A Critical Review of the Pamphlet, 'Fateh-e-Qadian' — Page 9
i‘j a zul-Ma si h —A Miracle of the Promised Messiah as 9 2. They are endowed with a deep knowledge and understanding of the Holy Quran. . . as shown by the verse 7. 3. The majority of their prayers are accepted. . . as shown by the verse 8. (Announcement dated July 20, 1900, Majm u ‘ah Ishtih a r a t , vol. 3, published by Ash-Shirkatul Isl a miyyah Ltd. , Rabwah, Pakistan, p. 327) So, to make a clear differentiation between truth and falsehood, P i r Meher ‘Al i was advised to compete in writing a commentary of the Holy Quran. The Promised Messiah as invited him to enter into a scholarly contest by writing a commentary on the Holy Quran on the following terms: In order to distinguish the honest from the deceitful, a public meeting in Lahore—the headquarters of the Punjab—should be held. After drawing lots to select forty verses from any chapter of the Holy Quran, or an entire chapter (if it contains forty or less verses), the two competing parties should pray to God that: ’O Allah! Please grant whichever of us in Your view is in the right, the spiritual power to write, in this very gathering, the verities and fine points of this chapter in eloquent and clear Arabic language and 7 Which none shall touch except those who are purified. ( S u rah al-W a qi‘ah 56:80) [Publishers] 8 Pray unto Me; I will answer your prayer. ( S u rah al-Mu’min 40:61) [Publishers]