Shamsuddin Khan and Khawas Khan of NWFP.

There was only a primary school in our village. As the middle school was at a distance of three miles from our village my father decided that for my schooling I should proceed to Peshawar where my uncle (mother's brother) Abd us Salaam Khan lived and where many other relations resided and served. I was fortunate in that around that time, to stay with his elder son, Abd us Salaam Khan, my maternal grandfather Hadhrat Muhammad Ilyas Khan got back to Peshawar from Mastung Baluchistan. Therefore, by the Grace of Allah, for one more year, I was afforded a further opportunity to benefit from his direct supervision. Before that, I had spent a whole year with him in Mastung, Baluchistan.
During this period I met many pious Ahmadi elders who left a deep impression on me. I would like to talk about two of them in today's episode.

Shamsud Deen Khan.

I have fond memories of Shams ud Deen Khan who for quite a while served as Ameer of the Frontier Province. He was extremely pious, God fearing, enthusiastic and was absolutely devoted to Ahmadiyyat. He was a loyal servant of Khilafate Ahmadiyya and was deeply in love with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II. He was a scion of Ahmadiyyat and a brave heart. He faced the opposition of our opponents with courage and bravery.
He was handsome, wore a thick beard and had an impressive personality. Most Friday sermons in the Peshawar Mosque were delivered by him both in Urdu and in Pushto. He too was very fond of me. In the Annual Conventions held at Rabwah, wearing his pistol, as his body guard, he could always be seen standing behind Hadhrat Khalifa tul Masih II.

Before Partition he was a Superintendent in the office of Political Agent. His boss, who was an Englishman asked him to recruit a few honest, hard working and learned clerks for the department. Shamsud Deen Khan Sahib chose all Ahmadis. After a few months his opponents made a complaint to his boss that Shamud Deen Khan had recruited all Ahmadis. His boss called his explanation. Khan Sahib asked him whether all the clerks recruited by him were hones, hardworking and learned or not. The boss replied they were. Khan Sahib then said, "Does it matter as to what religion or creed they belonged to." The Boss said, No it does not matter. Khan Sahib told his Boss that the majority of Ahmadis were honest, hard working and learned.

One incident has left a very deep impression on me. A few days before my departure for England, the news of my move from Rabwah to England, as a Missionary, was published in the Daily 'Al Fazl'. At about that time when I happened to be walking from my house to the Railway station I suddenly saw Shams ud Deen Khan coming from the opposite direction. After alighting from the train he was on his way to Dar uz Zia fat. (Guest House). I ran towards him to welcome him. After he had set down his baggage at Dar uz Ziafat, I asked him of the purpose of his visit to Rabwah. He said that as soon as he read in the Daily 'Al Fazl'of my imminent departure for England he immediately decided to come to Rabwah to bid me farewell. Then he said:

"We are proud of you. In the service of the Faith, you are the first Pathan to be sent to a Foreign Country. I have offered a lot of prayers for you."

Then he broke down, stood up and held me in his arms for quite a while.
One of his sons, Col. Nisar, was my classmate in Lahore. Another son, Dr. Anwaar, lives in Chicago. Both Dr. Anwaar and his wife have maintained a loving relationship with us. May Allah the Almighty bestow His favours on them both.

Khawas Khan Sahib.

Muhammad Khawas Khan was very prominent amongst the Ahmadi residents of Peshawar. He was not only good looking, well dressed but also had an agreeable demeanour and he possessed praiseworthy manners. He lived in the Civil Quarters at Peshawar. Opposite his house, out in the open, marking a spot with bricks, he established an open air Mosque where, every evening, we would regularly offer our congregational prayers. In the winter months, we offered our congregational prayers in a room in his house. Very often during the winter, the congregation would be served tea etc. He was always extremely indulgent towards me. All three of his sons i.e. Eng.Khaleel Ahmad Khan, Dr.Bashir Ahmad Khan are not only related to me but are dedicated friends. His third son Dr. Saeed Ahmad khan was very close to me. Two of the daughters of Khawas Khan were married to two of my maternal uncles i.e. Abd us Salaam Khan and Abd ul Quddus Khan.

By the Grace of Allah Muhammad Khawas Khan made substantial progress in Government service and retired as Deputy Secretary to the Provincial Government.
He was very active in securing the land of the Civil Quarters Ahmadiyya mosque and during its construction.

He was very polite, humble and God fearing. In spite of his high position in the administration of NWFP his doors were always open to all and sundry.
He was deeply in love with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II and never missed a Jalsa Salana at Qadian and later Rabwah.

These were the stalwarts of the NWFP Ahmadiyya Jamaat and pioneers.