The name of Miss Hidayat Budd, a Dutch female convert to Islam Ahmadiyyat, requires little introduction. Following her acceptance of Islam, she developed a profound sense of devotion and attachment to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih. The depth of this bond is clearly reflected in her correspondence. Presented below is an excerpt from an English letter written by Miss Budd to Babu Abdul Hameed Sahib, Railway Auditor, Lahore.
A strong bond of faith and submission
Miss Hidayat Budd writes:
“Your statement that every Ahmadi obeys the second Khalifa with heart and soul has left a deep impression upon me. Yet what has astonished me even more is that, although I have not had the honour of meeting Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] in person, the very moment I entered this Jamaat, the first desire that arose within my heart was to obey him.
Understanding the nature of devotion to Khilafat
“On one occasion, Chaudhry Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan [ra] visited here [i.e. Holland]. During the course of our conversation, he remarked that every Ahmadi both fears and loves Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] to an extraordinary degree.
“At the time, however, I was unable to fully comprehend this reality. It is only now that I have come to understand it.
“In light of this realisation, I can clearly see that we indeed love Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] beyond measure and, at the same time, stand in awe of him, because we believe him to be a guide who leads towards truth and righteousness.
Obedience rooted in spiritual conviction
“If there were a matter that displeased me, then, despite my love for my Queen and my government, I would not hesitate to disobey them, even though I know that the government could imprison me for the slightest act of defiance.
“Yet when it comes to the directives of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih, even if they run contrary to my own wishes, I do not find within myself the courage to disregard them. This is despite knowing that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih cannot inflict upon one who violates his instructions what a worldly government is capable of doing to those who disobey its laws.
The joy of following a worthy leader
“It is an exceedingly delightful feeling to know that we have submitted ourselves to the guidance of one who is truly worthy of being followed with complete sincerity and devotion in every command and instruction.
“Indeed, this is a blessing of which one can never be sufficiently proud, and it is solely through the grace of Allah the Almighty that we have been granted this honour.” – Miss Hidayat Budd
(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu, published in the 13 August 1926 issue of Al Fazl)