in the confidence that, being a Briton, you embody the qualities of true nobility and honour that are characteristic of the British people.
“As a cricketer, I hold you in the highest personal esteem and readily acknowledge that one of the motives prompting me to write this letter is my deep admiration for you as a distinguished and celebrated sportsman. Even if that admiration be deemed slight, it springs from genuine respect for your talent and reputation.
“I address you with a heart weighed down by sorrow – yes, with that same aching heart whose pain and anguish you could scarcely imagine unless you were to stand in my place, unless your heart were, for a moment, replaced by mine.
“To all Muslims, whether of the East or the West, there is nothing dearer or more sacred than Islam and its Holy Founder[sa]. [As the Promised Messiahas has said]:
بعد از خدا بعشق محمد مخمرم
[گر کفر ایں بود بخدا سخت کافرم]
[“Next to God, I am inebriated with the love of Muhammadsa; if this be disbelief, then by God I am a great disbeliever.”]
“In accordance with this sentiment, every Muslim is enraptured with love for the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) after his love for God. He is ever ready to sacrifice all that he possesses for his spiritual master.
“It is therefore deeply grievous that “The Star” newspaper, on page 3 of its 18 August [1925] issue, published a cartoon concerning you in which images of Prophet Adam[as] and the Holy Prophet Muhammad[sa] were also depicted. This has inflicted a profound wound upon the religious sentiments of Muslims everywhere, without distinction.
“Since this cartoon appears to have been produced by some of your admirers in order to celebrate your fame, I take the liberty of advising you to publicly express your disapproval and distaste for it. Such a gesture would serve to deter others from ever daring to commit a similar offence again.
“I would further appeal to you to display, in this matter, the courage and integrity befitting a true and valiant sportsman. Otherwise, I fear that if you remain silent at this critical moment, posterity will remember your name not only as that of a cricketer, but also as one who remained silent when speech was urgently needed. “In that case, this act of omission would bring not praise but condemnation.”
Mr Hobbs’ reply to Maulvi AR Dard
In reply, Mr JB Hobbs wrote the following letter to Maulvi Abdur Rahim Dard[ra] MA:
“Dear Sir,
“I am obliged to you for your letter dated 27 August [1925].
“However, I must make it clear that I have no authority over “The Star” newspaper, nor can I be held in any way responsible for its decision to publish such cartoons.
“Nevertheless, I am aware that the inclusion of the image of Muhammad[sa] – over which you have taken offence – was made without the slightest suspicion that it would be regarded by Muslims as an affront to their faith or a wound to their religious sentiments.
“I have also been assured that, had “The Star” and its cartoonist known that such a depiction would cause hurt, they would most certainly have refrained from publishing it.”
“Yours sincerely, J. B. HOBBS.”
Maulvi AR Dard’s second letter to Mr JB Hobbs
On 3 September [1925], upon receiving Mr Hobbs’ reply, Maulvi Abdur Rahim Dard[ra] wrote the following letter to him:
“Dear Sir,
“I am grateful to you for your letter dated 3 September 1925.
“I never held you personally responsible for the offensive act committed by “The Star” newspaper. My only request was that you should publicly express your disapproval of the cartoon – so that none among your admirers might again commit a similar mistake.
“I fully agree with your statement that you have no control over “The Star,” yet I continue to believe that even a single word of disapproval from you would go far in preventing your admirers from repeating such an offence in the future. I am firmly convinced that by expressing your disavowal in this manner, you would not only earn the appreciation and gratitude of the entire Muslim world, but also bring comfort and solace to their hearts.
“Yours truthfully, A. R. DARD, M.A.”
Telegram published as a result of the correspondence
The following telegram was published as a result of the aforementioned correspondence between Maulvi Abdur Rahim Dard[ra] MA and Mr Jack Hobbs:
“London, 3 October [1925]: Jack Hobbs’ fame has further increased. Mr Dard, head of the London Islamic Ahmadiyya Mission, has written in the newspapers that Hobbs has won the goodwill of the Muslim world by allaying their deeply offended sentiments. In August of the previous year, when Hobbs astonished cricket enthusiasts with his exceptional play, The Star newspaper published a cartoon depicting several renowned figures – of whom Hobbs’ image was the most prominent. Mr Dard compelled the said newspaper to issue an expression of regret for its act of prejudice, and it has now published a letter from Hobbs himself, in which he writes as follows:
“‘Telegraphic Address: Ovally, London. Surrey County Cricket Club, Kennington Oval, S.E.11. 29/9/25.
“‘To A. R. Dard, Esq., The Mosque, 63, Melrose Road, London, S.W.18.
“‘Dear Sir,
“‘I am pained to know that the cartoon in “The Star” dated 18/8/25 has offended the feelings of all Muslims.
“‘I need not say that I have no control over “The Star” nor any responsibility for the cartoons which it publishes. I am, however, pleased to learn that “The Star” has published its regrets and that it, and its cartoonists, would have refrained from introducing the figure of Mohammad[sa] if they had thought it could give offence.
“‘I am sorry that my success in cricket, which has been shared with me by sports-loving people all over the world, has thus unfortunately become the occasion of wounding the religious susceptibilities of my Muslim friends.
“‘I wish it had not been so. Believe me.
“‘Yours sincerely, (Signed) J. B. HOBBS.’”
(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu, published in the 13 October 1925 issue of Al Fazl)