The book in your hands was first published some twenty-six years ago, in 1940, as an inadequate liturgy. However, it won immediate recognition from the Muslim world and was acclaimed as a great achievement. It was subsequently rendered in Persian, and appeared in Din-o-Daanish, a magazine of Tehran, Iran, and a comprehensive review on it appeared in an Arabic paper Al-Hilal of Baghdad. Many years ago, when a deputation of the Ulama of Al-Azhar University came to Lahore, a copy of it was presented to them. They congratulated me on the wonderful researches I had made. Its popularity and fame induced some unscrupulous publishers and writers to reproduce it without my permission.

The book was critically examined by a Jewish paper, Yishrael Messenger of Hong Kong, and the Christian Epiphany of Calcutta. I refuted their flimsy objections convincingly. Besides writing on this topic, I have had the opportunity to debate and discuss with ministers of every religion. An exhaustive discussion on the prophecy of “A Praised One, Camel Rider” mentioned in the Atharva Veda took place in Diwan Hall, Delhi, in February 1944, and the learned Hindu Pandit who spoke from the opposite side could not deny the prophecy, but unconvincingly tried to minimise its importance by dubbing it as an interpolation in the Veda.

Twenty years or so of my life have since elapsed and during this period the running stream of time drifted me towards the farthest corners of the world. I had the occasion to explore the British Museum Library in London, the Buddhist libraries of Madras and Colombo in Ceylon, and the libraries of Hyderabad Deccan, San Francisco, Philadelphia and New York. I also studied minutely the original scriptures. Last year I was convinced that it is a subject of unlimited scope and can never be thoroughly exhausted. I have, therefore, decided to publish my research. The first edition consisted of only 300 pages, but now it has run into 1500 pages. I have, with all humility, tried to drink deep at these fountains of knowledge and to search out hidden truths more valuable and beautiful than the costliest pearls.

In the end, I would request my readers to pray to the Almighty that He may cherish in the hearts of the seekers-after-truth from all religions as well as of brethren in Islam, the love of the “mercy to all the nations” (peace be upon him)