Life of the Promised Messiah — Page 73
73 Hazrat Maulvi Abdul-Karim Prayers in congregation. He has mentioned countless times: “Nothing grieves me more than not offering the Prayer in congregation. ” I remember that during the days when fewer people visited, His Holiness as would say with a deep sense of yearning that if only we had our own congregation with which to offer our five daily prayers. He would say: “I am engaged in supplica- tion, and trust that Allah the Exalted will accept my supplication. ” Today, by the grace of God, in all of the five daily prayers, our own members attend in no less a number than eighty or ninety. After fulfilling his obli- gation, His Holiness as will return inside immediately and become engaged in his writing work. After the Maghrib Prayer, His Holiness as remains in the mosque. He eats his meal in the company of his devotees. After offering the Isha Prayer he returns to his home. He also has his afternoon meal with his companions. During this time also, something or other will come up and he will deliver an address on the matter. Every expression of His Holiness as makes it evidently clear that he has no love for rank and position. He sits in public only to fulfil the command of God Almighty. On one occa- sion he said: “If God Almighty gave me a choice and asked whether I prefer seclusion or publicity, I swear by the Holy Being of God that I would choose seclu- sion. It was God Himself who pulled me out into the public sphere. Who can know more than God the