Some Prophecies of Hazrat Ahmad - A Critical Study — Page 65
through his announcements, has put himself in this position. Observing this, God, Who is jealous, has urged me towards this confrontation. It should be remembered that I am not just an average citizen of this country. I am the Promised Messiah, who is being awaited by Mr. . Dowie. . If Mr Dowie is true in his claim and Jesus is indeed god, this matter can be determined by the death of only one person; there is no need of destroying the Muslims of all countries. But if Mr Dowie does not respond to this notice and offer a player according to his boasts and is removed from the world before my death, this would be a Sign for all the people of America. The only condition is that the death of either of us should not be compassed by human hands but should be brought about by illness or by lightning, or snakebite or by an attack of a wild beast. I grant Dowie a period of three months to make up his mind to comply with my resquest and I pray that God be with those who are true. . The method I propose is that Mr Dowie should come into the field against me with the permission of his false god. I am an old man of more than sixty six years of age. I suffer from diabetes, dysentry, migraine and deficiency of blood. 1 realise, however, that my life. depends not upon the condition of my health but upon the command of my God. If the false god of Mr Dowie possesses any power, he will certainly permit him to come forth against me. If, instead of the destruction of all Muslims, Mr Dowie's purpose can be served by my death alone, he will have established a great sign, in consequence of which millions of people will acknowledge the son of Mary as god and will believe in Dowie as an apostle. '³. This challenge by Hadhrat Ahmadas was given wide publicity in the. American press and some periodicals published the challenge almost verbatim. 4. One American periodical gave an account of the challenge under the caption, ‘English versus Arabic Prayer Contest,' and concluded with the remark: 3. Review of Religions, Urdu, Vol. 1, No. 9, pp 342/348 4. Literary Digest, 20th June, 1903; Burlington Free Post, 27th June, 1903; New York. Commercial Advertiser, 26th October, 1903 65