Stories from Early Ahmadiyyat — Page 5
5 his principal form of exercise was brisk walking; he kept to it throughout his life. Observing his seclusion, his father grew very apprehensive about him. He thought that if his son did not take interest in the management of the family estate or secure a good government job, he would be unable to provide for himself in the future. With these considerations in mind, he would often urge his son to take up either of these occupations, but the young Mirza Ghulam Ahmad did not like these jobs. However, out of regard for his father’s wishes, he occu- pied himself with the management of the family estate and often visited Batala for litigation. Later, he also obtained a government job in the city of Sialkot. Whilst in Sialkot, he came into contact with Christian mis- sionaries and often engaged himself in religious discus- sions with them. Those who came in contact with him admired him very much for his sincerity, scholarship, and moral excellence. In 1868, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s mother passed away; his father sent a messenger to him with the sad news and a request that he resign his position and return to Qadian. Thus, after four years stay in Sialkot, he gave up his job and came back to Qadian. Here, once again, he occupied himself with the management of the family estate, but his heart was not in worldly affairs. Most of his time was spent in reading the Holy Book, Traditions