My sincere friend and companion, brother Maulawi Hakim Nur-ud-Din Sahib—mortal seeker of the pleasures of the Lord—employee and physician of the state of Jammu, sent me a kind letter dated 7th January 1892, the content of which are briefly as follows:1
"Most humble and unworthy Nur-ud-Din, in honour of the highly stationed Messiah of the age, may the Gracious Lord protect him: Assalamu ‘Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu.2 I wish to state with utmost respect that before yesterday I sent a letter to you our kind benefactor. Soon afterwards the news reached here in Jammu of a malicious happening regarding which I am compelled to write in some detail. In Izala-e-Auham, your holiness wrote with regard to Dr. Jagan Nath that he had evaded the challenge. Now Doctor Sahib has said to many people who were in the know of the matter, 'Wipe out with red ink what was written in black. I never shied away from a challenge, nor did I ask for a specific sign. I never wanted to see the dead brought back to life, nor for a dried up tree to become green. All I wanted was to see any sign which was beyond human power.'"
I wish to make it clear upon my readers that in an earlier letter Doctor Sahib had asked for specific signs—such as bringing the dead to life, etc. In reply, I wrote that it is wrong to ask for specific signs. God Himself manifests signs to suit His intent and purpose. Since a sign is by definition beyond human power, what is the need for specifying it? It is a sufficient test for a sign that human power should fail to produce its like. To this Doctor Sahib made no reply. Now he has again expressed a desire to witness a sign and has kindly waived his earlier condition. He now wishes for a sign—any sign—but one which is beyond human power. Therefore, today, Monday, 11th January 1892, I have sent him a registered letter and repeated my invitation to the truth. The gist of the letter is that if Doctor Sahib is ready to truly embrace Islam upon witnessing an unspecified sign, he should publish an affidavit in the newspapers mentioned in footnote3 that, 'I, son of so and so, resident of such and such a place, am appointed as a Doctor in the State of Jammu. I state on oath, with full sincerity of intention and seeking the truth with a pure heart, that if I witness a sign in support of Islam the like of which I am unable to produce and the equivalent of which, with all its conditions, I am unable to show to lie in human power, I shall, without hesitation, become a Muslim.' This affirmation and its publication is necessary for the reason that the Holy and All-Sustaining God does not show His signs in idle sport. Unless man turns to Him in all humility and for the purpose of seeking guidance, He does not turn to him with compassion. Publishing of an intention demonstrates sincerity and resolve. As I have already announced the period of one year for the manifestation of such signs, based on Divine information, the same shall hold good for Doctor Sahib. It is not too long for a seeker after truth. If I fail, whatever punishment and fine Doctor Sahib proposes—in keeping with my power and resources— shall be acceptable to me. God is my witness that, in the event of defeat, I shall have no hesitation even to be put to death.
Announcement by,
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian
11th January 1892
1 Note: I quote a few sentences written by Hazrat Maulawi Sahib in his letter which is full of love, and which should be read attentively to know the clarity of heart, sincerity of action and complete faith that has been granted to him by Divine grace. His words are: 'O highly stationed Mirza Sahib, honour me with a place at your feet. I seek to please Allah and am ready to do whatever He wills. If the mission with which you have been sent requires irrigation by human blood, this unworthy (but loving one) is willing to help in this manner.' Here his statement ends, may Allah reward him. It is not Hazrat Maulawi Sahib—who is infused with humility, decorum, sacrifice of wealth and honour and even life—who speaks, rather it is his very soul that speaks. The fact is that we can only be called true servants [of God] when we have returned—or are ready to return—all that the Beneficent God has given us. Our very life has been entrusted to us by Him and He says:
(See Note a)
(See Note b)
Note a: Give over the trusts to those entitled to them. (The Holy Quran, Al-Nisa’ 4:59) [Publisher]
Note b: The Head that does not lie at the feet of the beloved;
Is indeed heavy upon the shoulders. [Translator]
2 May peace and blessings of Allah be upon you. [Translator]
3 Punjab Gazette Sialkot; Journal of Anjuman Himayat-e-Islam, Lahore; Nazimul Hind, Lahore; Akhbar-e-‘Am, Lahore; and Nur Afshan, Ludhiana. [Author]
4 The better option is that I shed my life in His path;
What loss shall the world incur if I cease to be? [Translator]
5 Peace be on him who follows the guidance. [Translator]
