Cherished Memories of Africa — Page 114
96 was the village chief; he noticed that Ousman was offering prayers at home, something he never did before. His elder brother asked him one day, ‘why do you pray at home?’ He replied, ‘I am an Ahmadi now. ’ His brother did not know much about the jama’at; he had only heard that these people were infidels and very dangerous. He advised Ousman, out of sympathy, to adopt any faith other than Ahmadiyyat as ‘that jama’at is no good’. Ousman told his brother that he had started offering salat regularly and was trying to act upon other Islamic teachings while he did not do that earlier and that it was all because of Ahmadiyyat. The brother tried everything to dissuade him but failed. The family belonged to Tijaniyyah sect. Ousman’s brother approached the scholars, told them that his brother had become an infidel and requested them to have words with him. A Tijani Marabout visited Ousman and started discussing with him about his conversion to Ahmadiyyat. When enquired about his beliefs, Ousman recited the kalima and briefly stated his beliefs. The Marabout said that they believed the same so what was the difference. Ousman told him that he believed in Imam Mahdi as. The Marabout asked him if it was written in the Holy Quran that Imam Mahdi would come. Ousman said, ‘yes it is’. The Marabout asked him to show where it was written like that. Ousman replied, ‘the verse that states that Sheikh Tijan will come, the next verse tells of advent of Imam Mahdi. You show me the verse about Sheikh Tijan and I will show the verse about Imam Mahdi’. The Marabout was perplexed and told Ousman’s brother, ‘he has gone mad, leave him alone as he is incurable. ’