(Respected Wife of ‘Aarif Billah, Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar [rahimahullah] – Part Four)
Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahullah) was blessed with a wife who was extremely caring, considerate and obedient, and her compassion was such that she concerned herself regarding the wellbeing of one and all.
Meer Saheb (rahimahullah) was the special attendant of Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahullah). On one occasion, when Meer Saheb (rahimahullah) was extremely sick, his sister went to visit the respected wife of Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahullah). On returning from her visit, she made the following remark to Meer Saheb (rahimahullah):
“I was amazed at the level of concern that Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar’s (rahimahullah) wife showed over your ill health! In fact, your sickness caused her worry and anxiety just as a mother becomes worried and anxious over her own child’s illness. She continuously spoke about the excellent manner in which you remained with her husband and served him, and also continuously made du‘aa for your recovery.”
Meer Saheb (rahimahullah) also mentioned that he would go to the home of Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahullah) every morning to benefit from his company. As soon as he arrived, Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahullah) would ask him if he had eaten breakfast. If not, the respected wife of Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahullah) would prepare breakfast for them.
The brother-in-law of Meer Saheb (rahimahullah) was once ill. Before going to visit him, Meer Saheb (rahimahullah) went to Haafiz ‘Abdullah, the grandson of Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahullah), and said to him, “Please request your grandmother to make du‘aa for my brother-in-law.” On his return, Meer Saheb (rahimahullah) asked Haafiz ‘Abdullah, “Did your grandmother make du‘aa for my brother-in-law?” Haafiz ‘Abdullah replied, “Yes, she did. When I conveyed your request, she had just lay down to sleep. However, on hearing your request, she awoke from her bed, made wudhu, performed two rakaats of salaah and thereafter engaged in a lengthy du‘aa.”
Hearing this, Meer Saheb (rahimahullah) regretted asking her to make du‘aa, as due to her compassion for people, she ignored her illness and weakness and undertook the difficulty of leaving her bed, performing wudhu and salaah and making a lengthy du‘aa for the recovery of his brother-in-law.
Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahullah) mentioned that his respected wife recited the first kalimah seventy thousand times and conveyed the reward to his respected mother after her demise.
(Rashk-e-Awliyaa, Hayaate Akhtar pg. 46 and http://www.khanqah.org/mazhar-biography.php)
Lessons:
1. Feeling compassion for the creation of Allah Ta‘ala is a sign of imaan. Hence, the pious servants of Allah Ta‘ala would feel sympathy and go out of their way to be of assistance to any person in need, even if that person was a total stranger. Furthermore, they placed the comfort and wellbeing of others before their own wellbeing and comfort.
2. The respected wife of Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahullah) had such love and respect for her mother-in-law that even after her demise she expressed obedience and love for her by conveying rewards to her.