The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 430
430 Essence of Islam-III An Easy Mubāhalah for the Christians On 2nd May 1906, I received the announcement of Ahmad Masīḥ, the blind Christian of Delhi, in which he has chal- lenged me to a Mubahalah for the purpose of arriving at a final Judgement between Islām and Christianity. I accepted his challenge in my announcement of 5th May, on condi- tion that the Bishops of Lahore, Calcutta, Madras and Bom- bay should also join in the Mubāhalah. It will not be necessary for them to take the trouble of coming together at one place. The Mubāhalah can be held in writing. . . . It has occurred to me today that further facility may be provided to the Christian gentlemen so that they should have no ex- cuse left. I, therefore, announce that I am ready to enter into Mubāhalah with Ahmad Masīh himself, and all that I re- quire from the four Bishops is that they need not present themselves for the Mubahalah, but should announce over their signatures, in the newspapers Pioneer or The Civil and Military Gazette, that the defeat of Ahmad Masīh will be considered the defeat of the four Bishops also. I suggest this because Ahmad Masīḥ is an unknown person, and unless the reverend Bishops appoint him their representative, the result of the Mubāhalah cannot produce much effect. After this clarification, I trust that the reverend Bishops would, after full deliberation, agree to this form of the Mubāhalah. Further, if my suggestion does not find favour with all four Bishops, it would be enough if the Bishop of Lahore alone were to make the suggested announcement. Peace be on him who follows the guidance. Mirzā Ghulām Ahmad, The Promised Messiah Qādiān, 11 May 1906. [Majmü'ah Ishtihārāt, vol. 3, pp. 556-557]