Fazl-e-Umar — Page 34
Fazle Umar 34 of a slavish mentality. The companions of the Promised Messiah [as] had such high expectations from his children that they would not tolerate even a minor slip from them, although in principle the role model is the Imam alone and to take his children as models is an improper and unfair method. The Holy Qur’an has elucidated it fully, however, this fact cannot be denied and it is pointed out in the Holy Qur’an that the common run of people who do not understand this principle fully, often follow the example of those who are close to the Imam even when their example is wrong. In any case, as far as the members of the family of the Imam are concerned their responsibility is to be doubly careful. From this point of view when at the time Western culture was attacking our old cultural traditions not just by means of their dress but with it many other evils of morality were spreading rapidly in India, there was certainly a danger for the section of society described above, that they would, together with the English dress become tainted with other evils. This threat was pointed out clearly by the late Squadron Leader Major Mohammad Ayyub Khan [ra]. He realised the danger and decided to discard that dress for good. Returning to our main subject once again we present here another incident of Hadhrat Sahibzada Sahib [ra] being influenced by advice and accepting it cheer- fully. He says: “I notice that training during my childhood by some people still has an influ- ence over me. Whenever I recall such an incident, prayer for the person rises automatically from within my heart. Once I stood supporting my elbow on the shoulder of another boy when Master Qadir Buksh [ra] – father of Maulvi Abdul Rahim Dard [ra] dissuaded me and said it was not the right thing to do. At the time I was twelve or thirteen but whenever my mind pictures that scene, prayer for him rises from within my heart. ” 16 This incident also sheds further light on the fact that he was naturally inclined to