(Mother of Shaikh Nizaamuddeen Awliyaa [rahimahullah] – Part Three)
After the father of Shaikh Nizaamuddeen Awliyaa (rahimahullah) passed away, the household began to experience financial constraints. Hence, his mother, Zulaikhaa (rahimahallah), tried to bring an income into the home. Thus, she would spin yarn and send her domestic worker to the market place to sell it. However, this income was insufficient to meet their needs. Hence, once in a while, there would be one or two days during the week where there was no food in the home.
On the day when there was no food, Zulaikhaa (rahimahallah) would console her children saying, “Today is a very blessed day! Today, we are the guests of Allah Ta‘ala!” Shaikh Nizaamuddeen Awliyaa (rahimahullah) mentions that this statement of his mother would bring great happiness and joy to his heart.
He says, “On one occasion, someone brought some flour for us, and this flour lasted for many days. During this period, we were eating roti (bread) on a daily basis, and I yearned for the day when I would once again hear my mother say, ‘Today, we are the guests of Allah Ta‘ala.’
Finally, when the flour was depleted (and there was no food in the home), my mother said, ‘Today, we are the guests of Allah Ta‘ala.’ On hearing this statement, I experienced such joy and happiness which I cannot describe.”
(Tareekh-e-Da’wat wa ‘Azeemat vol. 3, pg. 54 and Misaalee Maaoo ki Misaalee Awlaade pg. 82)
Lessons:
1. It sometimes happens that a woman is forced by circumstance to fend for herself, as transpired with the mother of Shaikh Nizaamuddeen Awliyaa (rahimahullah) when his father passed away. In this situation, she ensured that she earned her livelihood from her home, without compromising her hayaa. In this manner, she fulfilled her needs while also safeguarding her Deen.
2. By telling her children that they were the guests of Allah Ta‘ala, Zulaikhaa (rahimahallah) was teaching them that they should avoid stretching their hands before people and begging. Instead, they should turn to Allah Ta‘ala and rely on Him. Hence, even from a young age, she strove to instil the correct Islamic values in the hearts of her children
3. On account of the upbringing that his mother gave him, Shaikh Nizaamuddeen Awliyaa (rahimahullah) had such deep love for Allah Ta‘ala in his heart that he preferred to remain hungry, and be called the guest of Allah Ta‘ala, rather than eat and satiate his hunger.