(The wife of Mufti Muhammad Shafee’ [rahimahullah] – Part One)

Mufti Muhammad Shafee’ ‘Uthmaani (rahimahullah) was a world renowned ‘Aalim and the Grand Mufti of Pakistan. He passed away in the year 1396 A.H. (1976) after serving the Ummah with utmost dedication and devotion and rendering great Deeni services. One of his most famous contributions is his exemplary tafseer of the Quraan Majeed in eight volumes, Ma‘aariful Quraan, which has also been translated into  the English language. Allah Ta‘ala also blessed his progeny with great knowledge and piety. Among others, two of his sons, Mufti Muhammad Rafee’ ‘Uthmaani (rahimahullah) and Mufti Muhammad Taqi ‘Uthmaani (hafizahullah), are world renowned as well.

Like most other luminaries, the wife of Mufti Muhammad Shafee’ (rahimahullah), Nafeesah Khaatoon (rahimahallah), who belonged to a famous Ansaari family in Deoband, played a vital role in all of this goodness. Mufti Muhammad Taqi ‘Uthmaani (hafizahullah) writes, “My father’s entire life was devoted to the cause of Islam and my mother supported him through all the turbulent times. In fact, she had relieved him largely from all domestic worries to allow him to serve Deen untroubled. Because of this, insha-Allah she would definitely receive a great share in all the good works my honourable father had done.”

Her husband, Mufti Muhammad Shafee’ (rahimahullah), played a very active role in the establishment of Pakistan. Thus, when the country was finally formed, he had to uproot himself and his entire family from their well-established life and newly-built home in Deoband, and relocate to this newly formed country, without any prior preparations and setting-up. The journey was also extremely risky, as many massacres were happening en-route. When they finally reached Pakistan, Mufti Muhammad Shafee’ (rahimahullah) was extremely occupied in assisting with the drawing up of the constitution of the country, and hence had no time to take up any employment and earn a living. His family had thus faced very challenging and tough times. Hence Nafeesah Khaatoon (rahimahallah) would cook daal (lentil) many days on end. Her son, Mufti Muhammad Rafee’ (rahimahullah), who was ten years old at that time, complained to her that she only cooked daal every day. It was at this point, for the first time, that she said, “Do you even know that your father has no source of income?”

Together with being supportive to her husband, she was an embodiment of love, affection and support to her children as well. Her day and night were dedicated to providing them with comfort to such an extent that she would sacrifice her own comfort and ease. Her son, Mufti Muhammad Taqi ‘Uthmaani (hafizahullah) explains that his biggest support in life, after his father’s demise, was his mother. Despite being advanced in age and bedridden for a long time, her compassionate nature was a cure to all their worries and her affectionate look would remove the bitterness of all their worldly sorrows and difficulties.

(Nuqoosh-e-Raftagaa pgs. 159 – 161 and Yaade Part 2 & Part 5)

Lessons:

1. The Western world insists on making us believe that a woman cannot be productive, progressive and be an asset to herself and to others if she remains within the safety of her home. However, Islam teaches us that when a woman fulfills the critical role of being the ‘queen of the home’, she sees to the needs and comforts of her husband, as well as gives her children the love and attention that they desperately require for their growth and development, though she maybe hidden from the world, but thousands of people will enjoy the fruit of her sacrifice and efforts. Nafeesah Khaatoon (rahimahallah) had fulfilled her role as a wife and as a mother par excellence, and hence, her husband and two of her sons became world renowned muftis.

2. When one person supports another in carrying out a good deed, he will also share in the reward of that good action. Similarly, when a wife supports her husband in his Deeni efforts and endeavours, she will insha-Allah get a full share in the reward of all the good that he carries out, despite her remaining within the comfort of her home.