Bi Safiyyah (rahimahallah) was the mother of Moulana Muhammad Yahya Kandhelwi and Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas Kandhelwi (rahimahumallah) (the founder of the effort of ‘Da’wat and Tableegh’), as well as the grandmother of Shaikhul Hadeeth, Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhelwi and Moulana Muhammad Yusuf Kandhelwi (rahimahumallah).
Bi Saffiyah (rahimahullah) memorized the Quraan Majeed while breastfeeding her child, Moulana Muhammad Yahya (rahimahullah). She had perfected her hifz to such an extent that she could recite fluently from memory together with efficiently carrying out her household chores. She would recite one manzil of the Quraan Majeed daily, due to which she would complete one Quraan recital every seven days. In the month of Ramadhaan, it would increase to forty juz (paras) a day, thus completing the recitation of the entire Quraan Majeed forty times. (Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas aur un ki Deeni Da’wat pg. 38)
Shaikhul Hadeeth Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhelwi (rahmatullahi alaih) mentioned regarding his daughters that during the month of Ramadhaan despite them taking care of their many children and seeing to their household duties, they remained awake for long durations at night, listening to the recitation of the Quraan Majeed from different huffaaz (of the family). Together with this, they would compete with each other to recite at least fourteen to fifteen juz (paras) of the Quraan Majeed during the day. (Akaabir ka Ramadhaan pg. 72-73)
Qari Siddeeq Ahmad Baandwi (rahimahullah), a great personality of India, who passed away on 28th August 1997, mentioned regarding his wife: “She was more punctual on her ma’moolaat (daily ‘ibaadaat) than I was and would never miss them. After Fajr Salaah she would recite the Quraan Majeed and would only rise from the musalla after performing Ishraaq Salaah.”
In the Month of Ramadhaan, many people would partake of meals with Qari Siddeeq (rahimahullah). She would personally make all the food arrangements and would spend whatever money she had for this purpose. Apart from this, the rest of her time would be spent in reciting the Quraan Majeed. (Hayaat-e-Siddeeq pg. 234 – 236 and Tazkiratus Siddeeq vol. 1, pg. 607)
Sayyidah Khairun Nisaa Behtar (rahimahallah), the mother of the world-renowned luminary, Moulana Sayyid Abul Hasan ‘Ali Nadwi (rahimahullah), commenced her hifz under her youngest brother and completed it in three years. Her son relates regarding her and the other women in the household, “They all recited the Quraan Majeed excellently and their tajweed was extremely refined. If it was not for the fear of disrespect, I would venture as far as to say that they even recited better than many of those who graduate from madrasahs today. The enthusiasm and naturally beautiful tone with which they recited only served to further enhance their recitation. I remember once coming to discreetly listen to my mother recite the Quraan Majeed. (Such was the tranquillity and peace experienced that) it seemed as if rain was falling gently from the sky, and until today, I still remember the enjoyment I derived from listening to her recitation.”
Her commitment to her hifz was such that even after her marriage, she would recite her dhor (revision of the Quraan Majeed) to her husband. Thereafter, from the time of his demise until the end of her life, she continued to recite to her nephew, Haafiz Sayyid Habeebur Rahmaan, so long as her memory served her. (A Modern-Day Role Model – Uswatul Muslimah pg. 15)