Tuhfa-e -Ghaznaviyyah

A Gift for Ghaznavi

Background

This book was written in response to a leaflet issued by Mian ‘Abdul Haq Ghaznavi in a language full of mocking and jeering at what he alleged unfulfilled prophecies of the Promised Messiah(as). Writing about this leaflet, the Promised Messiah(as) said:

This leaflet tackles two issues: First, Mian ‘Abdul Haq has made a reference to signs and prophecies which in reality have been fulfilled or at the point of being fulfilled and tried to mislead the general public claiming that these were not fulfilled.1

Second, attack of Mian ‘Abdul Haq consists in rejection of a proposal which I made following a revelation in a way to arrive at a decision and this was also published by me in an earlier leaflet: that is in order to find out the truth, we pray for recovery of the sick people selected by lot. Mian ‘Abdul Haq does not accept it on the plea that who will bear the expenses of assembly of the scholars and saints of India and Punjab at one place.2

On December 10, 1892, the Promised Messiah(as) issued an Ishtihar (leaflet) declaring that God had permitted him to accept the challenge of orthodox Muslim priests for Mubahalah (Prayer Duel). He wished to settle everything with them once for all, so that he might then be able to devote his attention exclusively to the enemies of Islam. He fixed a period of four months for this purpose. This leaflet was sent to all the well-known Mullahs under registered cover. It appeared that none of them had the courage to come forward, except Maulavi ‘Abdul Haq Ghaznavi, who accepted it. The Mubahalah took place in the Amritsar Eid grounds on Dhiqa‘dah 10, 1310 AH (May/June 1893). Several hundreds of people assembled including some English clergymen. In principle, the Promised Messiah(as) did not like the idea of having a Mubahalah with the disciple of Maulavi ‘Abdullah Ghaznavi for whom the Promised Messiah(as) had a great deal of respect and the Promised Messiah(as) believed if Maulavi ‘Abdullah had lived longer he would have become his follower. It is significant that the Promised Messiah(as) never wished any evil to befall Maulavi ‘Abdul Haq Ghaznavi. All he prayed was that, as his opponents regarded him as an impostor and an infidel, and if he was really so, God should curse him in an unprecedented manner. The period during which the judgment of God would be visible was one year.

The Promised Messiah(as) suggested another method which he had already made known through a flyer that he issued, that is to seek the acceptance of prayer by praying for the sick. Maulavi ‘Abdul Haq Ghaznavi did not accept the argument that how all the saints and pious people could be assembled at one place and who would bear the expenses of assembling them. The Promised Messiah(as) strongly rebutted this criticism of Maulavi ‘Abdul Haq Ghaznavi. Two of the closest companions of Maulavi ‘Abdullah Ghaznavi and respected by the Ghaznavi family, Maulavi Muhammad Ya‘qub and Hafiz Muhammad Yusuf declared before a large gathering of people that Maulavi ‘Abdullah Gahznavi had a vision, in which he had seen the light of God descending upon Qadian, of which his children were deprived.

The sentimental attitude adopted by Promised Messiah(as) towards Maulavi ‘Abdul Haq Ghaznavi because of his father, Maulavi ‘Abdullah Ghaznavi, had coloured the Mubahalah right from the beginning. Even then Maulavi ‘Abdul Haq Ghaznavi came out with a leaflet declaring that God had blessed him.