Arba'in — Page 154
154 and winter had arrived. I would have shown him what a Sign of God truly is! But he acted evasively by adding the condition of a debate on religious tenets and the requirement that I perform bai‘at at his hand. In employing this foul deceit, he did not even consider his reputation. Nevertheless, if P i r [Mehr ‘Ali] Sahib has a genuine command of com- posing eloquent commentary in Arabic and has not used any deception, he will still possess this command. Therefore, I ask him, in the name of Allah, that he should fulfil my request in the following way. To refute my claims, he should write a learned commentary in Arabic of not less than four juz’w [a juz’w comprises 16 pages] of a book on S u rah al-F a ti h ah. I, in turn, will write a learned commentary in eloquent Arabic on the same chapter of the Holy Quran, with the grace and power granted by God, in support of my claims. He is permitted to get help from the scholars of the world, inviting the learned and eloquent men from Arabia and seeking the help of the professors of Arabic in Lahore and other cities. Starting from 15 December 1900, we shall both be permitted seventy (70) days to complete this task. This time will not be extended by even a single day. Having completed this commentary in the contest with me, if three well-known writers from Arabia declare that the P i r’s com- mentary contains all the essential elements of eloquence and learning and is full of spiritual wisdom, I will give him a prize of 500 rupees in cash. I will also set fire to all my books and take bai‘at [a pledge of allegiance] at his hands. However, if the result is contrary, or if he fails to write anything in the allocated time, that is to say within the period of 70 days, then I do not need to take bai‘at from such people, nor do I need their money. I only want to demonstrate that despite being known as a p i r [a spiritual guide], he has uttered such a despicable lie, and that the newspapers which supported him in print were completely unjust, mean, and dishonest! I will, God willing, start my commentary after completing Tu h fa-e-Golarhviyyah. The one who is truthful among us shall not be put to shame. Now is when the newspapers that had sup- ported him without any investigation should demand him to complete his work. Within seventy (70) days, these books from both sides should be published and circulated. Author