Seerat-i-Tayyiba — Page 54
54 4 In contribution to the funds of the Movement, Hazrat Amma Jaan took a very active and joyous part. For the propagation of Islam in foreign lands she contributed very often beyond her means. She always waited eagerly for the annual call for funds of the Tahrik-i-Jadid, the Central Association which directs the missionary endeavor of the Ahmadiyya Movement in foreign lands; and the moment the call was made, she sent her promise for the year immediately, and then took jealous care to fulfil the commitment, most often simultaneously. “No reliance can be placed on lif e,” she used to say, “and a kind of weight remains on the mind until the commitment made has been duly and fully honored. ” In the matter of contributions under other heads, too, she was actuated by similar ardent feelings. 5 In works of charity and in helping the poor and needy she stood head and shoulder above most other people. She derived great joy from these deeds, and helped the poor to such an extent that in my life I have not seen many examples of kind. Whoever went to her with a tail of distress she never failed to respond, even beyond the extent of her means. In many cases she extended this help without disclosing the matter to anyone. On one occasion she inquired of a man, who was placed in a position where he was likely to have knowledge of such cases, whether he knew of any one (irrespective of where he was an Ahmadi, a Muslim, or a non- Muslim) who was undergoing a term of imprisonment for inability to meet his debts. Not long ago there was a time when there used to be civil prisoners of this kind. When the man concerned replied that he did not know of any, Hazrat Amman Jaan remarked that he should look for one because she wanted to help if there had been any, from desire to act upon the injunction of the Holy Quran in regard to such prisoners. To those who sought loans from her, she gave with great liberality. But took care to ascertain that the applicant was not a habitual borrower, because she did not want to encourage this attitude. But for a dependable person forced to have recourse to a loan, she was always prepared to do her best. On one occasion a woman approached her for a loan at a moment when I was present. It so happened that Hazrat Amma Jaan did not find herself in a position to help herself, but she turned to me: “Mian (she always addressed her sons as ‘mian’) if you can spare the amount, give her the loan: this woman is honest and clean in her dealings. ” I then