Life of Ahmad — Page 507
as PLEADINGS WITH SCRIBES 507 and settlement in keeping with the nature of the question. Literary miracle has only one precedent and that is the Holy Quran. A deep knowledge of the secrets of the word of God is certain evidence of the spiritual eminence of a claimant and his nearness to God Who revealed it. One can study the character of a person only by coming in close touch with him. It is said that no man is a hero to his valet. But here is Ahmad as anxious to get in personal touch with his enemies and with an assurance that honest seekers after truth would not only be convinced of his truth but would also witness a sign to their personal satisfaction. It is an unqualified invitation involving no responsibility or inconvenience, but only those could accept it who were anxious to get at the truth. One wonders why people did not take advantage of this generous offer in much larger numbers. A number of people did visit Qadian, but they made no fuss and did not wait for a year. Most of them were immediately converted. They saw a Divine light and halo around Ahmad as and they could not resist it. It is only those who had eyes but did not see, who had ears but did not hear, who had hearts but would not understand, that paid no heed to it. The depth of iniquity to which the Scribes and Pharisees had sunk can be judged from the fact that they would not approach God in the form of Mub a hala. They had no faith in God. The way in which Ahmad as appealed to them and broadcast his various suggestions leaves not the shadow of doubt that he was most sincerely