Life of Ahmad — Page 91
as HE STAKES HIS ALL FOR ISLAM 91 The first two parts of the book were published in 1880 18. The first was really a notice written in bold letters. Its publication produced a great effect in the country. The author undertook therein to describe the numerous excellences of Islam and announced that if the follower of any other religion proved the existence of similar excellences in his own faith—even of a half, of a fourth or of a fifth of them—or refuted his arguments in support of the Holy Quran, Ahmad as would present to him as a prize all his property, to the value of Rs. 10,000. The third part followed in 1882, and the fourth in 1884. The delay in the publication of the book was due to various difficulties, particularly to the indisposition of the manager of the Saf i r-e-Hind Press, Amritsar. He was, it may be mentioned, a Christian. The publication of the fourth part was delayed in order that the author might be able to deal with all the hostile criticism that had been levelled at the previous parts. It appears to have been delayed also by the death of his elder brother Mirza Ghulam Q a dir, 19 in 1883. 18 Ahmad as had arranged with Rajab Ali in 1878 to have the book printed at his press, the Saf i r-e-Hind, Amritsar. Sh. N u r Ahmad says that the first part was printed there under his supervision and that after that he started press of his own, Riy ad -e-Hind, and Rajab Ali entrusted the printing of the second and the third parts also to Sh. N u r Ahmad. When Ahmad as came to know that the book was actually being printed at the Riy ad -e-Hind Press he arranged the printing of the fourth part directly with Sh. N u r Ahmad. 19 He died at the age of 55. God had informed Ahmad as of his coming death. In his early life he had worked as a canal contractor. Later he joined