Fazl-e-Umar — Page 50
Fazle Umar 50 have told me! What was the need to tell your mother?” 26 In this connection, the following account is worthy of attention as it reflects the innate affinity and high regard Hadhrat Sahibzada Sahib had for religious education. Huzur relates: “Once Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I [ra] became upset with me during the lifetime of the Promised Messiah [as]. The reason for this was that Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I [ra] had offered a prize for an article to be written on a subject that was not considered by some to be worthy of an award and I con- curred with them. One individual harshly criticised it and someone conveyed it to Hadhrat Maulvi sahib attributing the harsh remarks to me. Maulvi sahib fell out with me. I was studying Bukhari with him in those days. I at once picked up the Bukhari and went to study with him. This was despite suffering fevers in those days, fevers that had kept me from study for many months. However, in these circumstances I thought if I do not go today a barrier will develop and I shall be bereft of knowledge. ” 27 This incident reflects another aspect of Hadhrat Sahibzada Sahib’s insight and sagacity. It is the realisation that in these circumstances a barrier can develop between the sage and the pupil, which can be a hindrance in the path to education. Not every child is blessed with this kind of insight. This anxiety echoes his powerful intellect and wisdom. Apart from learning the Holy Qur’an and Bukhari lesson by lesson, Hadhrat Sahibzada Sahib had the good fortune because of being in close proximity, morning and evening, to the Promised Messiah [as] , of learning religious knowledge to a very reputable standard. However, this was verbal and general in its nature. It was a house in which the only topic under discussion night and day was God and His Prophet [saw]. As he grew older under the blessed influence of the Promised Messiah