Life of Ahmad — Page 133
as MARRIAGE 133 and remarked that Ahmad as was a thousand times better than him. M i r Sahib was already inclined towards Ahmad as so he immediately asked his wife whether she would now agree to Ahmad as. The question was urgent, M i r Sahib pressed, and should not be delayed because their daughter was already 18. So his wife gave her consent. M i r Sahib at once intimated this decision to Ahmad as , who reached Delhi a week later with a few of his Hindu and Muslim friends, including Sh. Ha mid Ali ra (born 1854, died 8-9-1919) and Mal a wa Mal. The relatives of M i r Sahib did not, however, like this match. Ahmad as was too old; and, moreover, there was amongst the people of Delhi a strong dislike towards Punjabis on account of differences in language and customs. M i r Sahib was, however, a very strong-willed man. He did not care much for these objections and the marriage ceremony was performed after, of course, the consent of the bride had been duly obtained. The Mehr (Muslim equivalent of a marriage settlement) was fixed at Rs. 1,100, which was the sum suggested by M i r Sahib. The name of Ahmad’s as wife, who is alive by the grace of God, is Nu s rat Jah a Ĕ Begum ra. The marriage took place on Monday, 27th Mu h arram, 1302 (November 1884); and the ceremony was performed by Maulaw i Nadh i r Husain to whom Ahmad as gave Rs. 5 and a prayer mat. Ahmad as was about 50 years of age at that time, and the disparity of age reminds one of his spiritual Master’s sa marriage with A ’isha ra.