An Introduction to the Hidden Treasures of Islam — Page 66
66 accepted Hadrat Ahmad’s invitation to the people of Delhi to have a discussion with him on the subject of the death of Jesus. ” ( Life of Ahmad by A. R. Dard ra , edition of 2008, pp. 294-297) The Promised Messiah as wrote to Maulav i Muhammad Bash i r on October 15, 1891, intimating his acceptance of the proposal to hold a written debate with him on the question of the death of Jesus. He then wrote three letters to Maulav i Muhammad Bash i r dated October 21, 22 and 23, 1891, and the following points were further laid down: (1) the debate should begin after the Friday prayer at Hadrat Ahmad's house, (2) Maulav i Muhammad Bash i r would write the first paper, (3) Maulav i Muhammad Bash i r would bring only one man with him, (4) Maulav i Muhammad H ussain Bat a lv i and Maulav i ‘Abdul Maj i d would not be allowed to take part in it; and (5) not more than five papers would be exchanged. It should be noted that it was not agreed that the papers would be written in the meeting. The debate started on October 23, 1891, on Friday. Maulav i Muhammad Bash i r quoted in his paper five verses of the Quran to show that Jesus was still alive in the flesh. Later, however, he himself admitted that there was really only one verse on which he based his contention. The Promised Messiah as was not fond of displaying his learning, so he refuted the argument and demolished even the last plank by offering an interpretation of the verse in question and in as brief a space as possible, after which Maulav i Muhammad Bash i r repeated the same argument over and over again. Anyhow, the Promised Messiah as terminated the debate (probably on October 28, 1891) after an exchange of three papers instead of five as originally arranged. The debates with both the Maulav i s revealed that neither of them could quote any authentic hadith or verse from the Holy Quran to support their misguided contention that Jesus was alive in Heaven. ( Life of Ahmad by A. R. Dard ra , edition of 2008, pp. 294-297).