Salima van Braam was a mureed of Hazrat Inayat Khan, meeting him in 1922 in Arnhem, which was one of the first centers of Sufism in The Netherlands. After his passing, Salima became a Murshida, and was the founding leader of the center in Amsterdam. Murshid’s first visit to Arnhem was in 1921, but Salima did not attend that meeting. Here are some of her personal recollections of those early days.

In the beginning of 1922, Murshid came again to Arnhem to lecture. I went and when I was there even before the lecture began, I felt there was something in the atmosphere that was very different from other lectures, very sympathetic to me.

When Murshid entered the hall, I felt and saw immediately, “This man is a beautiful being.” It was not so much by what he said as by the living testimony he gave… I was so impressed by his greatness and the beautiful atmosphere that I felt, “This is what I have been in search of.” It was food for my soul, and my inner being was so nourished by his vibrations that I became very happy…

In te beginning, my family thought me rather foolish to run after an Oriental. One day my brother-in-law happened to see me when I stood on a railway platform with Murshid. He just greeted us and hurried on. Afterwards he said to me, “You’ll understand that I’d rather not come up to you when you are in that company.”

But as it happened, Murshid was coming to lunch while I was staying with my sister and brother-in-law. At first my brother-in-law would not join us at lunch. But just before lunch he came in after all, and he even sat down next to Murshid at the table.

From that moment they got into conversation and they went on talking until Murshid had to leave. My sister and I listened. They talked mostly about music. Saying goodbye, I was astonished to hear my brother-in-law say, “Murshid I hope that when you come to Holland again you will give a lecture in my house.” His wish was later fulfilled. The audience showed great interest in the lecture; there were thirty people.