Khilafat Centenary Souvenir 1908-2008 — Page 164
Khilafat Centenary stating that I had addressed the young lady as if I was her mother. He said my letter was firm but contained words that touched the heart From this experience I learned that words can resolve problems if used in the proper way. Around my seventh year as national lajna sadr, I felt that Lajna USA needed a big project that we could accomplish which would encourage us to work together as a team towards success. Building a guest house in Qadian seemed to be the ideal project and the membership was excited about it. The missionary in charge obtained from Qadian that the cost would be twelve thousand dollars. The funds were being collected and I informed Chotti Appa, that we were building a guesthouse in Qadian. Several months later a letter came from Rabwah stating that I disobeyed the Khilafat by raising funds without the Khalifa's permission. I immediately wrote to Huzura and explained that I was not aware that I needed the permission of the Khalifa to raise funds. I apologized and told him that I was praying for forgiveness from Allah and asked that he too forgive me and that I would never, ever, knowingly disobey my Khalifa. Huzur's ra letter back to me stated that he accepted my apology and forgave my error. He allowed lajna to continue with the fund. Seven thousand dollars were sent to Qadian to help build a guesthouse. Huzura understood that my intentions were never to be disobedient to him but only to build a guest house in Qadian. One Ahmad i's M e mories of the Khulafa --------------------------- Fatimah Mahmud On August 1, 1965, I embraced Islam and Ahmadiyyat. Doing so changed my life forever. Over the years, there have been too many beautiful, spiritual experiences to mention, not the least of which was my journey to London in 1970 to meet Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih m ra and Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan Sahib. In 1971, Allah blessed me with the opportunity to perform Hajj. In 1976, I again met Huzurra when he came to the US J alsa. In 1988, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV rta wrote to me: I had entrusted Aisha Sharif with a task of preparing an index for the five volumes Holy Qur'an with commentary, and she has informed me that she chose you as her team member and responsible for part of the index. I am very pleased and deeply appreciate your noble endeavors and pray that Allah may crown them with success and His approval. Sincerely, Mirza Tahir Ahmad. In the mid 1990s, Huzur came to the United States. In New York, I recited a poem written by the Promised Messiah as in Urdu. This was the first time I sang for Huzurr 1 a, and he told me that over time I would be singing many more nazms for him, which I indeed did. Sometimes I made tapes and sent them to him in London, which he used MTA. Each succeeding year, through 1998, Huzurr ta came to the American jalsa, and I sang nazms for him during the lajna sessions. At the American jalsa in 1998, Huzur rta invited me to come to London for the UK J alsa, and I accepted his invitation. I appeared several times on MTA with Huzur rta , singing nazms for him. In my first mulaqat with Huzur rta, he asked why I had not remarried. I told him that two different gentlemen had asked me about marriage and I was praying about it. He told me he would pra y for me and about those brothers and tell me whom I should marry. When I returned to New York, Huzur na wrote to me again, saying, ". . . Regarding those two marriage proposals you have received, decline the first one, but go ahead and accept the second proposal from Mohsin Mahmood Sahib, after prayers. May Allah prove this as most felicitous and blessed for you and give you happiness. " After Mohsin and I were married, Huzur rta wrote to me again saying, "Loads and loads of hearty congratulations and best wishes to y ou both on y our walirna reception. To say that I'm sorry I cannot be there sounds like run of the mill, as my thoughts and prayers were with you constantly on your special day. May Allah bless you with a happy and blissful life together and grace you with His eternal nearness. I am sending you a small gift with my prayers. " I continued to communicate with Huzur rta until his death in 2003. I loved him dearly and will cherish his memor y for the rest of my life. Alhamdolillah.