Khilafat Centenary Souvenir 1908-2008 — Page 167
Khilafat Centenary tabligh efforts in many venues. Thus, I became part of thejama'at Human Rights Committee, which was directed by Huzur from London. For several years we concentrated on close contacts in the State Department, Senate Foreign Relations, House Foreign affairs, news media and human rights groups. In 1987 on his first visit to the USA as Hadhrat Sahib, I was honored. My first mulaqat with him was private and he immediately put me at ease with his humor courtesy and informing me that he and I were of the same age. Preparing for the celebration of the Centenary observance inl989, Huzur requestedjama'at USA members to make contact with Native Americans and invite them to Ahmadiyya Islam. I arranged for Lajna to visit the Virginia Reservation of the Pamunkey People who are part of the once great powerful Powhatan empire. We arranged for the chief and some of his people to attend the Centenary program where the chief, in full traditional regalia met Huzur andjama'at officials. An active member of the Comanche People of Oklahoma, Mrs. Ladonna Harris, wife of former US Senator Fred Harris, accepted my invitation to meet with Huzur, however her daughter was at that moment giving birth to Mrs. Harris's first grandchild. While she was unable to meet Huzur, she sent him some of her writings about her people and her program to rejuvenate and unite all Native Americans in the Americas. She also sent Huzur a traditional symbol of their concept of discipline (a small, flat, round black stone). I was blessed to meet with Huzur and tell him about our contacts and deliver Mrs. Harris's papers and gift to him. He received them graciously and understood the importance of the birth of her first grandchild. He also indicated interest in the discipline stone. Later he was quite direct and straightforward during the Shura Amila meeting when he admonished some Jama'at members on an important issue. Listening to Huzur's instructive admonition, I learned much about his guardianship of his weighty Jama' at responsibility, his strong sense of justice and his mercy and love for his followers. My already deep respect and love for him rose higher. I never saw him accept personal awards and plaques for himself. During thejama'at Centenary celebrations in 1989 (before MTA) we were atjuma (Fazl Mosque) listening to Huzur's sermon from London. He was informing us about special spiritual experiences of Jama'at members worldwide. We were very surprised to he ar him suddenly announce: "Sister Shakura Nooriah ofjama'at USA embraced Islam Ahmadiyya after seeing the Holy Quran and the Kalima in a dream. " Whenever Huzur visited Canada J alsa Salana, some of us from DC Jama' at always tried to be there to greet him. On one of those occasions he brought with him homeopathic pharmacists who distributed free homeopathic remedies. I had mentioned to Huzur before that I had vision problems and he had prescribed Arnica 200 for me. Whenever he saw me he would always remind me "Shakura, Arnica 200. " He had a prodigious memory and he cared for all of us. Once we were waiting for him at Bibi Qayyum's home. When he returned, after greeting the ladies who were present, he lightly complimented me on the color of my dress. Not much escaped his notice. It was a very special blessing to be a member of the Lajna team appointed by Huzur to prepare an innovative and comprehensive index for the special Centenary edition of the Holy Quran. He rewarded each team member with a personally autographed five-volume set of the Quran and commended our efforts highly. There were several hints of some future dangers that would complicate our lives as Muslims. At Hajj in 1995, in the spiritually charged splendor of the Sacred Mosque, a vision appeared before my eyes of the Holy Prophet saw and some of his companions who seemed to be preparing for an imminent attack. Then the face of the Holy Prophet (saw) came moving closer toward me as in a camera close up - as if to warn me particularly. Then in 1998 I saw a dream of the Promised Messiah (as) who, walking slowly as in meditation came into Lajna hall and walked around it silently. There were a few sisters in the hall including Sisters Hameeda Haleem and Zubaida Kaleem. When he walked out, still silently meditating, I followed him out and requested his permission to walk with him. With his silent assent, I fell in step with his meditating pace and we walked 167