The Afghan Martyrs — Page 50
able to assess my proficiency in Arabic. II Then he said, "Many earlier sages had foretold that Imam Mahdi would stammer somewhat. Therefore a trace of stammering in my speech is proof of my truth. It Then the Arab guest said, "The companions who sit with you and are influenced by you do not seem to comprehend the measure of respect due to a guest. Had you not caught hold of his clenched fist this gentleman would surely have hit me. " In reply the Promised Messiah (PBUH) said, "Like you this gentleman is also a recent arrival and he belongs to a region i. e. Mghanistan, where the inhabitants are known for getting excited rather quickly. Surely his sentiments sprang directly from his love for me. " At that point of time Hadhrat Moulvi Noor-ud-Deen who was sitting at a distance said, " Hadhrat Abu Bakar (MAPH) once slapped someone who was rude and irreverent in the presence of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). " With a smile on his lips the Promised Messiah (PBUH) said that here was a discernible resemblance. " During his stay in Qadian the Sahibzada frequently met the Promised Messiah (PBUH). Later, the Promised Messiah recorded his impressions of the love which was so evident from the Sahibzada's conduct. He says: "I swear by God in whose hands is my life, that when I met the Sahibzada I found that he was already so firm and resolute in his belief in the truth of my claims and also in his resolve to follow me that it is impossible for a human to be any firmer or more resolute. I found him as full of love for me as a bottle is when it is completely filled with perfume. His heart appeared to me to be as illuminated as his countenance. The departed sage had a quality worthy of envy in that he genuinely upheld his faith above 50