Hazrat Maulvi Nooruddin - Khalifatul-Masih I — Page 76
SEEKER AND SOUGHT Hadrat Maulw i Nur-ud-D i n ra — Khalifatul Masih I 76 Christianity, nor had he much acquaintance with the type of criticism that Christian apologists directed against Islam. Also he was kept very busy in Jammu and wondered how would he find time for the needed study, research and writing. Departing from Qadian, and before returning to Jammu, he visited his hometown Bhera. There in a mosque the Imam, who was a Ha fi z of the Holy Quran and had been his school-fellow, started a discussion with him on free-will and predestination in surprisingly bold language. When other people left and he found himself alone with the Imam, he said to him: " Ha fi z Sahib, I perceive you have been influenced by Christianity;" to which he replied: "What harm is there in Christianity?" He suggested that the Imam and he should call on the Christian missionary with whom the Imam was in contact and have a talk with him. The Imam agreed and took him to the European missionary in Pind D a dan Kh a n, who received them courteously and hospitably but could not be persuaded to enter into a discussion. In the end he said he would send them his criticism of Islam in writing. Maulaw i N u r-ud-D i n ra said to the Imam: " Ha fi z Sahib, would you wait till you have read the criticism and its refutation before taking baptism?" The Imam signified that was only fair, and the reverend gentleman concurred. Maulaw i N u r-ud-D i n ra , on leaving the missionary, enquired from the Imam: "Do you know of anyone else who is in the same situation in which you are?" He was told that the station master was of the same mind. So they made their way to the station master who affirmed that no religion could stand up against Christianity. He was, however, surprised to learn that the missionary had declined an oral