(Wife of the Promised Messiah (AS) AN EXEMPLARY LEADER OF OUR TIME)
“Some people are born great, some people achieve greatness and some people have greatness thrust upon them” (William Shakespeare) Munavara (Nabbo) Ghauri author of Hadhrat Amaan Jan (An inspiration to us all) eulogized the virtuous wife of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmed (a.s) - the Promised Messiah and Mahdi (a.s) as a rare individual who fits into all three categories mentioned in the quote by William Shakespeare. Hadhrat Nusrat Jehan Begum (ra) is known within the Ahmadiyya Muslim community by two other names, Umul –Mu’mineen meaning Mother of the Believers, signifying her value and the respect with which she is held by the community as the wife of the Promised Messiah (as). She is also affectionately called Amman Jan by family members and close associates usually translated as Respected and Dear Mother. She has been described by Amtu Shakur Tayyaba Ahmed in an article published in the Review of Religions (April 2017), as a modern-day example of the spiritual, moral and personal excellence which can be achieved by following the commandments of Allah as contained in the Holy Qur’an and by the blessings of Allah, the One God. Munavara (Nabbo) narrates in his book that, ‘Hadhrat Umul-Mu’mineen was a spiritual and physical mother, a mentor, a carer of orphans and a guardian of the vulnerable and sick. She was a personification of Islamic values, a pillar of support for the Promised Messiah and faithful to the institution of khilafat from its early inception. He added that, “Her influence has rippled through the blessed progeny of the Promised Messiah(as), like a strong but imperceptible undercurrent”. Her values and moral training influences the Jamat even today, as she was the matriarch of a blessed progeny, that includes 4 of 5 of the khulafa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to date. She was born in 1865 and passed in 1952
Her Worship
It has been reported that, Hadhrat Amman Jan (ra) had the highest standards of worship in this modern age and is an excellent example for women living in this materialistic world of ours. It is known for example that her worship was outstanding at all times and she offered her daily prayers with such humility, love and devotion that those watching could not help but be affected. In the monthly days when she was not required to offer Salat (prayers), she would instead spend the time after the Adhan (call to prayer) praying and remembering Allah . In Ramadan, whilst in good health, she always fasted and made a special effort with regard to worship in this month and in addition to her five daily prayers she also woke up in the night to offer Tahajjud (late night/pre-dawn) prayer, offered an extra early morning prayer (called chasht in Urdu) and then a mid-morning prayer (ishraq) along with other extra voluntary prayers.
Charity
Amman Jan(ra) was extremely regular in giving charity in this month and also regularly cooked food, often herself, for three or four people as fidyah (expiation for those who cannot fast). She recited the Holy Qur’an often and asked the girls in the house to recite to her regularly too. It was her practice in these days to recite Darud (invoking Allah’s Blessings on the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) and to ask Allah’s forgiveness in the form of Istighfar. She encouraged those around her to do the same. If she knew that any of her daughters or granddaughters were fasting, she would make special food for them in the evening. She would also keep note of children who were offering prayers in congregation so that she could express her pleasure on these actions. It was her tradition to invite her children regularly to open the fast in the evening at her house.
Service to Humanity
As the wife of the Promised Messiah(as), Hadhrat Amman Jan(ra) had an extremely large household, full of elders, relatives, children, orphans, widows, household helpers and a regular stream of guests from the community. She worked hard, and it is related by her son, Hadhrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), that she was regularly busy cooking, spinning, boiling milk, feeding buffaloes, growing flowers and herbs in addition to training and helping the house hold attendants. She would daily go walking in Qadian and visit ladies and relatives. She would enquire after people’s health on these visits and would advise ladies with regard to the running of their households, compliment them on any tasty food she was offered, and suggest home improvements which could be done within a low budget e.g. making simple clothes or cushions. Thus even her daily routine was spent in the service of humanity and in the kind guidance of ladies. She was even known to also make enquiries about prisoners who were in jail due to financial debts and sent money to such Muslims and even non-Muslim prisoners so that they could enjoy a good meal.
Financial Sacrifice
Hadhrat Amman Jan(ra) was always at the forefront of making financial sacrifices for the Jamat. There are three incidents which give an indication of her spirit of financial sacrifice. In May 1900, when the Promised Messiah (as) announced that he needed a hundred people to donate one hundred rupees each to build Minaratul Masih in Qadian, a total of 10,000 Rupees, Hadhrat Amman Jaan(ra) responded by selling some property in Delhi and giving 1000 rupees (a significant amount in those days) herself for this appeal excelling others in fulfilling this appeal- a great proof of her faith in the Promised Messiah(as) On the occasion of one Jalsa (Annual Convention), when Jalsa expenses were undertaken by the Promised Messiah (as) himself, it became apparent that there was no food for guests that evening. The Promised Messiah (as) immediately sent a message to his trusted and beloved wife, Hadhrat Amma Jaan(ra), who soon provided some jewellery which could be sold to cover the expense of the food that evening. On the demise of the Promised Messiah (as), she herself settled any monies owed to others by her beloved husband by selling her own jewelry and did not ask community members to help her with this although countless members would have been pleased to do so. Hadhrat Musleh Ma’ud(ra), the Second Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, has written about this: ‘My heart was deeply affected [by the fact] that Allah Almighty had given the Promised Messiah (as) such a loving and co-operative partner.’
Her Dignity
Another aspect of her personality was the very feminine quality that Hadhrat Amman Jan (ra) exhibited. She was extremely conscious of women’s dignity and honour. Her daughter, Hadhrat Nawwab Mubaraka Begum (ra), describes this quality in the following words: ‘Hazrat Amman Jaan(ra), compared to most, had a much higher standard of righteousness and this specific quality is worth keeping in view. She would often warn that the honour of ladies is very delicate. She did not approve at all of women who were inappropriately friendly with each other or who made unsavoury jokes with each other. She would like wives who were most loving to their husbands and would express her appreciation in this regard.’ Hadhrat Amman Jan(ra), is the best modern day example of a “Mo’minah” - a true believer, because her every act was aimed at winning the Pleasure of Allah Almighty. Performing good deeds was the principal occupation of her life, and as Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (Atba) highlighted in his Khilafat Centenary speech; “…faith and good deeds are an integral part of one another. Without faith, deeds are nothing and without good deeds, faith is incomplete” (The Review of Religions, May 2008: Vol.103, Issue 05, pg. 74.) Hazrat Amman Jan(ra) most clearly understood this. It is for this reason that it is imperative that the inspirational life of Hadhrat Amman Jan(ra), a life filled with worship and sacrifices, a life of great honour (as a prophet’s wife) and joy, becomes available to members of Lajna Immaillah Ghana. May Allah enable us to emulate her exemplary conduct. Especially for those women who are burdened with the difficult but most rewarding task - the moral training of our children, the next issue of “The Khadija” would be under this topic “The moral training of our children” Hadrat Amman Jan(ra) shared our responsibilities and concerns and demonstrated how to effectively raise a righteous progeny, primarily by her own excellent examples.
Comments