Hazrat Maulvi Nooruddin - Khalifatul-Masih I — Page 291
Hadrat Maulw i Nur-ud-D i n ra — Khalifatul Masih I CLOSING SCENE 291 XVIII CLOSING SCENE The health of Hadrat Khalifatul Masih ra began to deteriorate in the beginning of January 1914. He felt pain in the ribs, occasionally ran a slight temperature and complained of nausea. His strength began to decline, but he remained cheerful and continued his daily lesson of the Holy Quran. When he found difficulty in mounting the steps of Masjid Aq sa he gave the lesson in the courtyard of Madrasa Ahmadiyya, but he had to be supported in walking the short distance to and from the Madrasa. His weakness increased and the lesson was transferred to a room in the house of his eldest son, which was next to his own house and he gave it sitting. His physicians advised that he should suspend the lesson, but he insisted that so long as he was able to speak he must continue to expound God’s Word. By the beginning of February it was suspected that he was suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. Dr. Mirz a Ya‘q u b Baig arrived from Lahore and in conjunction with Dr. Khal i fa Rash i d-ud-D i n devoted himself to looking after the august invalid who became progressively weaker, his voice became low and he took little nourishment. On February 14, Col. Melville was sent for from Lahore. He arrived with Dr. Sayyid Muhammad H usain and carried out a thorough examination, as the result of which he confirmed the diagnosis of the attending physicians, approved their treatment and suggested a more nourishing diet. After he left, Hadrat Khalifatul Masih ra observed: