The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 411
Repeated Challenges 411 witness the presentation of prophecies by Miāń Fateḥ. Masīḥ, who arrived accompanied by a number of Christians after 10:00 am. But, instead of setting forth his prophecies against me. . . he only said that he did not claim to be a recipient of revelation and that whatever he had said was merely to counter my claim. . . . . The purpose of this announcement is that if a respectable. European Christian should claim to be a recipient of revelation, he will be at liberty to set forth his revealed prophecies in a meeting to be held at Batāla, where I intend to remain till the end of Ramaḍān, provided he has no intention of running away after acknowledging his falsehood, as Fateh Masīḥ did. Reverend Mr. Whitebrecht, who is a respectable European missionary in these parts, is especially invited. If the reverend gentleman would acknowledge in a public meeting that Christians are no longer capable of receiving revelation, I shall not require him to set forth his prophecies against me. In such case, I shall, in a meeting to be called as desired by him, present such revealed prophecies in advance as will not admit of any doubt whatsoever. If I am not able to present any such definite prophecy as may be considered by the average Hindu, Muslim and Christian to be beyond human power, I shall immediately present two hundred rupees in cash to the reverend gentleman as compensation for his trouble. If he so desires, I can deposit this amount with a respectable Hindu. If the revered gentleman should acknowledge that the prophecy presented by me is truly beyond human power, then it would be obligatory on him to stand firm to test the truth or falsehood of the prophecy. He should arrange for the publication of the prophecy in Nur Afshan, which is a. Christian religious newspaper, along with his affirmation