Life of Ahmad — Page 208
BAI‘AT AT LUDHIANA as 208 'We will not serve any one but Allah; we will not steal, we will not commit adultery, we will not kill our children, we will not slander, and we will not disobey the Prophet sa in anything that is right. ' The second took place at Aqaba, where 73 men undertook to defend the Holy Prophet sa. Women also swore a pledge of allegiance to the Holy Prophet sa ; and this is mentioned in Al-Mumta h inah 60:13 of the Quran. It may be mentioned here that at the Bai‘at of women there was no clasping of hands. The Holy Prophet sa never touched the hands of a woman not related to him within the prohibited degrees. THE VENUE The selection of Ludhiana for Bai‘at seems to be something more than an accident. Ahmad as appears to have left Qadian for Ludhiana for the purpose of taking his wife to her parents. But one is inclined to think that the Divine Hand was at work. Hence, it would be well to know a little more about this town which Ahmad as had visited more than once before the Bai‘at. It is situated in the Punjab, eight miles from the Sutlej and 190 miles by road north-west of Delhi. It is an important railway junction. In 1901 its population was 48,640, and in 1921 51,880. It is a big grain centre, and its manufactures include shawls etc. (by Kashmiri weavers), scarves, turbans, furniture and carriages.