The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 359
Repeated Challenges 359 view, my announcement was made entirely in good faith but he has completely evaded my challenge. . . . Today, God Almighty has put a plan in my mind which I set forth to conclusively resolve this matter, and I believe that it will fully expose Pir Mehr 'Alī Shāh Şahib, for the whole world is not blind; there are some who are fair and just. The plan is that today I give the following answer to the constant barrage of announcements, which are being published in favour of Pir Mehr 'Alī Shāh Şahib. If Pīr Mehr 'Alī Shāh Şahib is truly exceptional in his knowl- edge of the Qur'an and Arabic literature, and is well versed in the arts of persuasion and eloquence, I believe he must still be in possession of those qualities since it is not long since he moved to Lahore. I propose here and now to establish the truth by writing a commentary on Surah Al-Fatihah and setting down the verities and truths of this chapter of the Holy Qur'an. As for Hadrat Pir Şā- hib, he should also base his evidence regarding the Prom- ised Messiah and the bloodthirsty Mahdi on Surah Al- Fatihah. He is at liberty to deduce his conclusive argu- ments and crucial verities from Sūrah Al-Fatihah, written in eloquent and brilliant Arabic. The two books should be printed and published within seventy days beginning from the fifteenth of December, 1900. This will allow knowledgeable people to compare and decide for them- selves. If three scholars, who possess literary qualities and are proficient in Arabic and have no connection with either of us, state on oath that Pīr Şahib's book is supe- rior to mine, both in composition and in setting forth the verities of the Holy Qur'an, I shall immediately pay five hundred rupees to Pir Şahib. . . . He will be at liberty to seek help in this enterprise from Maulavi Muhammad Hussain of Batāla, Maulavi 'Abdul Jabbar of Ghaznī and