Khilafat Centenary Souvenir 1908-2008 — Page 141
His devotion to the institution of Khilafat was of such a nature that, when I asked Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV 1 • for a quote to be placed on his tombstone, Huzur ra wrote back and said, "You should write it yourself and add on my behalf the following: ' He was a complete devotee to the Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya; his unwavering love, obedience and devotion to the institution was that of such high magnitude that, as a younger brother, I often felt embarrassed. "' While on the subject, I would like to share an incident that will adequately express this point. Hadhrat Mian Sahib spent the last nine years of his life in pain due to a back condition. At times it was difficult for him to walk a long distance. Once, we were at Dulles Airport on our way to see our beloved Imam, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih the rvr 1 • off to London. As I was walking with Huzur ra for security reasons, Huzur ra asked me as to the whereabouts of "Bhai," a term used in respect for older brothers. I informed him that due to his back and leg pain he was left behind. Huzur ra turned back and started to walk. When we saw Mian Sahib, he was walking gingerly with a group of people and was clearly in pain. One of his assistants was walking with a wheelchair behind him. Huzur ra very lovingly asked "Bhai" to have a seat in the wheelchair. Mian Sahib turned to him and with a very grateful look asked, "May I?" He did not feel comfortable sitting down without his Khalifa's permission and even when he obtained the Khalifa's pe rmission, he felt uncomfortable sitting down while his Khalifa was still standing. It was an experience within itself when Huzur ra would graciously agree to visit the U. S. , Mian Sahib would immediately go into overdrive. The first visit of a Khalifa to the United States was in 1976 (the visit of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih III ra ). Most of the visit was spent in the Washington and New York areas. While in Washington, Huzur ra graciously accepted Mian Sahib's invitation and stayed at our home. I was young and I had never had an experience of hosting a Khalifa. That was the first time that I felt the intensity of Mian Sahib's love for Khilafat. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih III ra and Mian Sahib were very good friends as they grew up together at the home of Hadhrat Ammajan ra. It was customary that the firstborn son of her sons lived with her. The friendship between Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih rn ra and Mian Sahib grew even stronger as they both headed to the United Kingdom for higher education. Despite being first cousins, having a long history and deep friendship, Mian Sahib always demonstrated the highest level of respect and reverence for Huzur ra. Jama'at USA was not nearly as organized in 1976 as it is now. Mian Sahib went through painstaking details in preparing for Huzur's visit. A comprehensive agenda was prepared that includedjama'at events, receptions and meetings with the dignitaries and a program for Huzur's ra entertainment. Among the highlights of the trip was a major reception at the Washington Hilton, a trip to Monticello, Virginia, a trip to Longwood Gardens, New Jersey and a trip to the Shenandoah Valley. The Qafila (entourage of the Khalifa) used to be short and simple back then. Mian Sahib drove his own car with Huzur ra in the front passenger seat and Hadhrat Begum Sahiba with Sahibzadi Amatul Qayyum Begum in the back seat. I drove the second car with Muzaffar A. Zafr and two security guards. The third car followed with members of Huzur's staff. Hadhrat Khaliftul Mashi rn ra paid his second and last visit to the United States in the summer of 1980. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV 1 • visited the US six times. Each time while in Washington, he was Mian Sahib's guest. As soon as Huzur's ra visit was announced, regardless of his health, Mian Sahib would vigorously b egin the preparations. Those of us here who worked with him would remember that he did not leave any leaf unturned. He personally went into every de tail of the visit. Throughout the preparation process, his first priority would be Huzur's ra comfort and convenience. I recall Huzur's ra visit of 1989. Mian Sahib was ill and he told me to go to New York to receive our beloved Imam. Once Huzur ra arrived at the home where he was staying and reviewed the program, he called me to the room where he was sitting. He said that he had a dilemma. While he fully understood and appreciated that Mian Sahib made the program keeping his comfort and convenience in mind, he felt that the program should be changed to accommodate a "mulaqaat" (audience) with individual families instead of a group "mulaqaat". He said that his dilemma was how to change the program without hurting Mian Sahib's feelings. He graciously assigned this task to me. Once I had a talk with Mian Sahib over the phone, Huzur ra summoned me back to his