Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 185
THE RENAISSANCE OF ISLAM 185 9 a. m. his breathing became laboured and about 10. 30. a. m. he took one or two long breaths and his soul departed from his body. To Allah we belong and to Him shall we return. Under the impact of this grievous bereavement the members of his family set a high example of dignified steadfastness. His wife not only restrained and controlled her own grief but admonished certain women who were inclined to give expression to their grief in an unbecoming manner. She sought to console her children by pointing out to them: 'Do not imagine that your father has left you only an empty house. He has laid up for you a great treasure of prayers in heaven, which will continue to yield its beneficence to you all the time. ' His promised son, Sahibzada Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, then 19 years of age, standing at the head of the bed on which his holy father's body rested, gave expression to his high resolve in these words: 'If all others should leave you and I should be left alone, YGt will I stand against the whole world and shall not heed any opposition or hostility. ' His body was taken the same evening by train to Batala, and from Batala it was conveyed next morning to Qadian. It was not taken into the town but was placed in a bungalow in his garden. In the meantime a large number of the members of the Movement began to converge upon Qadian from all directions. A score of the leading members got together and agreed unanimously that Hazrat Maulvi Nurud Din Sahib should be requested to undertake the heavy responsibility of leading the Community as the First Successor of the Pro- mised Messiah and as Head of the Ahmadiyya Movement. This request was conveyed to Hazrat Maulvi Nurud Din Sahib in a document which bore the signatures of these leading personalities of the Movement who had held a con- sultation over the matter and was couched in the following terms: In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful. We praise Him and call down blessings on His noble Messenger. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be