The Descent of the Messiah — Page 73
HADRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMADAS designated learned arbitrators, both in numbers and subject matter, each gentleman will be given a reward of one hundred rupees. If they wish, the said amount can be deposited in a bank in advance. Miyan Mehr Ali, in particular, should not be afraid of this contest as he has discovered that prose and poetry can be produced through plagiarism. He has thus obtained the key to accomplishing such a task. I am sure that on account of this tool, all his cowardice will be gone and he may even gather the courage to write the commentary on some Sūrah to compete with mine. The task has become so easy now; all he has to do is steal passages from other people's works and complete the commentary. However, I would first like to see a specimen of these gentle- men's scholarly prowess as compared to my verses. If Pir Mehr Ali is able to show miraculous ability in this regard, I am sure that he will also set aside his past timidity and come forth in all sincerity to write a commentary to compete with mine. However, since yesterday, when I received news from Bhin of Pir Mehr Ali's conduct which is detailed in the footnote, I feel as if the Pir is dead and to even address him would be to give him the respect he hardly deserves. I have nevertheless decided that it is appropriate to conclude the topic that I have already begun. After reading the footnote, the readers shall fully realise that whatever criticism Pir Mehr Ali has raised against Ijazul-Masih and Shamsul-Bāzigha is not from him and that the person con- ducting the real criticism was Muhammad Hassan of Bhin. Having criticised both books, the latter then wrote the mubāha- lah prayer on the margin of my book, meaning that he sought God's curse and wrath to befall whoever among us was the liar. ¹ 1 In Islam, to say لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْكَذِبِينَ ]May the curse of Allah be upon the liars] is an imprecation meaning that whoever is the liar may be deprived of God's mercy and fall under His wrath. This is why the Holy Quran has prescribed 73