Christianity appeared to be making some headway in some remote villages like the one, known as Jandiyala, in the District of Amritsar. The local Muslims began to defend Islam and whenever Christian missionaries delivered their public speeches, they began to ask questions and raise objections. The mission authorities were now meeting opposition and resistance to their activities because of repeated blows dealt by the Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) on their fundamental beliefs and they were compelled to take notice of this opposition. 

Rev. Dr Henry Martyn Clark, the Medical Missionary in charge of Amritsar District, wrote a letter to Muhammad Baksh Pahnda Maktab Desi, Jandiyala, in which he suggested that a decisive action should be taken in the form of a public debate between accredited representatives of the two faiths to stop the daily pin-pricks. As soon as Mr Pahnda received this registered letter, he wrote to Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) on April 11, 1893, asking for instructions, who replied directly to the Christians of Jandiyala on April 13, 1893, expressing his pleasure and intimating his acceptance of the invitation. However, they refused to have any direct dealing with Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) and wanted an answer from the Muslims of Jandiyala. 

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) again addressed a letter to Dr Henry Martyn Clark on April 23, pointing out to him that the Muslims of Jandiyala had no learned person among them and, therefore, it would be better if the matter was decided with him directly. 

(Life of Ahmad by A.R. Dard (ra), edition of 2008, p. 385) 

In this work, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, explains that Islam is a living religion that is not based on tales of the past but possesses the power to endow its followers with the ability to manifest miracles and signs even today. A tree is recognised by its fruit he states, and the fruits of Islam can be tasted by all even today.

The author takes up the challenge of Dr Henry Martyn Clark to engage in a debate that he said would once and for all settle the differences between Christianity and Islam, and determine the superiority of one over the other – a debate dubbed ‘The Holy War’ by Dr Clark. The author presents copies of correspondence between Dr Clark and himself, as well as letters to and from the Muslims of Jandiala, who were to be represented in this debate. It also contains the conditions settled for the aforementioned debate and proclaims a prophecy regarding Muhammad Husain of Batala.