Life of Ahmad — Page 99
as HE STAKES HIS ALL FOR ISLAM 99 service of Islam, through his life, his energy, pen, tongue, and every form of activity is almost unprecedented amongst Muslims. This should not be taken as Asiatic exaggeration. We challenge anyone to show us the like of this book. ' Although the plan on which the work was projected had to be abandoned halfway, because while the work was in progress Ahmad as was informed by revelation that a different way of service to the cause of Islam was perscribed for him; still the work, so far as it was completed, is sufficient to open the eyes of the world. After it was published, friends and foes alike acknowledged the high merits of the author. Among the enemies of Islam the work inspired awe and deterred most of them from venturing upon a reply. The compilation of this great book (more than 600 printed pages of large size), the collection of necessary funds, the making of arrangements with a press at a distance of 36 miles from Qadian, the employing of K a tibs , the correction of handwritten copies and printed proofs, and the consequent correspondence and journeys must have demanded from Ahmad as a tremendous amount of constant attention and energy and caused him great mental strain, especially because lack of helpers compelled him to look after every detail himself. The book could not be entrusted to a publisher because there existed no publisher in the modern sense of the word. He had also to devise, direct, control and supervise its sale