Seerat-i-Tayyiba — Page 48
48 annas for a meal (living was extremely cheap in those days); but himself he would subsist on a very hard fare, a little boiled pulse and some bread, or even a handful of parched chick- peas. His diet was extremely slender even in quantity. ” 15 Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Karim, already mentioned, was a prominent companion of the Promised Messiah; and he had opportunities to see Hazrat Ahmad from very close quarters. He related the following incident: “During the summer months once, the family of the Promised Messiah was away for some time at Ludhiana, and I had occasion to go into the inner portion of the house. A room there had been newly built, and for this reason was cooler, I stretched myself on a bed for some moments, and happened to fall asleep. The Promised Messiah was at the time writing something and walking up and down as he wrote, which was usual with him. Sometime later when I woke suddenly with a startled feeling, I found the Promised Messiah lying on the floor by the side of the bed on which I had fallen asleep. In great consternation at my insolence, I hastily rose to my feet, and the Promised Messiah, gently and with a great deal of affection asked what was the matter and why I had got up. I expressed my consternation at having found myself on the bed while he had to lie down on the floor. Smiling gently and sweetly, he said to me: “Lie down again, and be at home. I was only keeping watch on you, lest the children, noisy in their play around, should disturb you in your sleep. ” ( Seeratul Mahdi, Part III, Pg. 122-123) 16 Let us now turn to the Promised Messiah’s solicitude for the poor, the needy and the beggar. Once it so happened a poor woman stole a quantity of rice in his home, but was detected red-handed, and there was some hubbub over the incident. The Promised Messiah, who had been working in his room, heard the noise, and came out to inquire what the matter was. Then he noticed a very poor woman standing with a small bundle in her hand. When the story was related to him, and when he saw the miserable plight of the poor woman, he was great touched and said: “She seems to be hungry and she is very poor, Giver her some rice and let her go; learn to overlook the