The Mother of Doat Mutlaqeen
In the history of our dawaat, Maulatena Hurratul Maleka(RA) stands out prominently as the mother of all Doats because of her role in the establishment of the office of Dai-el-Mutlaq after the seclusion of Imam Tayeb (AS). As it is for all of celestial happenings, Maulatena Hurratul Maleka whose maiden name was Maulatena Arwa Binte Ahmad, was destined to protect the dawaat and as such she was groomed for it from childhood. Maulatena Hurratul Maleka was born in 440 Hijri, in Yemen during the reign of 18th Imam, Imam Mustansir (AS). Her uncle, Dai Ali ibn Sulehi, a Yemeni King ensured that his niece was tauhgt the entire deeni and ilmi heritage of Aale Mohammed (AS) as she was to lead the dawaat in later years. Step by step Maulatena Hurratul Maleka acquired the utmost in Aale Mohammed's ilm in both taveel and tanzeel.
She was a great writer and scholar and knew the histroy of the daawat by heart. From kitabs she would immediately and appropiately understand the message 'between the lines'. As a result of her scholastic abilities many scholars from near and far came to seek knowledge. She conducted sabaq for them from behind the curtains. She was also bestowed with a melodious voice and recited the Quran in a most inspiring lehen. Maulatena Hurratul Maleka was married to Maulana Ahmed Mukarram (RA), who was the Hujjat of Yemen in 458 Hijri and this was when she was bestowed the titel of Hurratul Maleka by Dai Ali bin Sulehi. After the demise of Dai Ali Sulehi, the onerous task of governing the kingdom fell on Maulana Ahmed Mukarram.
Maulana Ahmad had high regards for the abilites of his consort and used to welcome her advice. In the year 467 Hijri Maulana Ahmed Mukarram shifted the capital of Yemen from Sanaa to Zijibla based on a suggestion by Maulatena Hurratul Maleka. She felt that Zijibla, a beautiful city was more suitable for the administration of the dawaat and worldly matters as it was strategically located between upper and lower Yemen. They lived in Zijibla and built a palace know as 'Darul Izzah'. From her they spread the Fatemi Heritage of Ilm, culture and civilisation throughout the world. Zijibla remained the capital of Yemen for 65 years.
Maulatena Hurratul Maleka succeded the throne after her husbands demise. She was able and just and looked after the day to day administration of her kingdom firmly and strictly in accordance to the shariat of Aale Mohammed (AS). During her reign people lived in peace and amenity. She built numerous masjids, founded a madrasah, made donations and established a system of payment of allowant (wazeefah) to the teachers of madrasah which is still functioning today.
As Zijibla is located on a mountain slope, she made arrangements for water supply and she was also responsible for the construction of huge granaries on the mountainside. During her reign the road from Sanaa to Zijibla was constructed. She built a beautiful Jamea Masjid on the hilltop in the middle of Zijibla. This Masjid which still stands on its original site in the city of Zijibla has four entrances and its main gate is exactly opposite the mehrab. This is one of the main features of Fatema architecture which is also seen in the Jame Azhar and Jame Anwar in Qaherah.
Another distinctive feature of the Zijibla masjid is that there is a spring of water continuously flowing at the entrance of the masjid. so that the feet of all those who enter the masjid would naturally become namazee. (Aqa Maula has incorporated this feature in Al Jamea Masjid in Karachi.) Its mehrab is inscribed with the ayaat of Quraan in Kufi script while the wooden ceiling is inscribed with the adabas of the masjid which remains as it is till today after 900 years. The walls are also adorned by the names of Aimmat Fatemiyeen (SA) in Kufi script but the enemies of daawat over the years concealed the names. However, during a visit to Yemen by Aqa Maula, a miracle happened and the names wre revealed for all to see. This reflects the great shaan of Maulatena Hurratul Maleka. In the eastern corner of the Jamea Masjid in Zijibla is the qabr mubarak of Maulatena Hurratul Malekam which is surrounded by a Zarih mubarak inscribed with Quraan ayats in kufi script.
Maulatena Hurratul Maleka had left some space for her qabr mubarak and did not include it in the waqaf of the Masjid. But after her death the enemies of daawat made accusations that the qabr mubarak was within the masjid's 'had'. When they began digging her qabr, they found a dastaviz, a declaration of oath by all the learned scholars and jidges of the time, that showed clearly the waqaf 'had' of the masjid, this proving that her qabr was outside the masjid's 'had'. This is a great mojeza of Maulatena Hurratul Maleka which puzzled and ashamed the enemies.
She devoted her life in the khidmat of Maulana Imam Mustansir(AS) and three other Imams - Maulan Imam Mustaali(AS), (19th) Maulana Imam Aamir(AS) (20th) and Maulana Imam-ut-Tayeb(AS) (21st).
She was bestowed the auspicious rank of Hujjat-ul-Jazaair of Yemen, Hind and Sind by the Imam. This means that her word was to be considered as law by the people residing in these territories. She would receive letters and messengers from the Imam's Hazrat and she would always araz wajebaat to the Imams and in return she would receive Tashrifs from the Imam.
She was very devoted to the Imams and when she received an old handkerchief from Imam Aamir(AS) she understood that the Imam would soon be martyred. However, when the same was revealed to the learned scholars they failed to understand the message the Imam was trying to convery. One can understand how close Maulatena Hurratul Maleka was to the Imam although a great distance separated them. In 532 Hijri, by th hukum of the 20th Imam, Maulana-el-Aamir-be-Ahakamillah (AS), she established the seat of daawat in Yemen, Hind and Sind in the name of the 21st Imam, Maulana Taiyeb (AS). When Maulana Aamir decided that his successor Maulana Taiyeb should go into seclusion he directed Maulatena Hurratul Maleka to establish the institution of the vice-regent of the Imam on earth known as Dai-ul-Mutlaq to preserve and continue the Fatemi daawat. Maulatena Hurratul Maleka knew the whereabouts of the Imam and sent him precious jewels which he accepted. Aqa Maula says these jewels were the Doat Mutlaqeen.
The first Dai was Syedna Zoeb (RA), and the daawat is still flourishing as fresh as ever under the able guardianship of the 52nd incumbent, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Saheb (TUS).
In 1381 Hijri, some 35 years ago, when Aqa Maula first visited Yemen, during the reign of Syedna Taher Saifuddin Saheb (RA), Huzurala perfromed the ziarat of Maulatena Hurratul Maleka, and installed electricity and carpets in the masjid and zarih mubarak and also built the door for the zarih mubarak. However, the daawat's enemies defaced and damaged it.
The shaan of Maulatena Hurratul Maleka was again evident, when Aqa Maula rebuilt her zarih mubarak, this time a grander one and performed the iftitah in conjunction with Huzurala's 84th Milad mubarak with Fatema Shaanaat witnessed by thousands of moomineen from all over the world. Maulatena Hurratul Maleka lived up to ripe old age of 92 years. We pray that with Aqa Maula's wasila we may have the good fortune to do her ziyarat along with all the Doat Mutlaqeen in Yemen.