Whole night she spent in reciting Kalima e Tayabah, Ayatul Kursi, Darood e Pak and verses of Holy Quran. La ailaha Illah hu Muhammadur Rasool Ullah which means “There is no god except Allah and Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is His messenger “, these were her last words before her pure soul departed to Almighty Allah. She might have joined with the five thousand martyred children of Ghaza in paradise. She was source of spiritual and moral guidance for people of Khotiala who called her, “Madr e Kothiala” (the mother of Kothiala) a village in Abbottabad. People also called her” Nargis Biji” the word Biji is used for highly respectable Syed ladies and the whole village respected and admired her. Not only Kothiala but many people from adjacent villages thronged there to farewell her in highly dignified and respectable manner. The whole atmosphere of the village was sad and there were thousands of people in her Namaz e Janaza (Funeral prayer).
Syeda Nargis Bibi was my maternal aunt and belonged to a highly respectable “Bukhari Syed” clan of Kothiala a village few kilometers away from Abbottabad. She was younger sister of my mother Syeda Gul Firdous Bibi who died in 2004. My father belonged to highly Kazmi Syed clan of Kothiala. Syeds of Abbottabad spread across Pakistan and they are contributing valuable services for Islam and Pakistan.
Syeda Nargis Bibi was married with a Syed man but unfortunately her husband died in an accident and she became widow at a very young age. She did not marry again. She has only one son and one step son. She used sewing machine and fed her children. She started teaching Holy Quran to the children of Kothiala and illuminated the hearts and minds of people with the light of Holy Quran. People seek her guidance on social, family, spiritual and religious matters. I had very special and sentimental attachment with her. Since my childhood, I often spent my summer vacation at Kothiala and stayed at her home. She used to sew clothes and I used to sit beside her. We exchanged our views. She always advised me to follow the seerah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). I helped her in a way that I took the responsibility of some of her students and taught them Holy Quran. She used to cook special bread of Makai (Maize flour), sometimes with butter and Saag (special spinach of the villages in Pakistan). She always taught me to be patriotic and respect our national flag, Pakistan Forces and our beloved country Pakistan. She was free of political and sectarian bias and always preached unity among Muslims. Due to some extremist elements intruded in Syeds spread hatred and poison but she always remained pure from all kinds of bias. She was pure in her character, soul and thoughts She spent spotless life since her youth and always cared of her dignity, honorand modesty. She always kept in her mind that she belonged to a very respectable Syed Family and remained out of rumors and scandals throughout her life. She possessed high morale character and received respect from each and every clan of Kothiala.
Thousands of condolence messages received on the third day of death of Syeda Nargis Bibi of Kothiala and maternal aunt of Dr. Syed Mehboob, Senior Research Editor the News Lark, Karachi, Director Research and Information Shuhada Foundation Pakistan, Former Director Research Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Syeda Nargis Bibi was rightly called, “Madre Kothiala “which means mother of Kothiala. People of Kothila village also called her” Nargis Biji” which is a special word used for highly respectable Syed women in Hazara division. Those who condole on her death among them were Mr. Jawed Malik, Chief Editor and CEO The News Lark, Karachi, Dr. Rashid Jamal, Ms. Shama Munshi Director News The News Lark, Consul General of Oman Engineer Sami Abdullah Alkhanjari, Consul General of Russia Mr. Dmitry Petrov, Consul of Russia Mr. Stansalav , Director Russian Cultural Centre Mr. Rostan , Consul General of Iran Mr. Hassan Nourain, Secretary General Karachi Council on Foreign Relations Commodore (R ) Saeed Ahmed, Consul General of Malaysia Mr. Harmain Hardynata, Consul General of China Mr. Yang Yundong, Coordinator of Pakistan Japan Literature Forum Dr. Ashfaq Khattak, renowned scholars Prof Naeem Qureshi, Prof Dr. Hameed ullah Bhutto, Prof. Dr. Saiaf ullah, Dr. Akhlaq Ahmed, Eng Saqib, Dr. Sana ullah Bhutto, Consul General of Indonesia Dr. John Konkoru, Vice Chancellor Baluchistan University Dr. Shafiq ur Rehman, Prof. Dr . Inam ur Rehman, Former Ambassador of Pakistan Syed Javaid Hassan, Consul General of Turkiye Cemal Sangu, Former President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce Mr. Zia ul Haq Sarhadi, Former Vice President FPCCI Mr. Waseem Vohra, President Shuhada Foundation Pakistan Mr. Shahid Zaidi, Mr. Syed Nabeel Zaidi secretary General Shuhada Foundation Pakistan, President Women wing Shuhada Foundation Mohtarma Umme Shaheer, Muhammad Naveed CEO Enobble Services, Senior Journalists Shakeel Zaki, Zufran, Shakeel Jaffery, CEO Johar Medical Centre Chaudry Waseem, President Pakistan China Friendship Forum ( PCYFF) Qirat Shehzad, Sr. Vice President Bryen Qalib, Vice President Sarim Khan, Gen.Sec Rafey Hamid, Coordinators Hiba and Zainab, Pakistan Oman Youth Friendship Forum (POYFF) President Sarim Khan, Sr Vice President Khawaja Junaid, Vice President Vanshika Shameel, Sec Gen Sikander , Coordinators Bryen Qalib and Farwa , Ulema Aman Committee Chairman Dr. Mufti Aqeel ur Rehman, Mohtamim Jamia Binoria Alamiya Mufti Nauman Naeem Shaib, Dr. Mufti Fakhr Din , Dr. Zubair Naseem, Abdullah Bin Bashir Hala, Dr. Pir Taj Jilani Central President Pakistan Journalism Council, Mr. Kalim Farooqui Pakistan Japan Business Forum, H.E Mahboobul Alam Consul General of Bangladesh, Prominent Naat Khwan Syed Maaz Ali Nizami, Sajjada Nasheen Dargah Yar Muhammad Shah Kothiala Syed Tanveer Hussain Kazmi, Mr. Magan Singh President Sikh Youth Council, Bishop of Pakistan Mr. Nazeer Alam and others expressed deep sorrow and sympathy with bereaved family. They said Mohtarma Nargis Bibi was source of spiritual guidance for people and spent whole life in spreading the love of Quran, Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), Ahl lul Bait, companion of Prophet Mumahhad (Peace be upon him). The life she spent in dignified and simplicity was a role model for young generation. They said she will always be remembered in the hearts and minds of people.
Note: I am highly thankful to those who expressed condolence over dearth of my maternal aunt and expressed deep sympathy to me.