Life of Ahmad — Page 298
CHIEF SCRIBE OF DELHI as 298 Ahmad as wrote to Maulaw i Muhammad Ahmad on October 15th, 1891, intimating his acceptance of the proposal to hold a written debate with Maulaw i Muhammad Bashir on the question of the death of Jesus as. He then wrote three letters to Maulaw i Muhammad Bashir on October 21st, 22nd and 23rd and the following points were further laid down: The debate should begin after the Friday prayers in Ahmad’s as house. (2) Maulaw i Muhammad Bashir would write the first paper. (3) Maulaw i Muhammad Bashir would bring only 10 men with him. (4) Maulaw i Muhammad Husain and Maulaw i Abdul Maj i d would not be allowed to take part. (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 the 19th of Rab i ‘ul Awwal, 1309 A. H. (October 23rd, 1891) on a Friday. Muhammad Bashir quoted in his first paper five verses of the Quran to show that Jesus as was still alive in the flesh. Later, however, he himself admitted that there was really only one verse on which he based his contention: (Al-Nis a ’ 4:160) 60 Ahmad as was not fond of displaying his learning, so he refuted his argument in as brief a space as possible, after which the mullah began to repeat the same thing over and over again. Anyhow, Ahmad as terminated the debate (probably on October 28th, 60 This verse is discussed on pp. 224-227.