A Gift for An-Nadwah — Page 13
A Gift for An-Nadwah or publicly expressed their remorse so as to let the people know that they had returned to the fold of Islam. Hafiz Şahib states that sufficient proof of this can be found in Qat'ul-Watīn. He also writes that he does not wish to receive the 500 rupee reward. Instead he desires that at the annual gathering of the Nadwatul-Ulema be- ginning on 9th October, 1902, in Amritsar, which will be attended by some of India's most renowned scholars, I should promise to repent if the historical authenticity of the examples cited in Qat'ul-Watīn is accepted by the designated arbiters i. e. the Nadwatul-Ulema. That is, if they decide that my case is similar to that of other liars who claimed to have received Divine revelations, record- ed them and spread news of them throughout the world and fabricated lies against God, and yet they were not de- stroyed. On the contrary, like me, they were blessed with a community of followers. If this be how they are per- suaded I should repent before their gathering. I would happily let the Nadwatul-Ulema arbitrate be- tween Hafiz Şāḥib and myself if God had blessed them with the necessary foresight, if they were just, right- eous and had sufficient time to thoroughly investigate our respective claims. But, since I am given to doubt regarding their [earnestness and judicial faculty], I have decided not to make the journey to Amritsar. In 13