Hazrat Maulvi Nooruddin - Khalifatul-Masih I — Page 16
IN QUEST OF KNOWLEDGE Hadrat Maulw i Nur-ud-D i n ra — Khalifatul Masih I 16 you beg me to read with you. " On returning to H ak i m Sahib he enquired from him: "Sir, what does knowledge profit a person?" He replied: "Knowledge helps the cultivation of high morals; but why do you ask?" "Sir, I had approached Mufti Sa‘dull a h to permit me to read Mutanabb i with him; but he put me off drily on the score of lack of time. " H ak i m Sahib immediately despatched a letter to the Mufti, requesting him to call on his way home from his office. When the time approached he told Maulaw i N u r-ud-D i n ra to wait in an adjoining room. On the Mufti’s arrival, after the exchange of customary civilities, he asked him: "Mufti Sahib if I wished to learn something from you, would you be willing to spare the time?" "Certainly, I am ever ready and eager to serve you. " "And if someone whom I esteem as my spiritual preceptor made that request to you?" "In his case I would be happy to go to him myself, wherever he is. " Shortly after H ak i m Sahib summoned Maulaw i N u r-ud-D i n. On seeing him Mufti Sahib burst out laughing and said: "Come, Sir, now I beg you to read with me. " 4 On one occasion a group of students debated the question whether persons who had achieved spiritual eminence were inclined to impart their wisdom to others. Maulaw i N u r-ud-D i n ra affirmed the positive and the rest supported the negative. In the end it was decided to submit the question to Am i r Sh a h Sahib, a person of acknowledged spiritual