Azadar Begum Saleha Naqvi of Kanpur

Maulana Shameeul Hasan Addressing Majlis-E-Aza in Kanpur

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Majlis-E-Chehlum of social activist and co-founder of Anjuman Kaneezan-E-Syeda Begum Saleha Naqvi in Kanpur yesterday once again proved Hussaini Ideology as a perfect solution to problems confronting the 21^st century world. Hundreds of people from various parts of the Uttar Pradesh and professing different faiths converged at Mehdi Hall to attend her Chehlum ceremony. They also listened to the sermon of internationally acclaimed Islamic scholar and Principal of Jawadiya Arabic College, Varanasi Maulana Shameemul Hasan Sahib with rapt attention. Finding Hindus, Sunnis, Christians, Parsis, Sikhs and Imamis constituting the audience, Maulana also delivered his sermon on the topic “Islam and Parents”. He said” Islam does not believe in Mothers day or Fathers Day. Rather, it expects a Muslim to respect and appreciate his or her parents on a daily basis. Allah mentions that human beings must recognize their parents and that this is second only to the recognition of Allah Himself. The recognition and respect of parents is mentioned in the Quran eleven times; in every instance, Allah reminds believers to recognize and to appreciate the love and care that they have received from their parents.  The demand for recognizing parents is made more emphatic when Allah Says “And recall when we took the covenant from the Children of Israel, enjoining upon them, 'Do not worship except Allah; and to parents, do good…'" [Quran 2:83].

In An-Nisaa', Allah mentions that children should be kind to their parents and says it means “Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good..." [Quran 4:36]. Similarly, in Al-An'aam, Allah reemphasizes that people should be kind to their parents. After highlighting the Quranic texts demanding respect of parents, Maulana said “Although Islam recognizes both parents, mothers are given particular gratitude and respect. Mother deserves more as she   suffers the hardships and feeds her child with her ‘Khoon-E-Jigar’(Blood).” He recalled the hardships suffered by Bibi Fatima Zahra in her life and said “she is a perfect role model for women of all time. She played her role effectively as a daughter, wife and mother in most trying circumstances. At the time of her mother's death she was only five years. But she was a great help to her father She comforted him when the whole world was against him. She helped him clean himself for the dirt the enemies of Islam had thrown on him when these enemies hurt him and blood was flowing from his wounds, she would dress these wounds. The care and comfort given by nine year old Bibi Fatima prompted her father to call her "Umm Abiha" or the "Mother of your Father."

He added “in her short life, she had four children: Imam Hasan, Imam Husain, Hazrat Zainab and Umme-Kulsum. Her fifth child, Mohsin, died at the time of birth, just a few days before she passed away from this world. But in those few years she gave her children the best upbringing that made them all be the best people in the world. Besides teaching them how to spend their entire lives in the way of Allah, she also taught them to develop an excellent character. She was an excellent wife to Imam Ali. Imam himself is reported to have said, "By Allah. I never made Fatima angry or forced her to do something she did not like 10 do up to the day she died. Nor did she ever make me angry or disobeyed me. In fact, when I looked at her, worries and sadness would get out of me."
Maulana said “Islam teaches respect for one's parents is second only to that of prayer and is greater than that of Jihad). If everyone starts respecting parents, most of the problems of the world will cease to exist.” He urged the people to respect parents while they are alive and honor their parents after their death by praying for them daily, giving charity on their behalf, establishing prayer halls, schools, libraries, hospital and orphanage in their memory, Performing Hajj on their behalf or asking  someone to do so. Before summing up, he also recalled the troubles faced by Bibi Fatima after the death of her father Prophet Muhammad. Maulana also touched the hearts of listeners by describing the great sacrifice of Hazrat Fatima’s son Imam Hussain at Karbala to save Islam.  

Shameemul Millat also expressed satisfaction over participation of non-Muslims in large number at majlis-E-Aza. He said” only name of Imam Hussain can reduce sectarianism as his band of small followers comprised of people from different faiths and all walks of life. He regretted that before the advent of fanaticism, Majlis-e-Hussain was attended by all. The trend is diminishing but it should not be allowed to happen. Imam Hussain is martyr of humanity not of Muslims alone. He fought for all and deserves to be revered by all”. Prominent among those who attended majlis included  U.P.Cabinet Minister, Ram Asrey Kushwaha,Legislator Salil Vishnoi,Ex-City samajvadi Party Chief, Naseeruddin, Kanpur BJp President,Surendra Maithani, Prominent Chartered Accountant,Kamal Gupta,National Secretary Congress, Abdul Mannan,All India Sunni Jamiat Ulema General Secretary, Haji Mohammad Salis, Industrialist Balram Narula, Educationist Dr.Alakshendra Swarup,Surgeon Dr.Ghiasuddin, Psychiatrist Dr.Kalim Ahmad Khan, Dr.Kabir Ahmad,Dr.Mubarak, Maulana ali Abbas, Maulana Saeed, Maulana Jawed, President Hussaini Federation, Israr Hussain Zaidi and hosts of other dignitaries and journalists.

Begum Saleha was a popular social activist of Kanpur. She was also wife of Former President of Kanpur Press Club, Saeedul Hasan Naqvi. After a brief illness, she had breathed her last on January 28 last and buried near the grave of her husband at Nawabganj ,Karbala. She was born to affluent family of a wealthy merchant Imdad Hussain in Benaras. Her Chehlum attracted people from all religions in view of her tendency to help all. She never differentiated on the basis of caste, color and economic status. Begum was known as Jagat Bhabhi throughout Kanpur. Besides social service, she used to devote her maximum time to propagation of Hussaini Mission among women.