lssued on 26th Shawwal, 1310 Hijra
I recently read an announcement by ‘Abdul Haq Ghaznavi, dated 26 Shawwal, 1310 Hijra, in which he has issued a challenge of mubahalah to me. So, I say to him and to all those pretended scholars and maulawis who consider me a disbeliever that I accept this challenge and, if Allah wills, I will be in Amritsar by 3 or 4 Dhul-Qa‘dah, 1310 Hijra. The date of the mubahalah has been fixed as 10 Dhul-Qa‘dah but may be delayed by a day in case of adverse weather or other extenuating circumstances. But, beyond this, no further delay will be permitted. The mubahalah will take place at the Eid Gah close to the Khan Bahadur Muhammad Shah Mosque. Owing to my morning engagement with the Christians, with whom I am to enter into a twelve day debate over the truth of Islam, all those who consider me a heretic and wish to challenge me in a mubahalah should know that I will be free from 2 o’ clock in the afternoon until evening. Thus, either on 10 Dhul-Qa‘dah or, in case of a delay, 11 Dhul-Qa‘dah, 1310 Hijra, my opponents may enter into a mubahalah with me. 10 Dhul-Qa‘dah has been decided on so that the other ulema who, despite the common strands of our faith, consider me a disbeliever— even though I profess the Kalima and pray facing the Qiblah, may also have a chance to participate. Among them are Muhiyuddin of Lakhu; Maulawi ‘Abdul Jabbar Sahib; Shaikh Muhammad Hussain Batalwi; Munshi Sa‘dullah, teacher at High School Ludhiana; ‘Abdul ‘Aziz, Wa‘iz, of Ludhiana; Munshi Muhammad ‘Umar, former civil servant, Ludhiana; Maulawi Muhammad Hasan Sahib, a chief of Ludhiana; Miań Nadhir Hussain Sahib of Delhi; Pir Haider Shah Sahib; Hafiz ‘Abdul Mannan of Wazirabad; Miań ‘Abdullah Tonki; Maulawi Ghulam Dastagir of Kasur; Maulawi Shah Din Sahib; Maulawi Mushtaq Ahmad Sahib, teacher at High School Ludhiana; Maulawi Rashid Ahmad Ganguhi; Maulawi Muhammad ‘Ali, Wa‘iz, of Boprań, district Gujranwala; Maulawi Muhammad Ishaq and Suleiman, of Patiala; Zahur-ul-Hasan, Sajjadah Nashin, of Batala; and Maulawi Muhammad, employee of Karim Bukhsh Printing Press.
However, if any of them should baulk at taking part in the mubahalah, upon reading the announcement that has been sent to them through registered post, their demurral will suffice to show that they are false and unjust in their edicts of disbelief. Foremost among them is Shaikh Muhammad Hussain Batalwi the writer of Isha‘atus-Sunnah. He is the most obligated to come to Amritsar on the proposed date and take part in the mubahalah, for he too has asked me to enter into a mubahalah with him. Let it be known that I will not take up such challenges time and time again. A mubahalah is not a trivial business which can be entered into lightly. This matter should be decided once and for all. Thus, whosoever demurs after reading this advertisement and eschews this challenge will have no right in the future to issue a mubahalah and may shamelessly call me what he wills from the shadows. Thus, to precipitate the denouement of this affair numerous copies of this announcement will be sent by registered post so that my opponents will have no cause for excuse. Afterwards, if they neither take part in the mubahalah nor desist from calling me a disbeliever it will signal the end of the affair. Finally, I wish to say that before the mubahalah takes place it will be within my rights to deliver before the gathered audience an exegesis on why I am a Muslim to those who treat me as a disbeliever.
Peace be on those who follow guidance.
Announced by
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad
30 Shawwal, 1310 Hijra
Conclusion: If Shaikh Muhammad Hussain Batalwi does not participate in the mubahalah of 10 Dhul-Qa‘dah. 1310 Hijra, then it will be decided that the prophecy concerning him, i.e., that he will repent of having called me a disbeliever, has been fulfilled. In the end I pray to God with the words:
O’ my Lord! Curse those who do evil, transgress and make mischief, and humiliate with defeat those who do not enter this mubahalah, which has been agreed upon in terms of its time and place, and do not repent of calling me a disbeliever nor seek penance for their evil deeds. Amin.1
O Ye who reject me, come unto that which God and His Messenger(sa) have prescribed for the silencing of disbelievers. But if you should turn away, know that the curse of God befalls the disbelievers whose fear and retreat is testimony to their falsehood.
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian
1 All those ulema who declare me a disbeliever are invited to Amritsar on 10 Dhul-Qa‘dah, 1310 Hijra, to enter into a mubahalah challenge with me. [Author]