Life of Ahmad — Page 65
as EARLY LIFE 65 command. To my mind, it was in a way the fulfilment of Jesus’ as prayer, mentioned in the Holy Quran: 'O God our Lord, cause a table to descend unto us from heaven, that the day of its descent may become a festival day unto us, unto the first of us, and unto the last of us, and a sign from Thee; and do Thou provide food for us for Thou art the best provider. ' Ahmad as was in Lahore in 1876 when he had a dream from which he concluded that the time of the death of his father had approached. So he hastened to Qadian and found that although his father did not look ill he was suffering from dysentery. The next day members of the family were all in attendance upon him, as was the custom of the country. It was a very hot day, and Ahmad as was told by his father that as he had been waiting upon him for some time he should retire for a little while and have a rest. Ahmad as withdrew to his room upstairs. There was nothing particularly serious about his father’s illness. But while he was reclining it was revealed to him by God in Arabic that his father would die after sunset the same day. The news was naturally of a painful nature and made him sad. The thought, too, passed through his mind as to how, after his father was gone, he was to find a living. Upon this there came another revelation in which God consoled him and fully allayed his fears. The event is best described in the words of the Promised Messiah as himself. He writes: