Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
It is the teaching of the Qur’aan Majeed and the Mubaarak Sunnah that one should always show love, respect and honour to his parents. He should serve them to the best of his ability and try to keep them comfortable at all times. If they ask him to do anything, then as long as it is not against the command of shari’ah and the teaching of the sunnah, he should obey them. Through respecting one’s parents and showing them honour, Allah Ta‘ala will bless one with barakah in his deen and dunya.
When we examine the life of Hazrat Moulana Qaasim Nanotwi (rahimahullah), we find that he possessed this quality of the sunnah in his life to a high degree.
Respect for His Father
It was the habit of Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) that whenever he returned from a journey, he would first go to the musjid and perform nafl salaah, as this was the sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Thereafter, he would go to his home.
Before returning to his home, he would meet the people of Nanota who would come to meet him in the musjid. Hazrat Nanotwi’s (rahimahullah) respected father, Shaikh Asad Ali, would also come to the musjid to meet him among the people.
His respected father would wait in the line to meet his son, however as soon as Hazrat Nanotwi’s (rahimahullah) eyes would fall on his respected father, he would immediately leave the people and come to meet his father. He would even kiss his hands out of humility and respect. (Sawaanih-e-Qaasimi 1/488)
Remaining with His Father to Serve Him at the End of His Life
Once, Hazrat Nanotwi’s (rahimahullah) respected father said to him, “Recently, you have been traveling out often. O my son! I feel like I am now in the last days of my life. From now on, don’t leave me and go anywhere.”
When Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) heard this, he replied, “Baawaajee (my beloved father), I will do whatever you tell me!” Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) understood that taking care of old, ailing parents is an obligation of shari’ah upon the children, and hence this will take preference over other good deeds. (Sawaanih-e-Qaasimi 1/488-489)
It is mentioned that Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) would massage his respected father’s feet twice daily; at nights before he slept, and at the time of siesta when his father would take a rest. All this he did in order to bring comfort to his father, honour him and make his heart happy. (Sawaanih-e-Qaasimi pg. 1/492)
Personally Attending to His Respected Father During His Final Illness
Towards the end of his life, the respected father of Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) suffered with heavy bouts of diarrhoea and needed to visit the toilet at short intervals. At that time, he had become very weak, and hence after relieving himself, he would clear his throat to indicate that someone should come to fetch him from the toilet. On hearing his sound, those Ulama present (who were students of Hazrat Nanotwi [rahimahullah]) would rush to make khidmat by coming to fetch him from the toilet.
In those days, there were no flush system toilets like we have today. People would use buckets in their homes. Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) would himself take the bucket and dispose of the sewerage. At times, the Ulama present would try to take the bucket before Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) could take it and dispose of it. In this way, Hazrat Moulana (rahimahullah) would make his father’s khidmat, and other Ulama would also try and assist.
When the respected father of Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) would see all the Ulama trying to assist his son in attending to him, he would say, “This is indeed the great favour of Allah Ta‘ala upon me! All this honour is only because of my son. Otherwise, where am I and where are these great Ulama?” (Sawaanih-e-Qaasimi pg. 1/491)
Taking Care of His Respected Mother During Her Illness
Shortly before Hazrat Nanotwi’s (rahimahullah) respected mother passed away, she fell ill and would experience bouts of diarrhoea which were so severe that she would soil three or four sets of clothing daily.
Allah Ta‘ala had blessed Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) with such a wife that she would happily wash the soiled clothing of her mother-in-law. However, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) would also insist on personally washing his mother’s clothing. Hence, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) and his wife came to an agreement where they would take turns to wash the clothing, as both wished to acquire the great reward of serving the ill parents. (Sawaanih-e-Qaasimi 1/502)
