Odyssey of Sacrifice — Page 34
! 36 this initiative is only for one year. Hence, they pledged donations which were beyond their means. Some of the clerks working for the community who earned only 15 rupees a month pledged amount equal to their three month salary. Others pledged 2 m onth salary thinking that they will pay off their pledge in a year or two. Some of the elders of the community who had better salaries, even though their salaries were miniscule from any worldly standard. For example, people who were on the level of dir ectors [Naziran], and early workers and the companions of the Promised Messiah (as) who had served the community for a very long time were not making more than sixty or seventy rupees a month. For example, Hadrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib (ra) pledged Two Hundred and Fifty Rupees. Similarly, Maulvi Ab ū l Atta Sahib (who was very young at that time) and Hadrat Maulvi Jalal Uddin Sahib Shams, both promised 50 - 55 Rupees which were beyond their means. At that time it was not very clear that this initiative is p ermanent in nature. But when, later on, it was clearly announced that this scheme is for three years and not for one year, not a single person came forward and requested that they had pledged the amount mistakenly and that it should be reduced because it w as beyond their capabilities to fulfill. On the contrary, Hadhrat Musleh Maud (ra) himself announced that if someone has made a pledge because of any misunderstanding they are allowed to review their promise. In response of this announcement, he received various letters from members stating that they should be allowed to keep their pledge, and they requested him to pray for them to keep their promises. But not a single request was received asking for their pledge to be reduced. Later on, when it became eve n more clear