(Mother of Moulana Muhammad ‘Umar Paalanpuri [rahimahullah] – Part Two)
The mother of Moulana Muhammad ‘Umar Paalanpuri (rahimahullah) was a simple, uneducated woman. However, despite her lack of education, she had tremendous zeal and enthusiasm for Deen.
In their neighborhood, there was a pious and learned woman known as Maryam Khaalah (Aunt Maryam). The mother of Moulana (rahimahullah) would frequent this woman to learn the aspects of Deen and imaan. Due to her spending time in the company of Maryam Khaalah, her fear of Allah Ta‘ala and concern for the Hereafter increased.
The mother of Moulana (rahimahullah) also made an effort to instill these same qualities into her son. Hence, Moulana (rahimahullah) would say, “I may have taught the Quraan Majeed to my mother, but it was my mother who set me on the path of the Quraan Majeed.”
Moulana (rahimahullah) explains: “My mother ensured that we spoke of something relating to Deen and imaan on a daily basis. Hence, since my childhood, my mother would tell me the incidents of the various Ambiyaa (‘alaihimus salaam) mentioned in the Quraan Majeed, as well as those things that would instil within me the fear of Allah Ta‘ala and Qiyaamah. She would say, ‘Son! Read the incident of Nabi Yusuf (‘alaihis salaam) from the book today!’ Likewise, on other nights, I would read the incident of Nabi Moosa (‘alaihis salaam) or Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam). Being a small child, my attention would sometimes drift and I would run off. However, in order to mould my mindset, she would call me back and we would continue.”
On account of Moulana’s (rahimahullah) tender age, when his mother would explain some concept of Deen to him, it would become firmly entrenched in his heart and mind.
Moulana (rahimahullah) mentions: “Once, my mother described the scenes of Qiyaamah to me, telling me how the sky will crack, the earth will shake, etc. That night, when I went to sleep, I began to dream of the scenes of Qiyaamah. Coincidentally, while I was asleep and having this dream, my younger brother fell off his bed and landed on me. This gave me such a fright that I began to yell and shout, ‘Qiyaamah has come! I will have to account for my actions!’ My mother lit the lamp and asked, ‘‘‘Umar! Why are you crying? Nothing happened. Your brother just fell on you!’ However, I kept my eyes tightly shut and continued to cry saying, ‘Qiyaamah has come!’”
(Sawaanih Moulana Muhammad ‘Umar Paalanpuri (rahimahullah) pg. 59 and Mithaali Khawaateen pg. 271)
Lessons:
1. The mother of Moulana (rahimahullah) had true zeal for Deen. Hence, she identified the woman in her locality who was pious and would frequent her company in order to strengthen her imaan. This teaches us the value and importance of good company. Through the blessing of Maryam Khaalah’s company, not only did Moulana’s (rahimahullah) mother benefit, but the positive effects rubbed off onto Moulana (rahimahullah) himself as well. Hence, we should all try to find good company for ourselves – company that will remind us of Allah Ta‘ala and will strengthen our imaan.
2. A child is young, highly impressionable and easily influenced. Hence, the lessons taught to a child and values instilled into his heart at a young age generally remain with him for life. However, for these lessons to take root and become entrenched, they will need to be regularly repeated. It is for this reason that the mother of Moulana (rahimahullah) would conduct ta’leemon a daily basis and narrate the stories of the Ambiyaa (‘alaihimus salaam) to her son.