The Message or A Cry of Anguish — Page 8
8 HADRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMADAS differentiate between a claim and a proof. If they intend to pres- ent an argument in support of a claim they only come up with yet another claim which they, in their extreme naivety, take for as a proof. In fact, the latter is also a claim yet to be proven, nay it is often more abstruse and difficult than the previous claim. However, it is to be expected that a sensible person, having attained some share of rational sciences and being aware of the method of argumentation, would save his discourse from absurd- ities, and not be overawed by the hypothetical and deceptive dis- course of the opponent. EIGHTH CONDITION for [one engaged in] verbal or written debates is that the debater or the writer must have an extensive collection of most authentic and reliable books by means of which one can silence a cunning and lying opponent, and expose their fabrications. This, too, is something God-given, since everyone cannot have access to a whole host of such authentic sources that serve as sharp weapons to overcome the liar. (The entire library of my revered friend Maulawi Hakim Noor Deen is at my disposal for this purpose and many other [books] besides this. A short cat- alogue of it is given in the footnote. See footnote regarding page 6, condition eight. )¹ NINTH CONDITION for discourses and writings is to have no per- sonal desire, and to solely dedicate one's entire life to the service of faith. For experience shows that the heart finds it difficult to 1. This refers to the original Urdu page 6 of the first edition. This footnote can be found on page 97 of this book. [Publisher]