Life of Ahmad — Page 100
HE STAKES HIS ALL FOR ISLAM as 100 and distribution. In the beginning only 700 copies were produced, but later the number was increased to 1,000. In a Western country this number would today seem ridiculously small; but in the nineteenth century, and in a country where literacy did not extend to even one per cent of the population it was a really difficult job to find Muslim customers on the one hand; and, on the other, representatives of other religions who could read the book. Addresses were collected and circulars and leaflets were sent in thousands to give it publicity. Some leaflets were produced in English also. There was no one at Qadian who could do the translation. For this purpose a special messenger had, therefore, to be sent to Amritsar or Lahore to contact somebody who knew English. As soon as the four parts were printed, in 1884, Ahmad as sent the preliminary notice of the book with a letter 22 under registered cover to well-known Christian missionaries in India, England and other countries, and also to Brahmu Sam a jists, A rya Sam a jists, naturalists, ruling princes, p i rs and Muslim divines. This letter was to the effect that the author had been commissioned by God to regenerate mankind through meekness and humility, which characterised the way of Jesus Christ as. For this purpose he had written and published a book, reference to which would be found in the 22 A special messenger was sent to Lahore for the purpose of having this letter printed. Ahmad as had intended to send this letter to 2,000 distinguished persons but as the cost of postage would have been heavy, he was advised to have only 500 copies printed.