The Heavenly Decree — Page 27
27 Nadh i r H usain Daihlw i [of Delhi] is the first amongst those who ought to enter the contest against me. For over fifty years, he has been teaching the Quran and Hadith, yet the practical demonstration of his learning is such that he issued a fatwa of heresy against me without any inquiry or investigation and misled thousands of savage-like people into uttering profanities against me. He let loose Bat a law i against me as a demented beast, foaming at the mouth with curses and declarations of heresy, while he arrogated to himself the status of the perfect believer and Shaikhul Kul , and the Shaikh of Arabs and non-Arabs. He, therefore, is the first one whom I invite to the contest. Of course, he may bring with him Bat a law i —who now claims to have true dreams, as well as Maulaw i ‘Abdul Jabb a r Sahib, son of that good man Maulaw i ‘Abdull a h Sahib of late memory, and also Maulaw i ‘Abdur Ra h m a n of Lakkhukay, who has published a revelation declaring me forever misguided, and has issued a fatwa of heresy against me. He may also bring with him Maulaw i Muhammad Bash i r Sahib of Bhopal, who is one of his followers. And if—as is his custom—Mi yan Sahib shies away from the contest, then these other personages mentioned above should come forward. And if they too should seek the path of escape, then Maulaw i Rash i d Ahmad Sahib of Gangauha should muster up the courage for this