My Unsung Hero: Abedi Banu Begum (Bi Amma)

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Abedi Banu Begum, also known as Bi Amma, was one of the first Muslim women to take an active role in politics in modern India. She educated and supported her sons, including Maulana Shaukat Ali and Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar, in their activism against British rule.

Abedi Banu Begum, commonly known as 'Bi Aroma', was born in 1850 in Uttar Pradesh. She played an extraordinary role in the Indian independence movement as the first Muslim woman to actively participate in politics. She supported her sons' education and activism against British rule.

She educated her sons at Aligarh and Oxford by pawning her own jewelry to pay for their education. During their imprisonment, she continued to rally support for the Khilafat Movement through her speeches across India.

BY ALI ZERGHAM

FA14-BSE-117

MY UNSUNG HERO
Abedi Banu Begum [Bi Amma]

MY UNSUNG HERO
BI

Introduction about Abadi Banu Begum:


Abedi Banu Begum, commonly known as 'Bi Aroma', was born circa 1850 in a famous
family of U. P. She came to occupy a extraordinary place in the history of Freedom
Movement of the Indo-Pakistan sub- continent for being the first Muslim woman of the
modern times to take active part in politics.
She was married to Abdul Ali Khan who was a senior official of Rampur State. She had
one daughter and five sons including Maulana Shaukat Ali and Maulana Muhammad Ali
Jauhar.
She became a widow at the age of thirty .Although she did not have any formal
education yet, she was deeply persuaded of the advantages of acquiring modem
education for the Muslims of the Indo-Pakistan sub- continent She educated her sons at
Aligarh and Oxford; for that she pawned her jewellery to pay for her sons education.
During the sessions of the All India Muslim League in 1917, she delivered the most
stirring and dynamic speech which left a lasting effect on the Muslim Ummah. While her
sons were still in Jail this bold and respected mother kept alive the fervor for the Khilafat
Movement. She toured the country, addressed large gatherings of people, which flocked
to hear her and exhorted them to follow the footsteps of her great sons in their struggle

for the unity and community of the Muslim Ummah. She changed her famous sons in
popularity and leadership I and the famous Urdu couplet:
Boli Amma Mohammad Ali Ki
Jaan Beta Khilafat Pay De Do"
became household words and were sung in every nook and comer of the Sub-continent
by all sections of people regardless of caste, creed or sect..

Her Role for the Independence:


Abedi Banu Begum was the native of Rampur,
Utter Pradesh, born in 1852, of a generation that inherited 1,000 years of Muslim ruling
within Indian Subcontinent, interrupted by the British Occupation which began in 1757.
In 1857 when Muslims protested against the unlawful rule of the British, she was just
five years old. Because of that she could not be properly educated in school and
college, but was highly cultured in Islam with innocent manners, which is the best of all
knowledge. She cherished great love for Allah and His Messenger [PBUH]. She was
ever ready to sacrifice her life and all for the cause of Islam. She adhered to Islam. She
was deferential towards her elders and 'simple living and high thinking' was her motto in
life. She was married to Abdul Ali Khan who was a senior official of Rampur State. She
had one daughter and four sons including Maulana Shaukat Ali and Maulana
Muhammad Ali Jauhar. 'Bi-Amma' had four sons, Nawazish Ali, Zulfiqar Ali, Shaukat Ali
and Muhammad Ali. Of these, Nawazish Ali died in infancy. The other three grew up in
age. In their early childhood their father died thus she became a widow at the age of
thirty. The responsibility of bringing up and educating these children fell on 'Bi-Amma'
alone. She educated them superbly.

When her eldest son, Nawazish Ali, died, people came to give her sympathies over the
sad death of her son. They found her bearing the heartbreak with model strength. She
said to them:

"We should all submit to the Will of Allah. Allah hath power over all things.
Whatever He has entrusted to us, He has power to take it back when He pleases.
Our life and death are indeed in His hands."

When 'Bi-Amma' went for Hajj, she caught hold of the 'Ghilaf' (cover) of the Kaaba, and
made the following dua:
O Allah! By Thy Grace my children have now grown upon. I beseech Thee to
make them true Muslims.
Although she did not have any formal education, she was deeply convinced of the
advantages of acquiring modem education for the Muslims of the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent she educated her sons at Aligarh and Oxford; for that she pawned her jeweler
to pay for her son's education. Of the three living sons, two earned great fame. The
youngest son, Muhammad Ali, acquired excellent qualities of head and heart. He was
extremely daring and no one could hold him in awe. The whole world recognized the
superiority of his activities. While on the subject, consider one interesting and model
dialogue: One gentleman praised Maulana Muhammad Ali in the presence of his mother
and said:
"It is your untiring effort and tender care that has shaped him (Maulana
Muhammad Ali) to such towering eminence and capability."
Bi-Amma replied,
"You are wrong. The fact is, all this is the result of the Grace of Allah on us. Allah
endows with honour whom He pleases and brings low whom He pleases."

Under the British Occupation, some Muslims became seduced by the Westernized way
of life. To these people 'Bi-Amma' warned:
"Countrymen! Give up the way of life of these foreigners. Stick to the traditional
way of life of your ancestors. Serve not these foreigners, nor accept honors from
them because these people are very crafty and fraudulent."

During the sessions of the All India


Muslim League in 1917, at the age of 62, she delivered the most touching and forceful
speech which left a lasting effect on the Muslims. By Allah's Grace, following her noble
example, Maulana Shaukat Ali (ra) and Maulana Muhammad Ali (ra) became such true
Muslims that they submitted to none, save Allah. It was Allah alone that they feared.

Both the brothers fought against the British throughout their lives and worked to prevent
the British from destroying the Khilafah. When Englishmen used to arrest and imprison
them, 'Bi-Amma' used to be overwhelmed with excitement. She used to go to the jail
and tell her sons:
"My sons! Hold fast to Islam with all your might. Never mind even if your life is
sacrificed in the cause of Islam."
While her sons were still in jail this bold and respected mother kept alive the fervor for
the Khilafat Movement. She visited the country, spoke large gatherings of people, which
gathered to hear her and urged them to follow the footsteps of her great sons in their
struggle for the unity and community of the Muslim Ummah. She replaced her
memorable sons in admiration and leadership and the famous Urdu verse:
"Boli Amma Muhammad Ali Ki, Jaan Baita Khilafat Pay De Do"
("The mother of Muhammad Ali said, give your life for Khilafah my son") became
household words and were sung in every nook and corner of the Sub-continent by all
sections of people irrespective of caste or creed.
After the elimination of the Khilafah in March 1924, Bi Amma, did not survive for long
and died on November 13, 1924. Her death was a great loss to the Ummah, but Muslim
women who had come out to work with Bi Amma were to become a political force to
calculate with. After the end of the Khilafat Movement Bi Amma, however, did not
survive for long and died on November 13, 1924. Her death was a great loss to the
Muslim Nation, but Muslim women who had come out to work with Bi Amma were to
become a political force to estimate with and their activities were a necessary overture
to their active influence in the imminent hysterical political struggle of the Indo-Pakistan
sub- continent. Their activities were a necessary prelude to their active participation in
the struggle to establish Pakistan in the name of Islam. It is their legacy which has
spawned a generation of good women today, who nurture their children upon Islam from
their lap, propelling the Muslims of today to demand Shariah as the law of Pakistan and
call openly and widely for the return of the Khilafah.
This was 'Bi-Amma', the mother of the two illustrious sons of India, Maulana Shaukat Ali
and Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar. May Allah shower His excellent bounties on all
three of them!
Ameen!

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