After the formal part of the Capitol Hill event was concluded, Hazur was given a tour of the entire Capitol Hill building by Congressman Gary Peters.
I really enjoyed this part of the day because we had seen that Allah had answered our prayers and the main event had gone really well and so now was an opportunity to enjoy the tour and to spend further time in the blessed company of Hazur.
I sensed that this feeling of relief and happiness was not limited to me but was widespread amongst the Ahmadis who were there.
We left the Gold Room and were directed towards a tram. There must have been at least thirty of us and as we approached the tram I heard a security guard shout ‘Stop!’ in an aggressive manner. At that time I thought that one or some of our party were about to get in trouble. I turned around to see who he was admonishing and to my utter surprise it was none of us but a staff member who was with one of the Congressman!
Thus once again we were all able to get through without any security checking and the only person who was stopped was a regular staff member who probably spent most days within the Capitol Hill building!
Hazur‐Aqdas, the guide and a few local Jamaat members sat in the first carriage of the tram. I was in the second with other Qafila members. The tram
journey was only a couple of minutes and took us to the main part of Capitol Hill from where the tour began.
Congressman Peters showed Hazur various rooms and explained their history.
Soon we arrived at the famous Rotunda which is the large dome of Capitol Hill that is famous around the world. The Congressman explained that on the walls were different paintings depicting various stages of American history.
As we stood in the exact centre point of Capitol Hill, I noticed that many tourists of different ages had taken out their cameras and were pointing them towards Hazur. Looking at them their fascination and curiosity was quite apparent. I felt the moment had symbolic value, whereby at the very centre of the world’s largest political power, it was not the President or any other politician who took centre stage on that day, but it was Allah’s Representative, the Khalifa of the Promised Messiah (as).
The tour concluded as Hazur was led to the House of Representatives which was in session. We all sat in a viewing gallery and watched as the normal proceedings of Congress continued.
I was not aware there was to be any reference to Hazur or the Jamaat and so it was a very pleasant surprise when after some time Congressman Bradley Sherman was called to the podium by the acting Speaker and he warmly welcomed Hazur‐Aqdas to the United States on behalf of the United States Congress.
Congressman Sherman mentioned that earlier an Official Resolution had been adopted by Congress welcoming Hazur to Washington DC in which it had recognised Hazur’s ‘commitment to world peace, justice, nonviolence, human rights, religious freedom and democracy’.
Upon making this announcement Congressman Sherman pointed to where Hazur was sat in the gallery so that all members could see Hazur. Hazur‐Aqdas graciously stood and waved towards the members of Congress.
I was later informed that after meeting Hazur earlier in the day, Senator Robert Casey had referred to Hazur as ‘humble and masterful’. And when Hazur stood to acknowledge the audience both of these qualities were quite apparent. His absolute humility was there for all to see, yet in spite of it his presence had illuminated the entire room, Masha’Allah.
I personally felt great satisfaction and happiness that the United States legislature had shown such respect and warmth to Hazur‐Aqdas. Indeed the entire day’s programme pointed to the special and direct Help of Allah the Almighty. The blessings we witnessed in those few hours were truly exceptional.
All of our prayers had been accepted by Allah, but most importantly the prayers of Hazur‐Aqdas had been accepted in the most glorious manner. For, upon returning to London a few weeks later, in his Friday Sermon of 20 July 2012, Hazur spoke about how on the way to Capitol Hill he had prayed for the success of the event. Hazur said that he had particularly prayed that as he was there to represent the Promised Messiah (as), that Allah again fulfil the
promise that He had made to the Promised Messiah of helping him with the power of prestige and awe.
All those who were witness to the event will attest that indeed Allah did accept this prayer of Hazur. Despite being in the building which is considered a centre of world politics and power, throughout the visit, it was the Khalifa of the Age who held all attention and whose greatness was evident and apparent to all. Alhamdolillah.
When we finally returned to our car, the atmosphere was completely different to when we had left Baitur Rahman in the morning. Where that journey had been conducted in virtual silence, on the way back the spirits of all us were charged and emotional. The entire journey was spent talking about the blessings of Allah we had just witnessed and the glory of Khilafat‐e‐Ahmadiyya.