What happened after Jinnah walked in to Mosque with his shoes on? The man who tried to kill Jinnah,

 

 What happened after Jinnah walked in to Mosque with his shoes on? 

The man who tried to kill Jinnah, Shakil Chaudhary 

On July 26, 1943, at approximately 1:30 pm, Mohamad Rafiq Sabir Mazangavi, a 25-year-old tall and lean man with a long beard, arrived at Jinnah’s house in Bombay and asked to meet with him. He was from Lahore's Mazang area. 

Jinnah's secretary told him that his boss was a very busy person and that he could not meet him without a prior appointment. Suddenly, Jinnah emerged from his office to speak to his private secretary. As Jinnah turned back, the young man leaped forward and punched him in the face. Jinnah was stunned. 

As he regained his balance, the young man pulled out a dagger from his waistband and pointed at Jinnah’s throat. Jinnah understood the gravity of the situation. The dagger could slit Jinnah’s throat. He grabbed the assailant’s waist with one hand and clutched the wrist holding the dagger with the other hand. 

In the meantime, the blade had cut his jaw slightly. The stunned private secretary rushed to Jinnah’s rescue and held the assailant with his both hands. The other servants came running and overpowered the assailant. 

During the course of the trial, Rafiq decided to cross-examine the witnesses himself when the victim, Jinnah, stood in the witness box, Rafiq started the cross-examination. 

Rafiq: I had sent you many letters and telegrams and you never answered them. Do you agree? 

Jinnah: I don’t know. I receive hundreds of letters every day and I travel a lot. Hence, I am unable to read all the letters. 

Rafiq: You have not clarified the meaning of Pakistan. Please clarify the word Pakistan. 

Jinnah: The meaning of Pakistan is clear to those who want to understand it. No one can explain it to those who do not want to understand it. 

Rafiq: Jinnah Sahib, is there any personal enmity between us? 

Jinnah: No. I do not think so. 

Rafiq: Then can you tell me why I attacked you? 

Magistrate: This question is unnecessary. 

Rafiq: Your honor, can I ask Jinnah Sahib what happened at the time of his daughter’s marriage? 

Magistrate: No. Not at all. 

Rafiq: Is it true that you have received hundreds of copies of the Quran as gifts?

 

Jinnah: Yes. 

Rafiq: Do you know why are gifted to you? 

Jinnah: As per the Islamic tradition, the gifting of the Quran is bestowing an honor. 

Rafiq: These copies are gifted to you so that you could quit the politics of manipulation and study the Quran and lead a better life in your old age. 

Magistrate: This is not relevant to the case. 

Rafiq: Do you remember that you had entered the Shaheedganj Mosque in Lahore with your shoes on? 

Magistrate: We are not here to condemn the behavior of Quaid-i-Azam. We are here to investigate the attempted murder of him.

 

Rafiq: You honor, Quaid-i-Azam has just said that there is no enmity between us. We have no dispute over any property or woman. then why should I attack him? 

Magistrate: All right you can proceed. 

Rafiq: You are not conversant with the real conditions of the Muslims. Have you ever thought about their poverty and illiteracy and why they turn to begging, theft, and gambling? I wanted to meet you only to ask this question. 

Rafiq: Jinnah Sahib, your lifestyle is not in accordance with the principles of Islam. Then how can you be a leader of the Muslims? 

Jinnah: You must put this question to the Muslims of the country. 

Rafiq: You are not conversant with the real conditions of the Muslims. Have you ever thought about their poverty and illiteracy and why they turn to begging, theft, and gambling? I wanted to meet you only to ask this question. (For details, see Dinkar Joshi, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah: 

The Man Behind the Curtain, Pentagon Press, 2012, pp. 259-263) 

Upon hearing the news of the murder attempt, GM Syed tried to commit suicide by jumping off the Sindh Assembly building. Syed Khair Shah, a fellow member of the assembly, saved his life. Subsequently, Mr. GM Syed fainted. 

On November 4, 1943, Rafiq was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment. The allegation that he was a member of the Khaksar Tahreek turned out to be false.