Humility and courtesy are acts of piety.
This story is about our Phupa, husband of the younger sister of our father. In fact he was Anwer's and late Afsar's father. Everyone used to call him as Hajjat and he will be referred to as such in the story.
He had many good qualities one which was most prominent was he was like a Darwesh. The explanation of a Darwesh is that no worldly things attracted such persons not even tempted them. Most of his life he lived in a town called Gudiyatham which happened to be between Bangarapet and Madras, a little out of reach for us. He was poor and his job was in a mosque as Imam and as a support he had a firewood shop which did not fetch him much. Since he qualified for zakat our father and the two brothers paid a portion of zakat annually.
He raised six children, 3 daughters and three sons. Hajjat never asked for help from anyone although our Phupoo used to claim something whenever she happened to be around. I told you Hajjat was a Darwesh and a religious scholar. He had a long white beard and his face at once commanded respect.
One of his great acts was as follows:
Some rich persons approached him and considering his literary capabilities asked him to take care of a Madrasa for children. He accepted on one condition that a few more Madrasas should be organized in localities where there were predominantly illiterate Muslims and their children were brats or good for nothing type. It was agreed.
Hajjat's idea was not only to conduct Deeni classes for the children in the Madrasa but also to catch such elderly persons who knew very little of religion Islam.
He did not preach them but he practiced some of the habits which they could copy. For instance whenever he saw an elderly Muslim he greeted him in the Islamic way (he said ASSALAM U ALAIKUM). When someone helped him he said Thank you very much. When anyone greeted him he replied in the Islamic way WALAIKUM ASSALAAM.
When he happened to eat with some of them he followed the Islamic principles and he made sure they observed him. The most important aspect which he taught them in his own way was the behavior. In other words he conveyed through his actions how to behave with different persons, elders, youngsters or scholars. This continued for quite some time until he was satisfied that they learnt not only manners, but also how to pray correctly. Like this he kept moving to different Mohallas and brought many into his fold. He became the most respected person among those who did not even care to recognize him previously.
He was not practicing Tableegh as it was not even known in those days. He did these as he thought it was his duty to do so. He was a very learned person and he must have read about some good people surely. Doctor Sab knows many vazeefay which he learnt from Hajjat.
The above is one part of the story about Hajjat.
The other part of the story is a bit depressing. I have told you that he was poor and he did not possess enough wealth to offer for the marriage of his three daughters. This situation resulted in a long wait and finally they were married in their advanced ages. Two of the elder sisters were married to two brothers who lived in Mysore city. The third daughter was married and shifted to a town Krishnagiri in Madras State. All marriages took place in our house in Bangarapet and my mother took care of all responsibilities as if they were her own. None of them are alive today.
Hajjat's eldest son had finished his high school and was looking around for a job. He was one of the nicest persons I have come across. Like his father you might say. Unfortunately he fell ill and died at his young age.
Hajjat and his family moved to Bangarapet where they had their own small house. Hajjat also expired after prolonged illness.
Anwer is the sole survivor of Hajjat's family. If there were enough persons like Hajjat the world would be easier to live in. May God bless his soul. Ameen.