Hazrat Maulvi Nooruddin - Khalifatul-Masih I — Page 278
PERSONAL REMINISCENCES Hadrat Maulw i Nur-ud-D i n ra — Khalifatul Masih I 278 many supplications on your behalf!" Truly a benediction, the perfume of which has lingered with me through seventy years. While I was still at Qadian my father wrote to me instructing me to make a number of submissions to Hadrat Khalifatul Masih , among them a request for permission that I may proceed to England for higher studies. I made the submissions in writing. Concerning myself I wrote that, by Allah’s grace, I had done so well in my degree examination that I hoped I would pass it, and that if he approved and granted his permission, my father desired that I should go to England for higher studies. Hadrat Khalifatul Masih ra directed that my father and I should both seek divine guidance through Istikh a ra prayer in the prescribed manner, and if both of us were satisfied as the result of prayer I could proceed as my father desired. I informed my father of his direction and supplicated for divine guidance for a week, at the end of which I perceived a clear indication in favour of my father’s wish, though personally I was not too keen on going abroad. The result of the examination was announced and a friend wrote from Lahore that I had passed in the First Division. I submitted the letter to Hadrat Khalifatul Masih , who was so pleased that he observed to everyone who came to see him that afternoon: "I feel very happy today. He, pointing to me, has passed his B. A. examination; and what is surprising is that he knew in advance that he would pass. " It transpired later that I had stood first in Arabic Honours, and if I had a mind to study for the degree of Master of Arts in Arabic I would be entitled to a substantial scholarship. That prospect appeared attractive to me, but my father’s wish was supreme.