The Devotion of Life — Page 239
239 devotees’ participation in all tasks of the Majlis as obligatory. 7. Huzur ra would demand that Islamic customs are especially adhered to. His clear instruction was: “Devotees should keep their hair in a way that no part of their hair should be shorter than the other. Whether they are all short or all long, but should be the same. ” He said, “Beard should be kept in the style of believers” – this he explained at another instance, “Beard should be such that the onlooker can say that it is a beard. As for the length, there is no restriction on that; the essence is to obey the commandments of the Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). ” 8. In order to make them used to toil and hard work, in August 1939 Hadrat Khalifatul Masih II ra made the devotees walk on foot from Qadian to Kulloo (a hill station). The devotees were instructed to carry their baggage and bedding themselves and were also to cook for themselves en route. Porters were only allowed to carry their provisions and utensils. Choudhary Mushtaq Ahmad Sahib Bajwa was the Ameer (leader) of this journey. At a later stage in 1940 the devotees travelled on foot towards Dalhousie (a hill station) under the leadership of Maulvi Ghulam Ahmad Sahib Buddomalhavi and in 1941, they trekked towards Chamba (a hill station). The following year, in 1942, again under the leadership of Maulvi Ghulam Ahmad Sahib Buddomalhavi the devotees travelled from Qadian to Jammu by railway. From there they walked on foot to Sri Nagar reaching there on 20 th August. On the