(The wife of Mufti Muhammad Shafee’ [rahimahullah] – Part Three)
The wife of Mufti Muhammad Shafee’ (rahimahullah), Nafeesah Khaatoon (rahimahallah), was blessed with a passion for carrying out ‘ibaadah. Until the point when she became bedridden, she would never miss her daily practices of reciting the Quraan Majeed, du‘aa, zikr, tasbeeh and nafl (optional) salaah. From the break of dawn till midnight, she would be engaged in household chores, seeing to the children, serving her husband, taking care of her elderly mother-in-law, and fulfilling the rights of others. Her schedule would be so tight that she would not get a break during this entire duration. However, despite this busy schedule, her ‘ibaadah and devotional practices would never be affected.
Allah Ta‘ala had blessed her with the opportunity of performing hajj on two occasions, as well as ‘umrah on one occasion. Towards the end of her life, she saved up some money for another ‘umrah, hoping that as soon as she finds some relief from her sickness, she will undertake the journey. However, Allah Ta‘ala, through His infinite wisdom, had planned otherwise and she did not get this opportunity.
For the last thirteen years of her life she remained bedridden. Despite this, her practice of ‘ibaadah still continued. When she became completely paralysed and was unable to perform her salaah and observe her fasts, she would pay the fidyah for them. However, then too, after some time had passed (and she recovered slightly), she began to sit up facing towards the qiblah at the time of salaah and read whatever she could manage.
Three days before her demise, whilst turning towards the qiblah for the Esha Salaah, she had a second attack of paralysis and fell on to the bed. She was extremely uneasy and was even unable to speak. Despite this condition, her son, Mufti Muhammad Taqi ‘Uthmaani (hafizahullah), saw her moving her hand, trying to look for something under her pillow. He realized that she probably wanted her tasbeeh which used to be kept there. When he passed it to her, although she did not have the ability to recite with her tongue, she continuously moved the beads of the tasbeeh with her hand until she became unconscious.
A few days later she left this temporary abode on 23rd Rajab 1401 A.H., corresponding to 28th May 1981, precisely at the time when Mufti Muhammad Taqi ‘Uthmaani (hafizahullah) completed the Surah Yaaseen which he had been reciting at the head side. Thus, the last two things that she did whilst she was conscious were, turning to the qiblah for salaah, and moving the beads of the tasbeeh.
(Nuqoosh-e-Raftagaa pg. 161)
Lessons:
1. It is imperative for us to have a routine of ma’moolaat (daily devotional practices) which we are consistent in carrying out and do not neglect under any circumstance. These practices should become our second nature to such an extent that even mistakenly leaving them out should become a source of grief for us. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has explained that the most beloved of actions to Allah Ta‘ala are those that are done consistently even if they may be few. (Saheeh Bukhaari #6464)
2. Those who devote themselves entirely to Allah Ta‘ala during their lifetime are blessed with an enviable death. As the famous Arabic saying goes, ‘As you live, so will you die.’ If we too desire to have a good death, which is the bridge to our everlasting new life, we must abstain from acts of disobedience, and carry out good actions consistently and insha-Allah, Allah Ta‘ala will bless us with a good death as well.