Life of Ahmad — Page 217
as VISIT TO ALIGARH 217 other matters also, which were by no means less important. During the last seven years Ahmad as had received at a rough estimate no less than 90,000 letters, to which he had to reply himself. The writing of 35 letters a day is not an easy job for a man who is also required to make speeches, hold debates, and write books. He had no secretaries or assistants, and no stenographers or typists. He also interviewed more than 60,000 persons, to whom he had to explain the teachings of Islam. He had also to play the host to all who visited him, for Islam inculcates most cordial hospitality towards all guests. There were no hotels in Qadian where visitors could find board and lodging nor were there any big shops and provision stores. Ahmad as had, therefore, to make all kinds of arrangements, and he always looked after his guests himself, even unto minute details. He had to request his devoted friend at Jullundur, Ch. Rustam Ali, to buy for him and send ghee, vegetables, chutney, aerated waters, pan, etc. to Qadian. He and his family were subject to human ills and, like the rest of the people of the country, they had their share of suffering inflicted by sickness. As there was no hospital at Qadian he had to go sometimes to Batala and Lahore for medical advice and treatment. Once he had to stay at Batala for this purpose for about a month because his son Bashir was ill. Then he paid visits to the sick and sometimes undertook long journeys for this purpose to distant places like Ludhiana and Jammu.