The Promised Son — Page 2
2 It was an age of ignorance. Not many people in that part of India were fond of learning. Only a few could read and write. There was no post office in Qadian nor link with other parts of the country by rail or road. The nearest town was Batala, about 12 miles away. It was in this remote village that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as grew up as a young boy. As he belonged to a well-to-do family, tutors were engaged for his education. They taught him to read the Holy Quran and gave him the elementary instruction in Arabic and Persian. He was also taught logic, philosophy, and grammar. His father, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Murtaza, was a renowned physician, and had his own library. Young Ahmad would often go into the library and spend most of his time reading books. He loved reading books in seclusion. He loved the Holy Quran and the mosque. He would remain absorbed for hours in the Holy Book and passed most of his time in the mosque walking up and down, engaged in deep thought and contemplation, praying that Allah grant him a true understanding of the Holy Quran. He learned to swim and ride at an early age, but his prin- cipal form of exercise was brisk walking. He continued to do it throughout his life. Observing his seclusion, his father grew increasingly concerned about him. He was afraid that if his son was not interested in managing the family estate or getting a good paying government job, he would not be able to provide for himself in the future. Out of this concern, he urged his son