The Light of Truth — Page 257
A CHALLENGE TO IMAD-UD-DIN AND HIS ASSOCIATES week-especially as you are writing with the help of all your associates, for I do not prohibit you from obtaining their assis- tance. In contrast, I have not taken a single helper in the writing of this book. Whatsoever I have written from my side, by the grace of my Lord, I have written in a handful of days, extem- poraneously. However, I grant you and your brethren and all your friends and your people and your helpers, who claim that they are maulawīs, two full months from the date of this book's publication to demonstrate your perfect eloquence. If you produce the like thereof in this generous time frame, matching the manuscript in every respect, and I find that your treatise rivals it step for step, then you shall receive 5,000 rupees from me as a prize. This is a firm promise in the name of Allah the Glorious. If, however, you should harbour any doubt about religious oaths, then I will deposit the prize money with the treasury of the British government so that you may have peace of mind. I swear by Allah that I shall grant my opponent his due right at the time of his victory, and if I should fail to do so, I will be adjudged a liar. Furthermore, I make the British government an arbiter in this case, and it will be free to decide as it pleases in this arrangement. The gov- ernment will be able to grant the reward that I have promised to anyone who successfully emulates the calibre of my work, provided that they publish-in accordance with the stipulated conditions-prose that resembles my prose and poetry that resembles my poetry in the proper metre and number, and in eloquence and fluency, and in its observance of truth and wis- dom. This is my oath. And may the curse of Allah be on those who break their promises. The Christians may help one another in this contest and stand together in this battle, so that some of them might help others, and the unlearned may seek explanations from the 257