A Memoir by Near Ones
My beloved mother Sardar Begum W/O Ch Hidayatullah Sahib of Chak 35 South Sargodah passed away in Rabwah on July 14, 2014. Inna Lillah wa Inna Alaihe Rajeoon. Her funeral prayer was led by Hazrat Mirza Khurshid Ahmad Sahib, Nazir Aala Rabwah on 16th of July 2014 at 5pm, local time and she was buried in Bahishtai Maqbra, Rabwah.
The Heritage she was Proud of
She was daughter of Chaudhari Ghulam Hussain of Gujranwala, who accepted Ahmadiyyat at the hand of the Promised Messiah (as) by letter and daughter in law of Hazrat Chaudhary Maula Bakhash (1880-1936), the companion of the Promised Messiah (as).
Hazrat Chaudhary Maula Bakhsh (1880-1936), a companion of the Promised Messiah
Long Life – Lived for Lord Almighty
Born in 1912 she lived a very active and ambulant life except for the last two years. She served as local Lajna president for more than three decades. She taught the Holy Qur’an to scores of Non Ahmadi as well Ahmadi children. She had memorized almost 15 parts/paras of the Holy Qur’an along with hundreds of Ahadith, Qaseeda e Hazrat Masihe Maud (as), attributes of God, attributes of the Holy Prophet (saw), different types of Durood Shareef and many poems from Durre Sameen and Kalam e Mahmood which she would recite till her last days.
I am witness to the fact that whenever I woke up during night, I always found my parents either praying or reciting the Holy Quran or Durrod Sharif or Tasbeehaat. I cannot recall a single morning when I woke up and found my parents sleeping. As a child, I took it a norm but as I grew up I encompassed its full meaning.
A Regimental Routine in His Service
Her daily Ibadaat included many Nafli Salaats as well as recitation of multiple chapters of the Holy Qur’an and Durood o Tasbeehaat. She carried out her daily routine of Ibadaat very strictly. Sometime she would quietly sneak away from very interesting gathering to her room to complete her day’s routine. When asked why would she leave like this instead of enjoying everyone’s company, she would reply that she was running behind in her daily schedule of recitations and she was running short of time. Even in her 90s she was busy to such extant!
Timing the Time
Her daily chores and activities were timed not by minutes or hours but by number of Rukus of the Holy Qur’an she could recite or number of times of Durood Shareef or Tasbeehaat she could recite before the end of any activity.
I feel it was this lifelong regimental disciplined routine of hers which contributed to her long, healthy and active life.
Fasting till 90s
She regularly fasted during the month of Ramadan and always observed six optional days of fasting in the month of Shawal. Only in the last three or four years of her life she did not fast. Partly it was due to the fact that she was not disclosed that the month of Ramadan had began. In one Ramadan she found out from Alfazl that Ramadan had begun and she insisted to fast and completed the month in fasting. When Huzoor-e-Anwar (aa) started the scheme of Nafli Fasts, she included that too as part of her Ibadaat.
Experience of Lailatul Qada (the Night of Decree)
Decades ago, in the month of Ramadan she experienced a very pleasant and strange scene one night. She described that it was really a dark night and there were no lights whatsoever. All of a sudden the whole environment lit up brightly and the lights flew like rivers from one direction to other. She said it was truly fascinating and that she could feel the joy and serenity of those lights even at the time she was describing it. My father who was at a distance overheard her description and exclaimed at once that my mother had experienced Laila tul Qadar (the night of decree). Ammi Jan was very surprized and started visualizing in retrospect. Realizing that it was an odd wet dark and cloudy night in the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan, she became convinced that she indeed had been through the divine experience of Lailatul Qadar. She was offering early morning prayer at the time however she did not conceive the beautiful flood of lights which she was engulfed in as Lailatl Qadar and therefore did not pray for anything specific.
The Vision of the Holy Prophet (Peace be on him)
When she memorized Qaseeda by Hazrat Masih e Maud (as) she hoped to see the vision of the Holy Prophet (may peace be on him) as it is foretold by the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) to all those who will memorize Qaseeda by heart. For quite some time she did not see any such vision and then she forgot all about it. Few months later she saw a dream in which she saw a group of people surrounding the Holy Prophet (saw). She was not able to remember the face of the Holy Prophet (saw) but she described the vision as real and truly factual.
I have seen many of her prayers being accepted miraculously. Sometime her prayers were materialized word by word.
Moments of involuntary prostration …
At time she would just fall in prostration and tears would role in her eyes. When asked what makes her prostrate so spontaneously, she replied: I am so little and the lowest of all and yet Allah has blessed me and my progeny with His countless blessings. The very thought makes me bow down in utmost praise and thankfulness to my Lord Almighty. She would repeatedly say that it is the blessings of the Promised Messiah (as) that we are driven out of ignorance to enlightenment.
Justice is Just
She was straightforward, just and honest person. When it came to giving opinions or advice she would not compromise her principals even for her own children. She would say and do what was right, just and honest. She would refer to the saying of the Holy Prophet (saw) that a true believer is not a coward. Instead a believer is always bold and steadfast.
Guests of Two Worlds
My father was Numberdar as well as the local President of Jamaat e Ahmadiyya. As such our house would receive frequent visitors and guests from Government especially police officials as well as from Rabwah. My mother was the sole person to look after them. She would make arrangements for their drinks, meals as well as room when and if required. All this will not upset her daily routine of Ibadaat. Some of the honorable guests she entertained include Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahamad Sahib (rh) who later became Khalifa tul Masih IV, Hazrat Maulana Rajekee Sahib and members of the family of the Promised Messiah (as).
My grandmother Talia Begum Sahiba lived long life. In her later years she became paralyzed and was bedridden. My mother was the sole person responsible for all her needs which she fulfilled patiently till her death in 1964.
In Sorrow and Happiness, Adversity and Prosperity, in Felicity and Trial …
My mother had a highly contented, composed and relaxed personality. In difficult circumstances, she would pray a lot but remain contented and relaxed. She would quote from Hadith that if something good happens to a believer, he gives thanks for it and if something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience (Muslim)
If any one of us had a difficult period, she would have a positive approach. I remember her advising me at a tremulous stage of my life that the greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allah loves someone He tests him. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.” (Hadith)
Once she was admitted in Mayo Hospital Lahore where she underwent an eye surgery for cataract. Her grandsons were then working as residents in the department. She was explained that few injections will be given around her eyes. She had no anxiety or nervousness; so much so that even her surgeon admitted not having seen a patient before in his practice so relaxed and at ease in Operation Theater. She would often refer to the Holy Qur’an that life is an appointed term so one should not be scared of death.
Education the Best Dowry
Girl’s education was not a norm those days. When Hazrat Khalifa tul Masih (ra) advocated education for girls, my Grandfather (Nana Jan) focused on her home schooling. She learned to read very quickly and remained very fond of reading all her life. She always prayed for her father for giving her the best of dower. Reading AlFazl was her favorite and she continued reading the entire Alfazl till last weeks of her life. Our house was always full of all sorts of publications of Jamaat and she would read each and every one of those with great interest and be highly thankful to Allah for her reading skills. She always attributed it to the blessings of accepting the Promised Messiah (as) by her parents.
Even though she had no formal education, she possessed excellent mental mathematical skills. She could do very complicated mathematical calculations without using pen and paper. Once my sister was not able to solve a math question. She sought help from my mother who solved it in her mind and explained the solution to my sister who was astonished at her mental mathematical skills.
Ammi Jan leaves behind 7 Children, 31 Grandchildren, 74 Great grandchildren and one Great Great Grand Son. Masha Allah! We have met some of her great grandchildren on the Muslim Times:
Kindly remember my beloved mother in your valuable prayers.
Categories: Ahmadis And Pakistan, Asia, Pakistan, Women, Women In islam
Very nice memories and it is a pleasure to read them.
A wonderful narration of a life well lived. Indeed our grandmother was an exemplary person. I remember her as a smart, caring, intelligent, compassionate and motherly person. She was always happy and cheerful. She lived her life to the fullest and very well. May her soul rest in peace.
Masha’Allah, it was very inspiring reading about your pious mother. May Allah Almighty elevate her status in heaven, ameen.