To conclude, I would like to mention about two of my last meetings with Chaudhry Sahib, one during his lifetime and the other after his demise.
When I came to London for the second time in 1983 as the National Amir and Imam of the London Mosque, he was staying in London but had decided to spend the last days of his life in Pakistan. He used to say that he wanted to go to Pakistan while fully mobile on his feet, not enclosed in a coffin.
A few days after my arrival in London, he was scheduled to leave for Pakistan on 19th November 1983 and farewell meetings were going on.
Chaudhry Sahib generally treated everyone with love and affection that was more conspicuous during the farewell meetings. Besides the elderly and young members of the Jama’at, he also treated the children with affection.
However, I never saw him holding any child in his lap. Our son, Ataul Munem Rashed, was 11 months old then. I carried him to meet Chaudhry Sahib thinking that he might or might not get this chance ever again. Chaudhry Sahib took him in his lap and luckily, he benefitted from his love and prayers.
Someone photographed this unique moment, but regrettably I do not know who he was and where that photo is now.
On 19th November 1983, he travelled to Lahore by the PIA flight from London Heathrow. This humble one was among those bidding him farewell. I had the blessing of embracing him on that occasion which turned out to be the farewell embrace. Fortunately, the photograph taken on that occasion is still there.
He passed away on 1st September 1985 in Lahore. The Ahmadiyya Jama’at UK, greatly indebted to the late Chaudhry Sahib for his favors, sent a 3-man delegation to Pakistan for participation in the janaza with approval from Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV(may Allah have mercy upon him).
This humble one was also included in this delegation. His body lay in the house of Chaudhry Hameed Nasrullah Khan Sahib’s house, where he had died.
There was a steady stream of Ahmadis and non-Ahmadis visiting for condolences. We entered the room where his body was lying. Dressed in white sheets, the dervish lay asleep with amazing splendor.
Even at that time, the badge of kalima for upholding which he had dedicated all his faculiies throughout his life, was shining on his chest.
After seeing the luminous face of the soul-at-rest, we participated twice in the funeral prayers for him at Lahore and Rabwah. Later, when he was being buried in the special enclosure of the Bahishti Maqbara (The Heavenly Graveyard) Rabwah with permission of Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV (may Allah have mercy upon him), this humble one also had the good fortune of taking part in his burial. I shoved some soil on the grave and joined the final prayer.
Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrulla Khan Sahib departed from this world after having lived a very blessed and successful life. May Allah the Exalted grant him a worthy station close to Him. He has departed, but his memories live on and will always be remembered affectionately.
