John Alexander Dowie (1847-1904) was a religious leader who claimed to be a prophet of God. He boasted 100,000 followers in the US - based in Zion City - as well as missionaries around the world. His literature was filled with vile insults towards Islam, a religion he claimed his movement would destroy. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, wrote to Dowie and warned him to reform and desist from evil practices or to fear the wrath of God. Dowie replied that Ahmad could be crushed at his hand like 'gnats and flies' and so the two men entered into a prayer duel, with Ahmad praying for a divine victory over Dowie. Eventually, Dowie's movement was wiped out within Ahmad's lifetime at which the Boston Herald (left) wrote:

"It is quite true that Hazrat Mirza Sahib was much older than Dowie. So there were more chances for Dowie to survive Hazrat Mirza Sahib. Dowie died with his friends fallen away from him and his fortune dwindled. He suffered from paralysis and insanity. He died a miserable death, with Zion city torn and frayed by internal dissensions. Mirza comes forward frankly and states that he has won his challenge."



- Boston Herald, 23 June 1904

