Life of Ahmad — Page 109
as MASJID MUB A RAK 109 beforehand by Ahmad as. Ahmad as wrote to him on April 7th, asking him to show if he was in any way the representative of the A rya Sam a j. But Pt. Lekhr a m adopted a most discourteous and objectionable tone in his reply, dated April 9th. So Ahmad as invited him on April 16th, 1885 to come to Qadian to expedite the preliminaries personally; he also made it clear that he would be prepared to proceed in the matter in accordance with the advice of respectable A ryas like Munshi J i wan D a s of Lahore. But Pt. Lekhr a m had the audacity to write on April 29th a most insulting letter to Ahmad as and insisted on being shown a sign. As he was not a recognised leader of the Sam a j and wanted the money to be deposited in advance, Ahmad as also asked him on July 17th, 1885 to deposit Rs. 2,400, to be forefeited if he did not become a Muslim after seeing the heavenly sign. In answer to this Pt. Lekhr a m wrote on July 20th that he wanted to see a sun that should set in the east, etc. Ahmad as explained the position to him on July 31st, 1885; but in his letter dated August 5th, 1885 he went on in the same strain. So Ahmad as again asked him to come to Qadian and see him personally, but he was not prepared to be reasonable at all. About November 18 th , 1885 Pandit Lekhr a m came to Qadian and declared that he wanted to hold a debate with Ahmad as and see a heavenly sign in favour of Islam. But the way in which he set about it showed that he had no genuine desire. A few letters were exchanged between Ahmad as and Pt. Lekhr a m