Hazrat Ahmad — Page 15
HADHRAT AHMAD 15 aristocracy remained illiterate throughout their lives. But since it was the will of Providence that Ahmad should be prepared to carry out an important divine mission, He put it in the mind of Ahmad's father to make some provision for his education. Thus it was even in that age of ignorance, notwithstanding all his worldly anxieties, the father did not neglect to provide for him the means of education considered adequate at the time. He was still a child when his father employed for his benefit a teacher named Fazil-iIlahi. From him he learned to read the Holy Quran and a few. Persian books. . When he attained the age of 10 years another teacher, Fazal. Ahmed, was appointed who was a very good and pious man and according to Ahmad's own account, instructed him with great diligence and affection. With this gentleman he read a few books of Arabic grammar. . When he was 17 or 18 years old he was given still another teacher named Gul Ali Shah. From him he learned more Arabic grammar and also studied logic and philosophy. He also read a few books on medicine under the guidance of his father who was a skillful physician. This measure of education was at that time considered to be an advanced course, though having regard to the momentous nature of the work he was destined to perform, it did not amount to much. The writer has known some of the persons who were fellow students with him and were taught by the same teachers. They were men of mediocre attainments. The teachers, too, who were entrusted with his education were not men of any great learning; for at that time education and scholarship were altogether at a discount and any person who had read a few books of Persian or Arabic was considered to be a learned person. . Thus, neither the circumstances under which nor the teachers under whom he received his education were such as to furnish him the requisite preparation for the great task of his life. The proficiency attained by him consisted merely in the reading of. Persian and Arabic, and the ability to express himself fluently in the former and to a limited extent in the latter. His education went no further. As regards religious instruction, he received little of it from any of his teachers. He was, however fond of study, and would remain absorbed in his father's library for such long hours that his father had to remonstrate with him fearing lest he might