(Mother of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee [daamat barakaatuhum] – Part Five)
When Mufti Saheb (daamat barakaatuhum) completed his studies in Darul ‘Uloom Deoband and returned home to Isipingo Beach, he intended to start off a madrasah for hifz and ‘aalim students.
At the time, some people advised him that he should work for half a day and teach for half a day. In this way, he would be able to earn an income and also teach Deen. However, his respected mother advised him to spend all his time for Deen, as they (his parents) were prepared to support him. In this way Mufti Saheb (daamat barakaatuhum) was able to dedicate all his time and effort to the madrasah.
In this manner, the mother and father of Mufti Saheb (daamat barakaatuhum) were greatly instrumental in commencing the Darul ‘Uloom – Madrasah Ta’leemuddeen, as it was with their support and encouragement that Mufti Saheb (daamat barakaatuhum) was able to carry out the work of Deen.
In the initial period when the madrasah commenced, there was no kitchen where food was prepared for the students. Hence, Makkiyyah Aapa (rahimahallah) would personally prepare meals and send the food for the madrasah students. Even later on, she would have great compassion for the students of Deen – especially the foreign students – and would occasionally invite them home for meals. She would even go to the extent of preparing the meals according to their taste and culture. Often, she would order fish and pay for it with her own money for the Thailand and Philippine students saying, “They have come from so far to learn Deen. We should at least try and make them comfortable and keep them happy.”
Makkiyyah Aapa (rahimahallah) had great respect for Deen. When Mufti Saheb (daamat barakaatuhum) commenced teaching hifz in their home, then the area of the house which he used as the hifz classroom was situated under the toilet. Hence, out of respect for the Quraan Majeed and Deen, she refrained from using that toilet so long as Mufti Saheb (daamat barakaatuhum) was teaching there, and instead used the spare toilet in the veranda. She also had great respect for her sons’ Asaatizah (Deeni teachers) in Mias’ farm. Thus, she would regularly send gifts to their homes and would regularly invite them home as well.
She supported every effort of Deen. Hence, she would make du‘aa for the protection and acceptance of all the Darul ‘Ulooms and all other branches of Deen. Similarly, she supported the work of Da’wat and Tableegh.
In the initial days of the Tableegh Jamaat, when Haaji Bhai Padia (rahimahullah) was striving to establish the jamaat work in South Africa, Makkiyyah Aapa (rahimahallah) was in the forefront of the mastooraat (ladies) effort. She would organize ladies’ jamaat programmes in areas such as Lotus Park, Orient Hills, etc.
Furthermore, she would happily and wholeheartedly prepare food to feed jamaats and ‘Ulama in her home. She would say to the men of the home, “Just let me know, in advance, how many people are coming for meals, and insha-Allah, I will have the food ready for them.” In fact, this was her habit in Makkah Mukarramah and Madeenah Munawwarah as well (when she went for hajj and ‘umrah). She would feed numerous ‘Ulama and jamaats that would arrive for hajj or ‘umrah, and no amount of people were too many to feed.
She had deep love for the pious friends of Allah Ta‘ala and was always desirous of the privilege of hosting pious people in her home. Hence, many of the senior ‘Ulama and pious people of the time knew her family personally, and many of them would stay at her home. Among the illustrious saints who stayed at her home or partook of meals were Shaikhul Hadeeth, Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya, Shaikh ‘Abdul Fattaah Abu Ghuddah, Moulana Maseehullah Khan, Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi, Moulana Sa‘eed Ahmad Khan, Moulana In‘aamul Hasan, Moulana Muhammad ‘Umar Paalanpuri, Moulana Moosa Saamrodhi, Moulana As’ad Madani, Qaari Siddeeq Ahmad Baandwi, Moulana Abraarul Haqq, Moulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahumullah) and many others. In fact, some Imaams of the Harams of Makkah Mukarramah and Madeenah Munawwarah also visited her home and partook of meals at her dastarkhaan, by the grace of Allah Ta‘ala.
Moulana Faqeer Muhammad (rahimahullah), who was the khaleefah of Moulana Ashraf ‘Ali Thaanwi (rahimahullah), and also a resident of Makkah Mukarramah, was also very close to the family, and would make special du‘aa for Makkiyyah Aapa (rahimahallah) in particular.
She would make time to listen to the bayaans of senior ‘Ulama (such as Moulana Haroon Abasoomar [rahimahullah] and Moulana Ilyaas Patel [daamat barakaatuhum]) over the masjid receiver, and would strongly encourage others to take out time to listen to these bayaans.
Lessons:
1. The parents of Mufti Saheb (daamat barakaatuhum) realised that their son was their investment for the Hereafter. Hence, if they supported him in his Deeni endeavours, they would leave a legacy that would continue to benefit them in this world and the next. Thus, they were pleased with him dedicating all his time to the service of Deen.
2. Every person is able to strive for Deen in their own way. In her capacity, Makkiyyah Aapa (rahimahallah) made an effort for the mastooraat work, organizing ladies’ programmes in the surrounding areas.
3. To use a toilet that is built above a hifz class is not impermissible. However, due to her high level of respect and love for the Quraan Majeed, Makkiyyah Aapa (rahimahallah) refrained from doing so. In this manner, we should try our best to love and show respect to everything connected to Deen.
4. The quality of wholeheartedly hosting people in one’s home is sadly lacking among many people today. Makkiyyah Aapa (rahimahallah) loved to host guests in her home, as it is a means of great reward and draws immense barakah. Furthermore, she went out of her way to make the guests comfortable, such as using her own money to purchase fish and prepare it for the foreign students.