the Enraged Maulvi
When Shri Babaji Maharaj was at Simla a renowned speaker came to deliver a speech there. He was a Maulvi of the sect of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, a spiritual leader. Those who came to listen to him were chiefly followers of this sect. One such follower came to Shri Babaji Maharaj and requested him to grace the lecture with his presence and also to enlighten the gathering with his words.
Shri Babaji Maharaj, who considered all faiths in the world to be the same, went to the hall where the lecture was being held. He sat inside and listened to the speech of the learned Maulvi with great interest. After the speech was over, Shri Babaji Maharaj came out of the hall to speak to the Maulvi, but discovered that he had gone out into the verandah because he had a headache.
Shri Babaji Maharaj sent word to him:
“Tell the Maulvi Sahib that I have the medicine for his headache – and that is the name of Khuda, God!
The Maulvi came to meet Shri Babaji Maharaj.
Shri Babaji: Maulvi Sahib, I was very happy to listen to your learned lecture.
Maulvi: Thank you, hazrat, for your kind appreciation.
Shri Babaji: Do you remember all the things which you just said in the lecture?
Maulvi: Yes, I should think I remember most of them.
Shri Babaji: Well, then, can you tell me the definition of a Musalman once again?
Maulvi: He, who fears no one except God, and who desires nothing from anyone.
Shri Babaji: Would you say you possess these qualities?
Maulvi: Frankly, I do not think so.
Shri Babaji: Then are these qualities not those of a Musalman?
Maulvi: Are you calling me an unbeliever?
Shri Babaji: No. What I am trying to say is that these qualities must come into us as soon as possible because the next moment of life is so uncertain.
Maulvi: But do you possess these qualities?
Shri Babaji: I do not wish to say anything about myself. But it is my wish that such a desire should exist within all of us at all times.
The Maulvi did not know who Shri Babaji Maharaj was, and thought that he was insulting him. It was a thought that was completely without any foundation. He did not realise that Shri Babaji Maharaj was his real well-wisher and that he wished to bring people from ignorance to knowledge, and from knowledge to perfection. He had accepted all the sects of the world as his own, and was speaking to the followers of these sects as if he were one of their own. He had to correct without delay what he thought was lacking in them. It did not matter to him whether they liked it or not.
The Maulvi lost his temper and began giving vent to his rage. Anger was a quality which left no room for wisdom. He called his followers around himself and all of them surrounded Shri Babaji Maharaj. They made ready as if to assault him.
Maulvi: Aren’t you afraid of us? We are so many and you are all alone! Ham iss qadar hain aur aap akele hain!
Shri Babaji: It is not I who am alone, but you! Main akela naheen, balke akele to aap hain!
Maulvi: What do you mean?
Shri Babaji: Is God not present here? Kyaa Khudaa haazar naazar naheen hai?
I am not alone because God is with me. You are alone because you have forgotten Him! You are looking upon me as alone because you yourselves are alone at this time! This thought is making you deny the existence of God!
The Maulvi and his followers were so moved by the words of Shri Babaji Maharaj that tears came into their eyes and they rushed forward and fell at his feet, begging forgiveness of him.
Maulvi: Maharaj! Forgive me! I could not understand your love for us! You are our real brother – haqueeqi bhai – trying to teach us the important lesson that spirituality does not lie in words alone but in action. You were teaching us that we must lead exemplary lives. At this moment I feel as if a personality is standing before me who is spirituality personified. My heart bows before you.
All the followers of the Mirzai sect who were gathered there became very respectful towards Shri Babaji Maharaj and said to him:
Maharaj! We have seen in you the qualities which we attribute to a true Musalman. If we had not been the members of the Mirzai sect we would have become your followers!
A river of divinity seemed to flow from Shri Babaji Maharaj during those days in which everyone was swept away. Every action of his was dyed with a Love Divine that affected the hearts of all.