"My nose has not been cut off"

Sheikhul Hadeeth رحمة الله عليه describes the reaction of his community to the simple, hassle-free nikah of his two daughters.

The nikah was performed but thereafter I had to bear the brunt of all the attacks. People did not know the boys and an announcement had been made that it was my daughters getting married. The two bridegrooms were both handsome young men, still without beards with the Madani turbans around their heads, which I myself had put on for them, while going to the mosque. Here are some of the taunts I received:

a. "What kind of people are those Molvies. They see two handsome young boys and give their daighters away to them."

b. "Two young men from among the rich ones of Bombay arrived at the jalsa. Seeing two rich ones, they gave their daughters away."

c. "They must have known them from before because they would not just see two boys walking along and then give their daughters away to them. These Molvies are no good."

d. One of the pious wealthy men from our mohalla went home and very happily told his wife about the marriage of my daughters. The wife became quite angry (may Allah pardon them both). She said, "The poor mice are jumping all over their house because they cannot find anything to eat. Everyday they send people to our door to beg and borrow. If they did not marry them off, then what else would they have done? You tell me: Allah had given you great riches and lots of wealth. Allah forbid that I have to let my daughters get married like paupers."

Thereafter because this nikah was against the custom of our people and because in the history of Kandhla it had never been performed like this ever, there was a lot of talk this way and that. One person's reaction reached me as having said, "Zakariya has cut his own nose and thereby he has brought dishonour to all of us. Is this the way to have a nikah performed?"

I replied, "I have not been dishonoured. My nose has not been cut off."

I told the messenger, "Even you can feel with your hand that my nose is still in place, so you may go and tell them what you have seen. No, my nose has not been cut off and no one else has been dishonoured."

Shukoor, Shukoor Shukoor...!

When Allah's Servant becomes ungrateful, Shaytaan's job is done. We often undermine the importance of gratitude in Islam, thus play directly into the hands of our enemy. Know well, that no matter how bad a situation we are faced with, our lives are never void of Allah's blessings. This is a point which Sheikhul Hadeeth (rahmatullahi 'alayh) and those around him not only knew very well, but acted on sincerely. Sheikhul Hadeeth's (rahmatullahi 'alayh) etiquette in dealing with death is indeed an example to be followed.

The other daughter, Shakira died on Monday 14th of Rajab 1369 Hijri (1st May 1950). She also suffered from chronic fever after much sorrow. But Allah gave her such ability to suffer with patience that not once did she ever tell any sister of her sorrow and heartsore. At all times did she praise and thank Allah. She was worth her name - Shakira .

During the misfortune that befell her and led to her demise, she started to teach children to recite the Quran and remained busy with it throughout the day . Even while she was sick, she used to lie down and teach the children with great care.

It was a mere coincedence that Maulana Yusuf [her husband, and son of Maulana Ilyas] came to Saharanpur and I went with him to the house. She requested that Surah Yaseen be recited. Maulana Yusuf recited. When he reached the verse:

"peace, a word from the Merciful Lord....."

it seemed as if ecstatic emotion overtook Maulana Yusuf . He repeated the verse three times and as he recited it the third time, my daughter's soul left her body.

I did not not give much importance to the death of this daughter of mine. She was still very young, and she was not really known very well. But I was greatly suprised when within two weeks over two hundred postcards reached me. Although the words were different, the theme and topic was one :

"We have come to know of the death of your daughter from so and so . My heart is very restless to be there with you. But because of knowing your wishes on such occasions, instead of spending so much on trainfare to come there for two days, we have managed to recite so much tilawat. We write this letter to inform you of our having made sadqa and eesaale sawaab on her behalf."

How great is Allah's favour! I was so pleased with the actions of these consolers that the great sorrow at the loss of my child was greatly lessened.