5. Fifth Sign [193]

The fifth Sign that was manifested in these days was one of the acceptance of prayer, which, in fact, was tantamount to raising the dead. The details of this episode are as follows: ‘Abdul- Karim, son of ‘Abdur-Rahman, who is from Hyderabad, Deccan, is a student in our school. He was bitten by a rabid dog and we sent him to Kasauli where he underwent treatment for a few days and then returned to Qadian. But a few days later he began to show signs of madness that are peculiar to being bitten by a rabid dog. He became hydrophobic and his condition deteriorated rapidly. I was deeply moved out of sympathy for this poor boy, who was so far away from his home, and I felt a special urge to supplicate for him. Everyone thought that the poor boy would expire within a matter of hours. Inevitably, he had to be moved out of the boarding house and placed in a room away from other people. He was given great care and a telegram was sent to the British doctors at Kasauli, inquiring if there was any remedy available for his condition. The reply came by telegram that there was no remedy for him. This added to my feeling of sympathy for him and I was deeply concerned about this poor boy away from his homeland. My friends also insisted that I should pray for him, for his pitiable condition aroused great compassion. I was also afraid that if he died under these dire circumstances, his death would provide the enemies with an occasion to rejoice. This further added to my feeling of sympathy for him and I was moved in an extraordinary manner. Such a feeling cannot be generated by one’s own volition, it can only be caused by God Almighty Himself. Once such a condition comes about, it is so effective that—by God’s permission—it can well-nigh bring the dead back to life. In short, the condition of absolute reliance on Allah was vouchsafed to me, and when my concern for him reached its ultimate limit and anguish took hold of my heart, the patient—who had been as good as dead—began to show signs of recovery. He who had been so afraid of water and light, at once took a turn for the better and said that he was not afraid of water anymore. He was given water which he drank fearlessly. He then performed ablution with it, offered his Prayer, and slept through the night. His frightful and wild condition disappeared and he recovered completely within a few days. I was suddenly made to feel that the madness had not come to him as a presage of death; rather, it was meant as a Sign from God. Knowledgeable people affirm that it has never happened that a person bitten by a rabid dog, exhibiting the typical symptoms of rabies, has survived. Can there be a stronger proof than [the fact] that the Physician Specialists officially appointed at [the Pasteur Institute of India] Kasauli, had, in reply to our telegram, categorically certified to the effect that nothing could be done now for ‘Abdul-Karim? Here I must add that when I prayed for this boy, God made me understand that a particular medicine should be administered to the patient which was done a number of times. In the end, the patient recovered which was like the dead coming back to life. Below is reproduced the telegraphic reply from the Physicians at [the Pasteur Institute of India] Kasauli, received in English…1 in reply to our telegram:

To Station
Batala

From Station
Kasauli

To Person
Sherali
Kadian

From Person
Pasteur

Sorry nothing can be done for Abdul Karim

A Muslim gentleman, from the office [Pasteur Institute] for treatment of hydrophobia caused by dog bite, was surprised and sent a postcard which stated:

Postcard by ‘Abdullah from Kasauli

I was deeply distressed that ‘Abdul-Karim who had been bitten by a mad dog developed rabies symptoms. But I am very happy to learn that he has recovered by means of prayer. This kind of recovery has never been heard of before. This is the grace of God and the effect of supplication by holy people. [All praise belongs to Allah].

By yours humbly,
‘Abdullah, from Kasauli’