Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Parts I & II — Page 10
10 BAr a h i n-e-a h madiyya Allah. It would, in fact, be absurd to start a debate about some- thing that is not even contested. However, when one confronts a variety of doctrines, beliefs, doubts and apologies, one cannot afford to leave anything out. Likewise, arguments written in refutation of a particular faith will not, in general, be applicable to another. For instance, when we quote prophecies from the Holy Bible in support of the truth- fulness of the Prophethood of Hadrat Kh a tam-e-Anbiy a ’ [the Seal of the Prophets], may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, we may be able to convince the Christians and the Jews, but a Hindu or a Zoroastrian or a philosopher or a Brahm u Sam a jist would not accept evidence based on a book in which he does not believe. He would respond that since he does not believe in those books, any argument based on them is not acceptable to him. The same will be the answer of the Christians to anything worthwhile that we might present to them from the Vedas. This is why a book was urgently required to demonstrate, through rational arguments, the authenticity and divine origin of Islam in a manner that convinces all the other faiths. And al h am- dolill a h [all praise belongs to God] that this book, which meets all these objectives, has been so prepared. The second distinction of this book is that it contains a most effective method for refuting the baseless objections of Islam’s opponents and completing our argument against them; that is to say, it includes a challenge that offers a reward of 10,000 rupees to opponents, so that they may not be left with any excuses. It places upon them a heavy burden, which they will not be able to shed till doomsday—a burden that will embitter their self-contradictory lives in such a way that only they will know.