Hazrat Maulvi Nooruddin - Khalifatul-Masih I — Page 232
ILLNESS Hadrat Maulw i Nur-ud-D i n ra — Khalifatul Masih I 232 Hadrat Khalifatul Masih ra led the first Friday noon service, after his accident on May 19, 1911, after an interval of six months. It was an occasion of great rejoicing throughout the community. Thereafter for quite a long period he would attend the Friday noon service in the mosque, while all Prayer services including the Friday noon service, continued to be led, under his direction, by Sahibz a da Mirz a Bash i r-ud- D i n Ma h m u d Ahmad ra. On one occasion Maulaw i Muhammad ‘Al i suggested to Ha fi z Raushan ‘Al i ra to enquire from Hadrat Khalifatul Masih ra why, in the presence of older and more learned divines, he had directed that the young Sahibz a da ra should lead the Prayer services. Ha fi z Raushan ‘Al i ra made the enquiry, without mentioning who had inspired it, and received the reply: "The Holy Quran says: The most honoured among you in the estimation of Allah is he who is the most righteous among you (49:14). Name from among the whole community one as righteous as M i y an Ma h m u d Ahmad ra. Then shall I appoint Maulaw i Muhammad ‘Al i ra to lead the Prayer services and deliver the sermon?" The British Government announced that a Coronation Durbar would be held in Delhi on December 12, 1911, to proclaim His Majesty George V Emperor of India. Hadrat Khalifatul Masih ra thought it would be a good opportunity to request the King Emperor, through His excellency the Governor- General of India, that Muslim employees of Government may be granted a recess of two hours on Friday to enable them to participate in the Friday noon service. For this purpose he drew up a memorial,