Malfuzat – Volume III — Page 207
207 women’s quarters is in no way sufficient to fulfill the needs of the men. It was only built for the convenience of the women. Perhaps our water carrier brings water from Imam-ud-Din’s well, but this is without my knowledge. In any case, we can- not openly obtain water from his well, because verbal abuse is hurled at us. Since the wall was erected, we have been prevented even more. After this new wall was built, we made a plan to construct a new well for our own use. It has been five or six months since the water from this new well has been available. Before this, we would go to the large mosque (Aqsa Mosque) to fetch water as well. The new well has been built within a walled premises. The printing press and the boarding house are situated in the same compound. There are perhaps 150 people from the Madrasa and boarding house, about 10 to 15 employees working in the print- ing press, and at various times, there are 70 to 80, or even 100 guests who visit on a daily basis; when our gatherings take place—usually three or four times a year—guests participate in numbers as large as 300, 400 and even 500. As far as I am aware, the boarding house was built some three or four years ago. There is a facility for the boys and other travellers to fill water. No specific water carrier is employed to serve the boarding house. The boarding house has many employees, and they will fill their pots and surahis, and other vessels, with water. I cannot say with surety that if we were compelled to bring water from further away, this would incur a greater expense. It was I who had the Gol Kamrah constructed, not my brother. I had the room built myself during the lifetime of my brother, when he was seriously ill and ultimately he could not recover from this illness. It has been four years since the enclosure was built in front of the Gol Kamrah. It has been almost one and a half years since the house by the small banyan tree was built. About six or seven months prior, when I intended to build this house near the banyan tree, Imam-ud-Din came over to create a disturbance. Since I am cautious, I put aside my plans. On a second occasion, when I undertook plans for construction, the defendant came and raised an uproar again, and so I held back from proceeding. On the third occasion, it became evident that the defendants had no other desire but to create mischief. The fact of the matter is that they had no right over this house. I heard the ladies from the family saying that they have left the matter and will not create any further disturbance, as he has gone away somewhere. Therefore, I ultimately built the house as planned. A police officer came as well and I told him that I had no intention whatsoever to dis- turb the peace, but if I am prevented any further from building the house, I will