An Introduction to the Hidden Treasures of Islam — Page 287
287 He made a similar invitation to 86 other prominent Maulav i s and Sajj a dah Nash i n (Presiding P i rs) whose names were mentioned in the same Ishtih a r. But the tall talking and the boasting ulema and the P i r Sahib remained silent over this daring challenge, lest their own ignorance was publically exposed. None came forward by the date announced by the Promised Messiah as. An interesting event took place which exposed how P i r Mehar ‘Al i Sh a h was deceitful and mischievous, he without responding to this challenge, or accepting the terms of the condition laid down by the Promised Messiah, came to Lahore suddenly unannounced and issued a flyer, demanding that the Promised Messiah as hold a debate on verses of Holy Quran and A ha d i th , and if the Promised Messiah as was overpowered, then he had the cheek to ask the the Promised Messiah as to accept his bai‘at and then they will proceed to write the commentary on s u rah al-F a ti h ah in Arabic. “The Promised Messiah as giving details of this trickery said what was the point in writing the commentary after bai‘at. The Promised Messiah as further added by taking shelter in the shape of a debate P i r Sahi b had sought a flight from writing a commentary of s u rah al-F a ti h ah and deceived the people in making them believe that he had accepted the challenge. The Promised Messiah as recalled the fact after holding a debate with ‘Abdull a h A tham, he had made it very clear that he would never hold a debate with anyone on any subject. ” ( R uha n i Khaz a’ in , vol. 17, Introduction to the book by Hadrat Jal a l-ud-D i n Shams ra , pp. 22-23). In a letter on December 7, 1900, the Promised Messiah as invited P i r Mehar ‘Al i Sh a h to write a quality and in ornate Arabic language, a commentary on s u rah al-F a ti h ah within 70 days. He further elaborated both have 70 days beginning from December 15, 1900. Therefore, the Promised Messiah as wrote an exhaustive commentary in high flown Arabic on s u rah al-F a ti h ah which appeared under the title of I‘j a zul-Mas ih on February 23, 1901.