I have heard of or seen no "Rohillas" staying with Baba. But I have known and heard
of some intolerant Pathans who came to him. The late Bala Saheb, i.e., R.A.Tarkhad,
told me of an incident in his life. He was sleeping one night at the Chavadi by
the side of Baba. One Mir Jaman of Kandahar was then with Baba as a recent visitor.
Suddenly, one night, at about 3 A.M. Mir Jaman got up and told Baba that the Hindus
were spoiling him, and Mohammedan faith, and asked Baba if he would permit him,
i.e., Mir Jaman, to take the sword and strike away at the throats of all the Hindus
there and effect Baba's release. R.A. Tarkhad listened with fear and wondered if
the wretch meant really to murder him in cold blood. Sai Baba, however, placated
Mir Jaman by saying that he (Baba) was pagal, i.e., mad and the Hindus worshipping
him there were mad, that he was responsible for their worshipping him (contrary
to the custom and tenets of the Islamic faith) and not they for his mad state, and
that it was his throat that should be cut by Mir Jaman, if he wanted to cut any
throat and not theirs. Thereafter, Mir Jaman kept quiet.
There was another intolerant Moslem, named Abdullah Khan of Nagpur, who stayed sometime
(three or four months) with Baba. He was a journalist and familiar with Buty, Mahatma
Gandhi, etc. He was a Hindustani pathan and not a Rohilla. He died at Ahmednagar.
During his stay at Shirdi, he was occasionally complaining that Baba had deceived
him. Once this man beat Nana Chopdar and was charged before the Kopergaon Magistrate.
He was convicted and fined. He had no money to pay the fine of Rs. 15 and no security
to offer and so was in jail for a while. Then Buty sent him Rs. 15. It seems that
he declined it saying, that "he that deceived me should pay the Rs. 15 and no others."
Then Baba sent Rs. 15 out of his own pocket and got him released. I learnt that
this man once told Baba, "I see that you are violating the principles of Islam by
what goes on here and that your throat should be cut". At that, it seems, Baba laughed
and then the man begged pardon of Baba, at which again Baba laughed.
When Baba was alive, I heard him say to someone who feared that Baba would pass
away and with him all his work and influence ‘Hunadande Hanin’ which is Mahratti
for "From within the tomb I will beat with sticks." i.e., that death of his body
will not terminate his influence or activity.