My Mother — Page 66
66 made sure that he was sleeping peacefully. She supplicated, ‘Allah, he is Thy bounty that Thou didst bestow in Thy mercy on his father in his old age. Do Thou—of Thy grace—safeguard him. ’ For herself, she said, she had no fear. She felt secure in the vicinity of Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih. While in Kashmir, the conversation between us on one occa- sion turned on the progress of the Movement. I expressed surprise that while my discussions and argumentations with people did not seem to produce much effect, anyone who came in contact with her was deeply affected. Would she disclose the secret to me? She said, ‘As you well know, I have no book learning. If there is any secret it must be that I have the love and fear of God in my heart. I realised that that was the highest and truest learning. ’ In the spring of 1930, Sir Fazal-i-Husain was appointed a Member of the Executive Council of the Governor-General. I congratulated him on his appointment, and told him how sadly he would be missed in the Province. He said: ‘I was none too keen on leaving the Province, but two considerations prevailed with me. The Governor-General (Lord Irwin, later Lord Halifax) urged me in a manner that was difficult to resist. Secondly, I have held ministerial office in the Province for ten years, and though my succession will go only to a single individual, everyone seems anxious to see me out of the way. Even when a father gets old his sons become impatient for the succession. ’ I protested, ‘My father died nearly four years ago. I have not ceased missing him sorely every moment. ’ He shook his head and said in a solemn tone, ‘Few fathers are like what your father was, and few sons are like you. ’ I was overwhelmed.