The Afghan Martyrs — Page 45
In October 1902 as the Haj season was fast approaching he sought permission from the Ruler of Mghanistan to perform Haj. The King not only happily granted him permission but also presented him with a reasonable sum for his expenses. When the time of his departure approached the King escorted him for a short distance beyond the town and then bade him farewell. The Sahibzada reached Lahore in October 1902 accompanied by some of his pupils. On arrival there he discovered that as plague had spread in India, the Ottoman Government had imposed restrictions on Hajis coming from or through India. Taking advantage of this opportunity the Sahibzada decided to visit Qadian. He was accompanied by both Syed Abdus Sattar Shah and Moulvi Abdul Jaleel and together they walked from Batala to Qadian. Hadhrat Syed Abdus Sattar Shah states: "When the martyr was travelling towards Qadian I was with him. We hired two traps from Batala and yet some of us were to walk. Having already visited Qadian on three earlier occasions I knew the way and therefore I was to ride ahead in one of the traps. I told the pedestrians that I would wait for them at the canal bank. As we were not familiar with the route the martyr decided that all of us should walk together. On the way, on seeing a small water course that had originated from a well some of our companions mistook it for the canal where we were to rendezvous. When I explained that the water course was not the canal I was convinced that for some of us to ride ahead in a trap would have been a terrible mistake. On reaching Qadian, in loud voices we repeated an Arabic prophecy of the Promised Messiah: "They will come on foot, and on every lean camel, coming by every distant track. They will come to Thee on foot, and on every lean camel, coming by every distant track. " (22:28) 45