CoB.book Page 242 Tuesday, June 6, 2006 9:46 AM
CONDITIONS OF BAI‘AT AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF AN AHMADI
Staying Away from Arrogance The condition of bai‘at also include that one would stay away from arrogance. I shall give the example of Sayyed Sarwar Shahra in this regard: Despite having a very high status in religious scholarship and academia, unlike the so-called ‘ulema of this day and age, his temperament was so simple and humble that if at any time a small child wished to talk to him, he could do so without any hesitation. He would listen most affectionately and would respond in a very pleasing manner. [Maulavi Muhammad Hafiz Baqapuri relates an incident from his childhood.] One of his close relatives had a newborn baby. When the news came through letter he decided to ask Maulavi Sahib for a name for the baby. He was perhaps going to or coming back from Aqsa Mosque for dars of the Holy Qur’an. He went towards him; he stopped as he saw him coming towards him and was most affectionate and courteous, and on his request suggested a name for the newborn and prayed for the baby. (Ashab-e-Ahmad, vol. 5, part III, p. 35)
I shall now relate an incident of Hadrat Maulavi Burhan-udDinra in this regard. It is already clear from earlier examples that he had no ostentation, formality, or pretense. Furthermore he had absolutely no scholarly airs and vanity, despite the fact that he was an unequalled scholar. During his stay in Qadian if someone addressed him as Maulavi Sahib he would promptly ask them not to call him Maulavi, saying: ‘I only just started learning the ABC from Mirza Sahib’ [the Promised
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