Lecture Sialkot — Page ix
Introductory Note by Maulā Bakhsh Aḥmadī Bhattī of Chawinda, District Sialkot * Blessed be the advent of the Promised Mahdi; Blessed be the coming of the Promised Messiah. Sialkot today is the envy of Paradise; May God bless this honour and distinction. The Great Imam has indeed arrived; Blessed be the Just and Praiseworthy Arbiter. Pardon us on his account, O Gracious Lord! May Thy grace, mercy and bounty bless us all. God be thanked that the land of Sialkot has been honoured with the presence of a large number of supporters of the Jamā at whose hearts are full of genuine love and devotion. After the Promised Messiah's successful visit to Lahore, the Sialkot Jama'at made a humble request that Hudūras may also kindly visit Sialkot. Hudūras, who is all compassion and mercy, granted this request and, along with his family and followers, travelled by train to Sialkot via Lahore, on 27th October 1904. On all the railway stations en route, members of local Jamā ats were gathered to welcome the Promised Messiahas. The train reached Sialkot at 6:30 p. m. The Maulawīs had already started stirring up trouble and inciting people and were telling them that whoever went to see Mirza Sahib, his marriage would be annulled and he would become an apostate. But when has God allowed such opposition to succeed? People were overflowing * This introductory note accompanied the first edition of Lecture Sialkot, published during the lifetime of the Promised Messiah. [Publishers] ix