Life of Ahmad — Page 798
MIRACLE OF THE MESSIAH as as 798 entrust the decision to his enemies like Maulaw i Muhammad Husain, Maulaw i Abdul Jabb a r Ghaznavi and Professor Maulaw i Abdullah. This Ishtih a r was signed by 20 men as witnesses. In a supplement to this Ishtih a r , issued on the same date, Ahmad as invited the mullahs also so that they might not be able to say afterwards that Mihr Ali Shah was not their representative or that he was not fully competent for the contest. The invitation was, therefore, developed as follows: Mihr Ali Shah should signify his acceptance with an Ishtih a r within a month so that the mullahs of the country should be able to join the contest for which suitable arrangements should be made at Lahore by Mihr Ali Shah or, if he was unable to do so, Ahmad as would undertake the responsibility. The contest should finish in one day, seven hours being allowed for the writing of a paper of 40 pages. Each of those who enter the contest must write his paper sitting alone without help. Ahmad as would hand over a signed copy to Mihr Ali Shah from whom other copies might be obtained but all of them should hand over signed copies of their papers to Ahmad as before he handed over his copy to Mihr Ali Shah. The paper must be written in Arabic on the spot. After the reading of the papers the three judges appointed by Mihr Ali Shah would give their award under oath. If Mihr Ali Shah did not have the courage to enter the contest, then the other mullahs could do so but their number must be forty and not less in any case. If, however, Mihr Ali Shah or the mullahs failed