This article will give a brief insight into the blessed lives of the daughters of the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him", Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" and Hazrat Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them", the births of which were foretold to him, promising a progeny which will greatly help the message of Islam and Ahmadiyyat.
Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them"
Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" was born on 2 March 1897 fulfilling two prophecies revealed to the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" prior to her birth:
1) Just prior to her birth, the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him", writes that there was a miscalculation regarding the due date, and anxiety mounted, thus there was a growing concern of an undiagnosed health problem. The Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" prayed and was granted a revelation in Persian:
آید آں روزے کہ مستخلص شودThe day of deliverance is coming soon
It was conveyed a daughter would be born. (February 1 1897)
2) During the pregnancy, God Almighty revealed to the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" that:
تنشّأُ في الحليةShe will be brought up among ornaments
Meaning she would neither die young nor would she experience privation. (1897)
Education
Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" began reciting the Qur’an at a very early age thus the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" wrote in a poem in 1901 that:
اور ان کے ساتھ دی ہے ایک دخترہے کچھ کم پانچ کی وہ نیک اختر
And with them has been given one daughter
She is a little less than five, with good fortune
کلام اللّہ کو پڑھتی ہے فر فرخدا کا فضل اور رحمت سراسر
She recites fluently the Words of God
This is all God’s grace and mercy
ہوا اک خواب میں یہ مجھ پر اظہرکہ اس کو بھی ملے گا بختِ برتر
This was shown unto me in a dream
That she, too, will find an excellent fortune
Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" states that at the age of three and a half, Hazrat Pir Manzur Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" started teaching her and his daughter Hazrat Saliha Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" (wife of Hazrat Mir Muhammad Ishaq Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them"). He would have different letters written on wooden blocks such as ‘Alif ’, just like it is taught in English nurseries. Thus, she writes herself that ‘I had completed the Qur’an at the age of 4 and a half ’ She states:
He started teaching maths as well, but I was not that interested. He also taught some Persian and English books
Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Karim Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" also began teaching her, however, he had to stop once he became ill. Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" writes that his illness worried the family, and especially the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him". He was only able to teach her the translation of a few parts of the Qur’an before he passed away. Afterwards, she was sent to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Awwal raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" to learn the translation of the Holy Qur’an. She writes
He taught with great affection and would make sure I understand the translation of each word
There is an interesting incident regarding Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" learning Arabic. She writes
I asked my younger brother, Hazrat Mirza Sharif Ahmad Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" to teach me the Arabic language as I knew he was very good with it. He began teaching morphology and syntax to such an extent that I started reading Arabic fluently. When Hazrat Musleh Maud raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them", established a school for girls he enquired as to why I was not attending this school. He suggested that I come every day by car and return after Arabic lessons
Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" replied by explaining that:
Hazrat Mirza Sharif Ahmad Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" has been teaching me Arabic and still teaches me. Hazrat Musleh Maud raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" asked, “shall I take a test?” to which I replied “you can take a test”. He gave two Arabic books without any vowels and told me to read them. I not only read them, but I also translated them as I went along. He was extremely joyed and greatly praised Hazrat Mirza Sharif Ahmad Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" and said he had truly achieved excellence in the Arabic language
Marriage to Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" of Maleer Kotla
Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" was married to Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" of Maler Kotla. Her nikah was announced by Hazrat Khalifat-ul-Masih Awwal raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" on 17 February 1908 and the ‘rukhsatana’ took place on 14 March 1909. They were both blessed with two sons and three daughters. One of their daughters, Hazrat Sahibzadi Syedah Mansoorah Begum Sahiba, was married to Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih III rhabbreviation for "May Allah have mercy on him/her/them".
Tarbiyyat of her Children
Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba’s raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" daughter Hazrat Sahibzadi Syedah Mahmooda Begum Sahiba (wife of Sahibzada Dr Mirza Munawar Ahmad Sahib) writes:
Ummi Jaan would call me before going to sleep. She would narrate to me religious stories. (My father was a big part of this as well). Then I clearly remember going to them early in the morning and sitting in the quilt. I had been taught by them both to say “Assalamo Alaikum” to them in the morning. Then she would repeat the religious stories of the night before and tell me about the Holy Prophet saabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" and other prophets as well. She would then relate incidents from the time of the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" according to my understanding at the time. When namaz became an obligation, she would keep a keen eye on whether we are reciting the Qur’an every morning, but she never struck us in regards to these matters, only reprimanded us
Her youngest daughter, Hazrat Sahibzadi Asifa Begum Sahiba, states that ‘Ummi Jaan’ used to advise us that we should never eavesdrop, neither on our parents, nor our siblings, nor anyone else. Never read someone else’s letter without their permission.’ She also advised Sahibzadi Asifa Begum Sahiba that ‘your sisters would observe tahajjud at this age (around 15-16), you are not attentive when it comes to waking up for fajr even though I wake you up after observing prayers. This is the age to ask God for something. Afterwards responsibilities increase, children are born, and then a person does not have enough strength in them.
A Fond Memory narrated by Sahibzadi Amatul Mateen Sahiba:
Sahibzadi Amatul Mateen Sahiba (Daughter of Hazrat Musleh Maud raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them") states, that
I clearly remember Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" from my childhood, sometimes at my maternal grandfathers house and sometime at Hazrat Umm-e-Mateen Sahiba’s raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" house, sometimes when we used to go to Dar-us-Salam. In Ratan Baagh she used to call me over and give me a book or periodical to read aloud. She used to teach me by reading herself and telling me to read like that.
Services rendered to Islam and Ahmadiyyat by Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them"
Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" was in the original 14 members of Lajna Imailah. Her services to Lajna Imailah are recorded in history:
- She presided over many Lajna Jalsa’s.
- She presided over many annual Jalsa Seerat-un-Nabi saabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" and Jalsa Musleh Maud raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them".
- She was one of the 48 who milled the cotton for Liwa-e-Ahmadiyyat.
- She accompanied Hazrat Musleh Maud raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" during his historic trip to places such as Karachi, Sindh and Bombay. Speeches regarding this journey are known as Sair-e-Ruhani and were given from 1938 to 1958.
- She stayed with Hazrat Musleh Maud raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" in Quetta in 1948 when he spent Ramadan there. She used to preside over Lajna Jalsa’s in Quetta during her stay.
These are only a handful of examples of services rendered to Islam and Ahmadiyyat by Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them".
Financial Sacrifice
Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" used to regularly take part in obligatory Chanda however she used to partake in other schemes launched by the Khulafa. For example, she gave 1000 rupees for the construction of the Khadija Mosque in Berlin. She took part in the appeal for funds to be raised for the TI College.
In regards to burial in Bahishti Maqbara, Hazrat Masih Maud asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" states in his book ‘Al-Wasiyyat’ that in regards to my wife and children God Almighty has made an exemption i.e. they will be buried there even without giving wasiyyat. Hazrat Nawab Abdullah Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" writes,
My mother Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba also used to give 1/10 chanda (even though she was exempt from Nizam Wasiyyat)
A God-Given Title
God Almighty revealed many titles for Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" to the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him". God revealed to the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" “Nawab Mubaraka Begum”. One aspect of this revelation foretold that she would be married into the Nawab family. Hazrat Sayyedah Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" states regarding her ‘Nawabi’ title:
God has given me this name, if God wills it will have many blessed meanings
Demise
In 1975 Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" began to fall ill after a pain in her back which had an effect on her legs as well. On 22 May 1977, her health deteriorated. Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad III rhabbreviation for "May Allah have mercy on him/her/them" and other family members stayed close by. Around midnight between 22nd and 23rd May, Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih III rhabbreviation for "May Allah have mercy on him/her/them" sat with her, while the Qur’an was being read to her, and after a few moments she passed away. (انا لله و انا اليه راجعون)
Hazrat Nawab Amtul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them"
Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" was born on 25 January 1904. She had been named ‘Dukhte Kiraam’ by God Almighty which means the ‘Daughter of Noble Ancestors’.
Childhood
Firstly, let us take a look at the wisdom behind the name ‘Amatul Hafeez’. As it is known from Jama’at history, many children of the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" and Hazrat Amma Jaan raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" passed away at a very tender age. Just prior to the birth of Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them", Sahibzadi Amatul Naseer Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" had just passed away. The Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" named his daughter Amatul Hafeez in which there was a hidden prophecy that God Almighty will keep her in His protection after the death of the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him". Her whole life was testimony to this promise.
Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" resembled the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" a great deal in terms of her appearance. It is said that she was very intelligent and used to converse a lot when she was very young. Regarding this the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" states,
That it is written about Jesus that he began to talk when he was in his cradle. This does not mean that he was born with the ability to talk or began talking a few months after birth. This means when he was 4 years old…our daughter Amatul Hafeez also converses a lot
(Al Hakam Volume 11, 31st March 1907)
Hazrat Amma Jaan raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" realised that Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" is young and she might not reach adulthood during the life of the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him". Keeping this thought in mind she got a ‘Dawanni’(2 anna coin) and got him to pray on it and kept it safe. Still to this day the coin is with the progeny of Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them".
Hazrat Musleh Maud raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them", wrote a nazm on the occasion of her Ameen. This is written in Kalam-e-Mahmood. Hazrat Musleh Maud raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" had organised the Ameen ceremony, who, after the death of the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him", had become a father figure to her. Food was also served to the people of Qadian. Hazrat Mir Nasir Nawab Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" was among the elders present. The following are some couplets of the poem written by Hazrat Musleh Maud raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" on this occasion:
حفیظہ جو مری چھوٹی بہن ہےنہ اب تک وہ ہویٔ تھی اس میں رنگیں
ہویٔ جب ہفت سالہ تو خدا نے
یہ پہنایا اسے بھی تاجِ زرّیں
کلام اللّہ سب اس کو پڑھایا
بنایا گلشنِ قرآں کا گل چِیں
Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba’s raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" love of gaining knowledge
Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" completed the Qur’an at the age of 7. After that, she gained admission to the school. The acquisition of knowledge was instilled in her from infancy. Since the moment she opened her eyes she saw the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" read and write, and Hazrat Amma Jaan raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" used to be interested in reading as well and she often used to read books or get them read out. Due to her wedding taking place at an early age, she had not completed her education by then. By that time she had only learnt Urdu and some Arabic but due to her interest in increasing knowledge she continued her education after marriage and completed her Metric, F.A. in English and Adeeb-e-Faazil degree which is equivalent to a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts)
She had such an interest in reading that every two or three days she would get a book brought to her from the library to read. She had read a lot of Urdu and English literature books.
Marriage to Hazrat Nawab Abdullah Khan Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them"
Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" had married the eldest daughter of the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" and he wished that his children also marry into his family. Thus just before the death of the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him", he suggested a rishta happening between his son Hazrat Nawab Abdullah Khan Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" and Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them". Hearing this, the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" stated ‘you mention your youngest son and recently Mahmood’s mother (Hazrat Amma Jaan raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them") has seen Hazrat Nawab Abdullah Khan raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" in her dream’. Thus the engagement took place in the time of Hazrat Musleh Maud raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" and the rukhsati took place when she was 13 years old.
Hazrat Nawab Abdullah Khan Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" used to show a lot of respect along with affection for his wife and due to her being the daughter of the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him", he held her in the highest respect. Once he was with his daughters and wife, trekking on the Dalhousie Mountain. During the journey, the shoelace of Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" became untied. Hazrat Nawab Abdullah Khan Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" knelt down and tied her laces back and then said to his daughters ‘Do not hold such an expectation from your husbands. I show this respect as I know my wife to be the daughter of the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him".’
Way of Tarbiyyat of Her Children
On one occasion Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba’s raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" granddaughter wrote a letter to her and asked for something. She completed the request however for her tarbiyyat she explained to her that you should not ask for stuff from people. Mention all your needs to your Lord, He is the one who completes them. Her way of tarbiyyat was very beautiful. Just like the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him", she was never strict with her children. She was never in favour of giving money out to her children without reason. She knew that this would instil the habit of spending carelessly.
One example of her way of tarbiyyat of her children is in regards to birthdays. Normally when it comes to birthdays, mothers give many gifts to their children. However, Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" never did this. Instead on this day, she would give them some wise piece of advice. Once she was at her farmland in Sindh. It was the occasion of the 14th birthday of one of her daughters. She wrote a very beautiful letter by hand. In this letter, she wrote many valuable pieces of advice. This letter is still preserved to this day.
Immense Love for Khilafat
Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" had a lot of affection and respect for Khilafat. Hazrat Khalifa-tul-Masih III rhabbreviation for "May Allah have mercy on him/her/them" was her nephew and younger than her. After he was elected as Khalifa she used to call him ‘Mian Nasir’. She also had a lot of affection for Hazrat Khalifa-tul-Masih IV rhabbreviation for "May Allah have mercy on him/her/them"’.
When Hazrat Khalifa-tul-Masih IV rhabbreviation for "May Allah have mercy on him/her/them"’ was elected and the ring of the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" was given to him he announced he will have it put on by the youngest daughter of the Promised Messiah asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him". Thus Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" put the ring on his finger in Qasr-e-Khilafat.
When she passed away, Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV rhabbreviation for "May Allah have mercy on him/her/them" said in a khutba that he had a lot of affection for her and used to see her as a mother.
She was extremely sad when the migration of Hazrat Khalifa-tul-Masih IV rhabbreviation for "May Allah have mercy on him/her/them" took place. Whenever someone would go to London she would tell them to tell Hazrat Khalifa-tul-Masih IV rhabbreviation for "May Allah have mercy on him/her/them"’ that he should lead her funeral in presence and not in absentia. However, this was not meant to be as God had willed something else.
Staying Organised at All Times
Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" used to run her house very smoothly. She used to dislike wasting money. She used to write down all her expenditure in her copy. If she got anyone to bring her something she would pay them immediately.
Children of the Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" and Hazrat Nawab Abdullah Khan Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them"
God Almighty blessed Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" and Hazrat Nawab Abdullah Khan Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" with 9 children. 3 sons and 6 daughters.
God Almighty also blessed them with 35 grandchildren. Sahibzada Mirza Ghulam Qadir Sahib Shaheed (First and only martyr of the Promised Messiah’s asabbreviation for "Peace be upon him" family) is also a grandchild of hers.
Love of her Siblings
Due to the fact that Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" was the youngest of her siblings, they all used to show a lot of affection to her. Hazrat Musleh Maud raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" used to take care of her like a father would and also organised her wedding.
She had a very close friendship with her brother Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them". She often used to learn English with him. He would teach her hard words using very helpful examples.
Demise
Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" passed away on 6 May 1987 in Rabwah, Pakistan.
On the occasion of the Friday Sermon on 8th May 1987, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV rhabbreviation for "May Allah have mercy on him/her/them" stated that Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba raabbreviation for "May Allah be pleased with him/her/them" was a very blessed person for the Jama’at who had a lot of love and affection for everyone.
