Life of Ahmad — Page 264
THE PHARISEE OF BATALA as 264 If Jesus as was alive, his claim to be the Promised Messiah would automatically be disproved. But Muhammad Husain did not agree. Seeing that Muhammad Husain began to take undue advantage of the situation and preached against Ahmad as in season and out of season, Ahmad as at last decided to leave him no loophole. He, therefore, wrote to Muhammad Hasan on May 27th, that he was willing to hold a debate with Muhammad Husain on the subject of his claim to be the Promised Messiah. He also explained that his claim was based on Divine revelation and it was not possible to discuss a revelation as such. The truth of a revelation is, as a rule, manifested slowly by the course of events. It is not possible to argue with a Prophet. The question of the life or death of Jesus as could naturally form a subject of discussion. But as Muhammad Husain would not agree to this reasonable course he decided to accede to Muhammad Husain’s request because his duty was to vindicate the truth in whatever manner it might be possible. The conditions under which the discussion was to take place were settled and the debate was opened by Muhammad Husain on July 20th, 1891, at the house of Maulaw i Muhammad Hasan, near Masjid A‘w a na Ĕ. A report of it was published in book form entitled Al- H aq having been edited by Maulaw i Abdul Kar i m ra. The debate lasted for about 12 days. It was arranged that the debate should be carried on in writing by the exchange of signed papers which