Khilafat Centenary Souvenir 1908-2008 — Page 153
transistor radio could be rigged as a wireless unit to communicate to his contacts in Israel. In attempts to explain why Rasheed only had $50 cash, the officers claimed that his Parker pen was to sell in the event he needed petty cash. After a few days in detention, Rasheed was released. The Pan American Airlines office manager , upon questioning Rasheed, recalled a similar situation with a previous Ahmadi traveler, Dr. Khalil Ahmad Nasir. The office manager then convinced the Iraqi colonel that Rasheed was not a security threat. Thereafter, Rasheed, unable to contact anyone in Pakistan, embarked upon a KLM flight to Karachi. Upon reaching the Karachi Airport, Rasheed received limousine service to take him to the address he had written down: "Latif Ahmad Tahir's hou se, opposite the bo y's school. " However, the limousine drivers were confused, thinking "opposite the bo y's school" was the street name, and could not locate it. During the course of the ride , the two men asked Rasheed why he would come to Pakistan of all places. Rasheed responded that he intended to go to school. This pe rplexed the men. Why would a man leave the United States where the best schools are, to go to Pakistan - a ne wborn country with a barel y developed infrast ructure - to get an education?! The men conclud ed R as heed was insane. The y determined to quickly rid themselves of this problem by throwing him to the Mirzais (a condescending manner of ref erring to Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan). When Rasheed saw the picture of the Promised Messiah as he breathed a sigh of relief and told the men that this is exactly where he wanted to go and they could leave. It was two o'clock in the morning. Experiences with Khilafat Rasheed was greeted with traditional Muslim hospitality. Men polished his shoes, made him breakfast, and arranged a meeting in which he addressed the KarachiJama'at. Rasheed then took a train to Lahore, where he was received by hundreds belonging to the Lahore Ahmadijama'at. They arranged for him to speak and meet the press. However, he insisted on going directly to Rabwah. In response to their surprise that Rasheed desired to leave so suddenly, Hadhrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad ra said, "If the man is so determined to see his master, we should not hold him back. So let him go. " They then arranged for his immediate departure to Rabwah. Upon arrival at the Rabwah train station, Huzur'a and the AhmadiJama'at greeted Rasheed. When I asked Rasheed how it felt to be in the presence of the second Khalifa'a, he said, "How can I describe it? It's like trying to explain the sweetness of sugar to someone who has never tasted it. The man had an aura about him, which made you want to be in his company. It didn 't matter what he was saying or doing - all of your cares and concerns disappeared and you simply felt the contentment of a child in the arms of its mother. " Rasheed would accompany the second Khalifa'a for the next five years of his life. Huzur 'a took Rasheed to all large-scale affairs and dinners in his own car, with Huzur 'a sitting in between his wife and Rasheed. After every event he would ask Rasheed two questions, "What did you eat, and who did you talk to?" From this Rasheed learned the importance of continuously meeting people to convey the message of Ahmadiyyat. Rasheed described the magnetic impact of the second Khalifara. In the J alsa Salana (Annual Gathering) Huzur 'a could speak for hours while the audience would hold still, fearing they might miss some of the pearls of wisdom that flowed from his mouth. His intellect was unusually keen and observant. At times of praise, his words gave life to the recipient, but in times of anger, his words would hit someone as if they were being 153