Hazrat Maulvi Nooruddin - Khalifatul-Masih I — Page 9
Hadrat Maulw i Nur-ud-D i n ra — Khalifatul Masih I IN QUEST OF KNOWLEDGE 9 had promised. In these carefree circumstances N u r- ud-D i n made rapid progress with his studies. On one occasion a large company of students was debating an abstruse problem. Having pondered it for a few moments N u r-ud-D i n announced he had the answer to it. The bulk of the students, judging from his unprepossessing presence, sought to ridicule him. But the Punjabi students urged that he should be given a hearing, which being agreed to, he suggested that some eminent grammarian should be appointed umpire. Maulaw i Ghul a m Nab i Sahib, a revered personality, was chosen umpire. He was greatly pleased with N u r-ud-D i n’s ra exposition and referred to him as Maulaw i , which the young aspirant esteemed an accolade. Maulaw i N u r-ud-D i n, as he may now be justly so designated, was not altogether satisfied with the method of teaching followed in those days. The student was left largely to his own devices and was not provided with needed direction and guidance. He observed later: 'I have often felt that if the Muslims were to prescribe text books for schools and educational institutions after due reflection, keeping in mind the religious and secular needs of the students, they would confer a great benefit upon the community. Scattered and unregulated places of instruction create difficulties of diverse types. The greatest difficulty that I encountered was that neither the teachers furnished any guidance on subjects or books of study, nor did the students feel themselves at liberty to adjust their reading to the need of proper development of the faculties and capacities with which God had