THE POWER OF FAITH
Sheikh Hameeduddin Abu Hakim Quraishi (570–737 AH) was born into a family that ruled over the regions of Kech and Makran. After the death of his father, Sultan Bahauddin, he ascended the throne and ruled with grandeur for 21 years.
According to Zikr-e-Karam, a minor incident in his life completely changed its course—transforming him from a sultan into a spiritual guide.
During his reign, Sheikh Hameeduddin would often rest at midday in one of his gardens. A palace stood within the garden, and a Muslim maid named Noonit was responsible for its upkeep. Her duty was to prepare the bed every day before the Sheikh arrived for his rest.
It is said that one day, before the Sheikh arrived, Noonit laid out the bed as usual. Finding it particularly comfortable, she decided to lie down for a moment—and accidentally fell asleep. When Sheikh Hameeduddin arrived and found the maid asleep on his bed, he became furious. He immediately ordered that she be punished with a hundred lashes for her perceived disrespect.
The punishment was carried out at once. But this was no ordinary maid—she was a woman of deep faith and conviction. To Sheikh Hameeduddin’s surprise, rather than scream or plead, she laughed at every lash. Shocked, he stopped the punishment and asked her why she was laughing.
With calm dignity, the maid replied: “I thought to myself—if sleeping unintentionally on a soft bed brings such punishment, what will be the fate of those who sleep on such comfort every day and by choice?”
Her words struck the Sheikh with such force that his entire outlook changed. He renounced his royal position and chose the path of spiritual devotion. Leaving behind worldly luxury, he travelled to Lahore and entered the service of his maternal grandfather, Sayyid Ahmad Tokhta. There, he pledged allegiance to the Shattari Sufi order. After a period of spiritual training, he was granted spiritual succession.
Sheikh Hameeduddin lived to the age of 167. He spent his final years in the region between Uch and Sukkur, dedicating himself to guiding people toward God. (Tazkira Sufiya Punjab, by Ijazul Haq Quddusi, pp. 240-242)
This incident reveals a timeless truth: when a woman is rooted in faith and submission to God, her strength can surpass that of kings. Even as a servant, her words can shake a ruler’s conscience. Islamic history is filled with such women whose words, born from deep conviction, changed the course of lives—and even empires.
In the final era of the Abbasid Caliphate, the Mongols devastated the Muslim world. One historian wrote that no event in Islamic history compares to the horror and destruction of the Mongol invasion. Like a boulder crashing down from a mountain onto a village, the Mongol armies swept through the cultural and spiritual centers of Islam, leaving behind deserts and ruins.
And yet, this tragedy reversed itself in a remarkable way. The same Mongols who had once destroyed Islamic civilization eventually became its defenders. Women of faith played a pivotal role in this transformation. After the conquest, the Mongols killed Muslim men and enslaved the women. These women, brought into Mongol households, often lived in quiet accordance with Islamic values—sometimes even without conscious intent. Their character and way of life deeply impressed their captors. Over time, this subtle influence led many Mongols to embrace Islam. (The Preaching of Islam, pp. 226–234)
The first Mongol ruler to accept Islam was Berke Khan, who ruled from 1256 to 1267. His mother was a Muslim who had raised him in an Islamic environment from childhood. As a result, he embraced Islam as an adult. Similarly, Oljeitu, the brother of Ghazan Khan, also became Muslim—under the influence of his wife.
From Hajar to the present day, the history of Muslim women is filled with examples where their spiritual strength and noble conduct helped guide many people to the right path.
