The Reminiscences of Zafrulla Khan — Page 84
84 REMINISCENCES OF SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN is this personality that you have seen in your dreams, what shall I say?" He said, "If anybody asks, say you have seen Ahmad. " His name was Ghulam Ahmad, and he was known as Ahmad also, but mother did not know that. When she mentioned this to father next morning, he said, "Ahmad is the name of the Holy Prophet of Islam also. Maybe you have seen him. " She said, "No. I am convinced that it is a living personality through whom God is seeking to guide me. " Later, within a month or so, the Founder of the Movement visited Sialkot, and she asked my father whether she might go and meet him, and he said, "Yes, by all means. But do not come to any decision. " As I have said this matter was very controversial and any home in which the husband took one side and the wife took the other, could become a place of controversy, and religious controversies can be very bitter. She said, "You are a learned person and you are making a study of these things, and you will come to a decision on the basis of your studies. I am almost unlettered, and certainly can lay no claim to learning; but God in His own way is seeking to guide me, and if I find it is the same person, then I am accountable to God if He is seeking to guide me and I hold back. I shall have to declare my acceptance of him. But if it is not the same person, you will carry on your studies and you can tell me what you think. " Father went away to his work in court, but he sent the carriage back to take mother to the house where the Founder of the Movement had put up on his arrival the previous night. I went with her. There had been hostile crowds at the railway station and in the streets through which his carriage was to pass and brickbats had been thrown at the carriage and there had been hostile demonstrations of every description. Arrived at the house, mother met his wife, and told the lady who she was, and asked if she could have an interview of a few minutes' duration with the Mirza Sahib. A message was sent to him and he intimated he would presently pass through on his way to the afternoon service and he would be glad to stay for a few moments. I had heard her dreams - I was only eleven and a half at that time, but I knew what the dreams were - and I was anxious to see, from the very first look that she might cast on him, what her reaction would be. I knew I would be able to judge whether it was the same person or not. He came and sat down a few paces away. Mother was sitting on a wooden settee and he sat down next to his wife. I noticed afterwards