Perseverance — Page 133
Part II – My Life as a Muslim 133 day camp in Rabwah on the land on which Masjid Aqsa was later built. Before going there, I wrote a letter to Khal ī fat-ul-Mas īh ath- Th a n ī asking permission to attend that camp. His reply to my request was, “If you would not have asked me permission to attend I would have suggested that you attend. ” Upon arriving there, I went to Hadrat Mirz a N as ir Ahmad to request a separate tent where I could be alone. However, he said, “Brother Rashid, I have heard from Khal ī fat-ul-Mas ī h that you should not have any special tent, and you should live in the tent with the other Khudd ā m. ” The Second Khal ī fah knew my habit of wanting to be in private so he had already informed Hadrat Mirz a N as ir Ahmad to deny my request. This was my first encounter with Hadrat Mirz a N as ir Ahmad rta. During the 14 day camp there was an election for the Khudd ā m offices. For one of the offices Hadrat Mirz ā Ta hir Ahmad, who later became the Fourth Khal ī fah, was nominated and so was his teacher, Ghul a m Bar i Saif, for the same office. The majority of the Khudd ā m present elected Hadrat Mirz ā Ta hir Ahmad over his teacher. When the Second Khal ī fah came to the camp on the last day, he was provided the camp activities and the election results. When he reviewed the election results he said, “What is wrong with you people? You have made it a habit of electing people just because they hold the title of Mirz ā. Mirz ā Ta hir Ahmad would not be more qualified than his teacher. If he was more qualified than his teacher, then his teacher should be his student. ” He voided the election, and all current officeholders remained in their offices.