The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 607
606 Ā'ĪNA-E-KAMĀLĀT-E-ISLĀM―DĀFI‘UL-WASĀWIS one surah may be selected out of those by drawing a lot, and the com- mentary of this selected surah be determined as the criterion for the decision. It must be obligatory that the commentary be written in fluent, elo- quent Arabic language with rhyming phrases, and not be less than 10 juzw¹ in length. All the verities and insights written in the commentary should not be plagiarized, but should be new insights and unique sub- tleties not found in any other book. Moreover, they should not contra- vene the original Quranic teachings, but should, instead, demonstrate their power and magnificence. 2* And at the end of the book, there should be a qasidah [an ode] composed of 100 refined couplets in fluent and eloquent Arabic in exaltation and praise of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. The meter that should be adopted for the ode may also be determined by lot in the same meeting. Both parties may be granted 40 days to complete the assignment. After 40 days, the parties should recite their commentary and their couplets in Arabic in a public meeting. Then, if my humble self is found incapa- ble or deficient in stating the verities and insights [of the Holy Quran] and composing eloquent and fluent Arabic and vibrant and refreshing couplets in praise [of the Holy Prophet], or even if Muhammad Husain is found to be at par with me, I would immediately admit to being in the wrong and would burn my books. And Shaikh Muhammad Husain would have the right at that time to place a noose around my neck and 1. A juzw comprises sixteen pages. [Publisher] 2. If anyone entertains the fear in their hearts of how such verities and points of wisdom can be accepted that are not present in earlier commentaries, let him ponder over the following statement [in Fuyūḍ-ul-Haramain by Ḥaḍrat ثم رأيت كل آية وكل حديث بحرًا مؤاجًا فيه من اسرار ما لو كتب شرح سرّ واحد :[ Shah Waliullah منها فى مجلدات لما احاطته ورئيت الاسرار الخفية متبذلة فى اشارات القرآن والسنة فقضيت العجب Then I saw every verse and hadith as a raging كل العجب فيوض الحرمين. صفحه 42 sea of mysteries. Even if one of those mysteries were to be described, it would exceed several volumes. And I saw the pointers preserved in the Holy Quran and Sunnah and I was totally awe-struck—p. 42 (printed 1890)]-[Author]