Hazrat Maulvi Nooruddin - Khalifatul-Masih I — Page 38
HEDJAZ INTERLUDE Hadrat Maulw i Nur-ud-D i n ra — Khalifatul Masih I 38 was much vexed and remarked: "I too have migrated here. If your migration was inspired by the longing to be in the vicinity of the Holy Prophet sa that is available to you. But if you came here seeking the company of Ab u Bakr ra , ‘Umar ra , ‘Uthm a n ra and ‘Al i ra , you will not find them here. You had better go and look for them elsewhere. " Maulaw i N u r-ud-D i n ra once missed the noon Prayer service and was deeply distressed that he had been guilty of a major sin which would not be forgiven. He entered the mosque in great perturbation by the Gate of Mercy, over which was inscribed the verse: "O My servants who have committeed excesses against your own selves, despair not of the mercy of Allah, surely Allah forgives all sins; He is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful" (39:54). Even this divine assurance failed to comfort his soul. He started saying his Prayer at a spot between the pulpit and the chamber of the Holy Prophet sa. While bowing he recalled that the Holy Prophet sa had described the space between the pulpit and his chamber as a part of the Gardens of Paradise. He was thus in Paradise and would be bestowed whatever he were to supplicate for. So he supplicated for the forgiveness of his default. During his journey from Mecca to Medina he had noticed that often there arose friction between the Bedouin camel drivers and their Indian clients which led to unpleasantness between them. On reflection he felt that two factors contributed principally to this state of affairs. One, lack of adequate means of communication. Pilgrims from India had seldom any knowledge of Arabic, and the Bedouins did not know Hindustani. Secondly, the Arab custom that everyone is welcomed to a meal. Thus it often happens that food