My Mother — Page 56
56 Mother suggested that his bed may be moved to the bigger court- yard where there might be a breeze. I asked Father and he agreed. I gave directions and asked him again, ‘Would you prefer to be there?’ Mother said, ‘He has passed on. ’ She recited, ‘There is no one worthy of worship save Allah, Muhammad is His Messenger. To Allah we belong and to Him shall we return. ’ She supplicated, ‘Allah, of Thy grace, receive his soul into Thy mercy, and accom- modate him under the standard of the Holy Prophet at the feet of the Promised Messiah, peace be on both of them. ’ While the last offices were being performed, I went a couple of times on tiptoe to the door of Mother’s room to see how she was bearing up under the shock of the heavy loss. She was seated among the women, calmly describing the course of his illness. When all was ready, the funeral service was performed and she joined in it, along with the women. When the coffin was about to be placed in the van, I escorted her to the coffin and she made her farewell: ‘I commit you to Allah. You kept me very happy and fulfilled even my least desire. My heart was ever pleased with you. I cannot recall any occasion when I felt any grievance against you, but if there was any such I forgive you for the sake of Allah. On my side there were many defaults for which I shall seek Allah’s forgiveness. May Allah receive you into His mercy. Convey my greetings to your father, and if possible let us know how you fare. ’ The last few words probably escaped her involuntarily and except for them, she accepted God’s will not only steadfastly but to all appearances cheerfully. She gave no vent to her grief at the ter mination of a faithful and loving companionship, extending over close upon half a century, which was an example for every