The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 373
Repeated Challenges 373 the Holy Qur'ān contains clear and categorical verses which prove conclusively that Jesus son of Mary is still alive, and that the verses are supported by true Aḥādīth, on account of which you have been compelled to em- phatically deny my claim of being the recipient of Divine revelation, then out of the fear of God in Whose name I call upon you, come forward and debate the question with me. . . . I invite you again, dear sir, in the name of Al- lah the Glorious, to this debate. I will present myself for this purpose wherever you may wish. . . . If you do not come forward and try to evade my challenge by relying upon the mischievous clerics, then remember that you will be humiliated and defamed throughout India and the Punjab and will altogether lose the glory of being called the versatile religious scholar. . . . I wish to add that if you are not prepared to debate this question with me then, in a meeting, listen to all my ar- guments in support of the death of Jesusas and then pro- claim three times on oath in the name of Allah the Glorious, that my arguments are not well-founded and that the true and certain argument is that Jesus son of Mary was raised bodily to heaven and that this indeed is your belief which is supported by clear and conclusive verses of the Holy Qur'an and true Aḥādīth. Thereupon I shall have recourse to humble and earnest prayer for Di- vine decree in respect of your daring dishonesty, imperti- nence and bearing false witness. As God has assured me: ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ 244 I have also been assured that if you abandon the way of righteousness and commit this impertinence and ignore 244 'Call on Me, I shall respond to you. ' [Publisher]