(Saintly Women around Siddeeq [Part 3] – Mother of Qari Siddeeq [rahimahullah])

The name of the mother of Qari Siddeeq (rahimahullah) was Khairun Nisaa and she was a woman whose piety, humility, simplicity, ‘ibaadah and good character were exemplary.

She had memorized four paras of the Quraan Majeed and would engage in tilaawat and zikr as soon as she had completed her household chores.

She never missed the Awwaabeen Salaah and was also punctual on Tahajjud Salaah. After performing the Fajr Salaah, she would remain engaged in zikr until Ishraaq. Her excessive ‘ibaadah, devotion in salaah, long sajdahs and lengthy emotional du‘aas were famous among her family members.

She lived in great poverty and constraint and would thus grind flour and sew clothing for people in order to earn a living.

Her simplicity was such that she would wear patched clothing. At times, it would be covered in so many patches that it would be difficult to recognize the original garment. Similarly, her bedding was a patched duvet. When any women would visit, Qari Siddeeq (rahimahullah) would send one of the children to hide the bedding so that the guest would not feel that she is being neglected and ill-treated.

When Qari Siddeeq (rahimahullah) would arrange new clothing for his mother, then due to her simplicity, she would not like to wear it. In fact, she never wore new clothing since her husband had passed away. If anybody gifted her with new clothes, she would immediately give it to some poor person, preferring to wear her old clothing.

Her level of sympathy and care was such that if anybody in the village was undergoing any difficulty or hardship, she would go and help them. This quality in her was so well known that even non-Muslim women would come to her with their needs.

When Qari Siddeeq (rahimahullah) initially started the madrasah in his area, the small children who came to study would reside in his own home and his mother would care for them. When they sometimes wet their beds during winter, she would wash the bedding, bath them and also wash their clothing.

Some of the children were so young that she would have to wash their hands and faces and clean the dirt from their eyes with her own hands. If any student fell ill, she nursed him back to health. For a long period of time, she, together with the wife of Qari Siddeeq (rahimahullah), prepared two meals a day for approximately 35 students.

Towards the end of her life, she succumbed to numerous illnesses and was finally blessed to pass way in the Month of Ramadhaan 1397 A.H. – 1977.

(Hayaat-e-Siddeeq pg. 76 and Tazkiratus Siddeeq vol. 1, pg. 140)

Lessons:

1. Although we are not required to adopt such simplicity, it is imperative for us to slow down the pace with which we are moving towards extravagance in every sphere of our lives. There is absolutely no need to insist on wearing a new garment for every occasion or to change the theme of the home every now and again.

2. When a woman supports and assists her menfolk in their work of Deen, she secures a share of the reward for herself as well, even though the role that she played may apparently seem to be insignificant. Even allowing them to freely engage in Deeni activities without becoming an obstacle is an act of immense reward.

3. To provide financial assistance to people in difficulty is a great, meritorious action. To physically assist, however, is often more difficult and thus can sometimes earn a person more reward. Moreover, when we personally assist the needy (within the limits of hijaab), it creates awareness within us of the plight and conditions of the lesser privileged. This serves as an invaluable eye-opener which makes us appreciate how blessed we truly are. Additionally, the people whom we assist will come to love us, as Muslims, drawing them closer to Islam and also dispelling any perception that one wishes to exploit them.