Hakeem Noor-ud-Deen – Khalifatul Masih I – The Way of the Righteous — Page 115
Hakeem Sahib's Election As First Caliph 115 Ahsan, Sahibzada Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad, Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan, Sheikh Rahmatullah Sahib, Maulavi Muhammad Ali, Dr. Mirza Yaqoob Beig, Dr. Syed Muhammad Hussein and the writer. The statement was signed by Khawaja Kamal-ud-Din. A letter containing this statement was sent to all members of the Jama ‘ at asking them to take Bai ‘ at either in person or in writing at the hand of Hakeemul Ummat Khalifatul Masih I, Maulavi Noor-ud- Deen. Burial After the Bai ‘ at at the hand of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I ra , he led the " Janaza Prayer " (funeral prayer). It was a most moving scene; every eye was full of tears. These Ahmadis were parting with their master, the Promised Messiah , who led them through a period of spiritual elevation and purification. By six in the evening, the body was lowered in the grave of " Bahishti Maqbara. " Testimony A large number of people wrote about this eventful day. Hadhrat Muhammad Zafrulla Khan in his book, Hadhrat Maulavi Noor-ud-Deen - Khalifatul Masih I (p. 107), says: As soon as he finished speaking, all present, who arrived from far and near and who numbered about 1200, urged him with one voice: "We offer you our pledge. We shall obey your orders. You are our Amir and successor to our Messiah. " Others who wrote about this historic event included Sheikh Mahmood Ahmad (author of Markiz Ahmadiyya , Mauj-i- Kausar by Sheikh Muhammad Ikram, Urdu Encyclopedia, published by Ferozesons), Maulana Abul Hasan Nadvi, Abdur Raheem Dard,