The Holy War — Page xv
xiv falsehood may be clearly manifested ( H ujjatul-Islām, R uha n i Khazā’in, vol. 6, p. 44, ed. 3; English translation, A Conclusive Argument in Favour of Islam, p. 5, edition 1, printed in 2016, published by Islam International Publications Ltd. ). Though the conditions of the debate had been agreed to and Deputy Abdullah Atham had been appointed to represent the Christians, Dr. Clark held some reservations. This was evident from his public announcement to discontinue the planned debate on the basis that the Promised Messiah as could not truly represent Islam when numerous edicts of disbelief had been charged against him by his fellow Muslims. The Promised Messiah as published an in-depth response to this in two booklets by the names of H ujjatul-Islām ( A Conclusive Argument in Favour of Islam —April 1893) and Sachchā’ī kā I z hār ( The Truth Revealed —May 1893). We urge the reader to study both books along- side Jang-e-Muqaddas ( ) to fully understand the sequence of events leading up to the debate as well as its historical context. The debate continued as planned and took place at the residence of Dr. Henry Martyn Clark. It began on the 22 May 1893 and lasted for fifteen days, ending on 5 June 1893. The proceedings took place every morning from six o’clock to eleven o’clock, each side allotted 50 audi- ence admission tickets. The great renown of the Promised Messiah as drew large crowds and men of great dignity, as acknowledged by Dr. Clark: On the day appointed the verandah was filled in no time by the lucky ticket-holders, while the police turned away hundreds not so provided at the compound-gate. For some time a surging mob filled the road in front, very quiet, orderly, and intensely anxious to get in. … In addition to the disciples of the Mirza, there was a very large attendance of orthodox Mohammedans, men mostly of affluence and position, and, as such, not usually