Hazrat Maulvi Nooruddin - Khalifatul-Masih I — Page 31
Hadrat Maulw i Nur-ud-D i n ra — Khalifatul Masih I HEDJAZ INTERLUDE 31 ud-D i n ra noticed that when people approached Sayyid H usain and sought his guidance, he would advise one to make a habit of remembering God by calling on Him as Y a B a si t (O Thou of vast bounty) and another to call on Him as Y a Ghan i (O Self Sufficient One) or Y a H am i d (O Praiseworthy One) or Y a Maj i d (O Exalted One) etc. He had it in mind to enquire from him about the wisdom underlying his advice, but could not venture out of respect for his taciturnity. Maulaw i Ra h matull a h was an erudite divine who was famous for his great skill in debate, particularly in refutation of current Christian doctrine. Unlike most divines he never reacted sharply to opposition. Even in the face of stubborn obtuseness he never lost patience, and kept smiling and urbane. Shaikh Muhammad Khazraj i was well versed in the six principal compilations of Hadith. On one occasion in the course of his lesson of Ab u D a ’ u d , a slight difference emerged between the teacher and the pupil on the question when should the period of Ai‘tik a f (Retreat into the mosque during the last ten days of Ramadan) be deemed to commence. The Shaikh felt the question was difficult. If Ai‘tik a f was started on the morning of the twenty-first, there was the possibility that the preceding night might have been the Lailatul Qadr. It could not be started on the afternoon of the twentieth, as the Holy Prophet sa preferred starting it in the morning. On this Maulaw i N u r-ud-D i n ra remarked that there was no difficulty. Ai‘tik a f could be started on the morning of the twentieth. The Shaikh observed: "That would be opposed to consensus. " Maulaw i N u r-ud-D i n: "Sir, I would respectfully draw your attention to the observations of Imam Ahmad bin Hambal on the subject of consensus. It