It took more than a century for her to fulfil the dream of a pilgrimage to Haj. Imambi Shaikh, 108, is all set to visit the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
It took more than a century for her to fulfil the dream of a pilgrimage to Haj. Now, Imambi Shaikh, 108, is all set to visit the holy cities of Mecca and Medina for the first time in her life.
After being granted special permission from the Haj Committee, Shaikh, who has 27 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren, will finally realise that dream.
Accompanied by her son Mohammed Yusuf, 62, Shaikh will board the Saudi Airline flight on Thursday night for her 45-day long pilgrimage.
“I want to breathe the last at the holy place,” the feeble lady told her family. Promptly acting upon her wish, they planned for the trip. The Haj Committee has made the requisite arrangements so that her visit is smooth.
Shaikh can barely speak, is bed-ridden and on a liquid diet, but makes it a point to offer namaaz whenever she can.
“She is a devout Muslim. It’s her faith that keeps her going,” said her grandson, Abdul Raheem. She now lives with Raheem and his wife in Andheri.
“She will perform all the rituals on a wheelchair. I’m glad her dream will be fulfilled,” added Raheem.
Born on January 1, 1899 in Ozar in Nasik, Shaikh came to Mumbai after her marriage when she was 15 and settled in a modest household in Lalbaug.
During Partition, politicians and neighbours coaxed her to relocate to Pakistan. “But she was clear that India was her home,” said Raheem.
Shaikh has had her share of ups and downs in life. Her eldest son Abdul was killed in the 1993 Mumbai riots and his business unit in Goregoan burnt by an angry mob.
“We lost everything. My father was the sole bread-winner of the family,” said Raheem. “But she stood like a rock and helped us tide over difficult times,” he added.
The riots affected Shaikh so much that even now she cringes at the sight of blood. Each time there is a bomb blast or a riot somewhere in the world, we switch off the television set.
“The memories of the ‘93 riots seem to rush back each time she sees or hears about riots. We don’t want it to affect her,” said another grandson, Rashid.
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