Summary of Naseem-e-Daawut:
28 February, 1903

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Sahib Qadiani published the book "Naseem Daawat" on February 28, 1903. He wrote the entire book in a mere three weeks.

The magnificent achievement of this book is that Hazrat Mirza Sahib has put forth in it an unparalleled criterion for the evaluation of a true faith. The need for this arose because the Aryas would repeatedly raise the objection to former Aryas who had become Muslims that they would not have embraced Islam if only they had read the four Vedas. Hazrat Mirza Sahib writes:

"For a person who seeks the truth, there are three essential things to take into consideration:

"First, what is that religion’s teachings regarding God? That is, what is stated by that religion regarding God’s Unity, power, knowledge, greatness, punishment and other attributes? ...

"Second, ... what are the teachings of that religion regarding man’s soul and man’s conduct in general? Does that religion impart any teachings that sever the bonds of justice between humans, does it draw humans towards shamelessness, or is that religion averse to natural human honour? ... It also needs to be investigated that its teachings should declare God to be the Great and Beneficent, and institute a relationship of love between man and God, taking man out of darkness and into the light, and drawing man away from forgetfulness and towards a state of mindfulness in God’s remembrance.

"Third, it is necessary to ascertain that the God of that religion is not fictional, merely having been accepted on the basis of tales retold ... It is futile to believe in such a god whose powers cannot be felt at all, and who cannot indicate to men some signs of his being alive. Neither can such a god bless men with pure life, and nor can he bring them out of the darkness of doubts. A living ox is better than a cadaverous parmeshwar [God], for an ox can at least be used to help in agricultural tasks! Therefore, if a man is not inclined towards faithlessness and worldliness, he will seek the Living God, faith in whom will enlighten and purify his soul. That man will not be content with any religion which does not show God’s powers or which does not fulfil him with the glorious and soul-satisfying voice of God.

"These then are three essential affairs that should merit the attention of those who want to convert to another religion. Therefore, if a person finds a religion to be superior to other religions in the light of the aforementioned three criteria, then it would be that person’s duty to convert to that religion. As for this investigative matter, it is neither necessary to become a great pundit, nor to become a great priest."

Having established these three criteria, Hazrat Mirza Sahib evaluated the Arya Samaj religion, Christianity and Islam in the light of each of these criteria, and demonstrated that it is Islam alone that emerges as the true and complete faith according to these criteria. The book had already been published when Hazrat Mirza Sahib learnt about three objections raised by an Arya: first, that the God of Muslims sits on a throne and this shows that He is finite and limited; second, that reliance on intercession is tantamount to ‘shirk’; and third, that the voice of God cannot be heard in this world. The same day that he heard of these objections, Hazrat Mirza Sahib wrote a reply to them in the form of an announcement and appended it to the book "Naseem Daawat". Thus, for a truth-seeking person who wants to evaluate the various religions, a veritable treasure of knowledge awaits him within the pages of this book.