From his presence, his appearance and his manner, Hazrat Inayat Khan often left people in some confusion, as this anecdote recounted by the Master’s mureed and secretary Kismet Stam reveals.

Murshid sometimes had the greatest fun about people’s attitude.

In San Francisco there was a waiter who always became very confused while serving Murshid – very hurried, and red, and shaken. Perhaps Murshid’s priestly appearance impressed him so much. Murshid used to address him as ‘Beta lal’ – my red son – which augemented his confusion.

One day Murshid said, “Do you wish to confess with me, Beta lal?’

‘Another day, Sir,’ the man said, and got away as soon as he could.