Maulana Saeed Ahmad Khan Makki Rahimullah has written in one of letter published in Makatib........
Once Maulana Ahmad Ali Lahouri rahimullah personally told him (Maulana Saeed Ahmad) that............He also once started the Dawah work on the same pattern before Maulana Ilyas. He used to go to Muslims for calling them .....But...It is Maulana Ilyas who Allah accepted for this work universally...........
(Right now I have no time to find referenc in 5 volume of Makatib. I will put vol and page no later Insha Aallah If anyone else get page no please write in comment)