Sharaf-un-Nissa

The tomb of Sharaf-un-Nissa is in Begumpura.Shahraf-un-Nissa was the grand daughter of Nawab Abdus Samad Khan and the daughter of Nawab Zakriya Khan. They were the Viceroys of the Punjab during the first half of the 18th century.

   True to her name, Sharaf-ud-Nissa was the pride of womanhood. She was all ecstasy and burning. She did not marry. She used to say that she was married to the Qiran and the sword. She had a garden in Lahore and in the midst of this garden she erected a tower. She would ascend the tower by means of a wooden ladder. In the chamber in the tower she would read the Holy Quran every day. After performing these devotions she would leave the Quran and her jeweled sword in the tower. This practice was repeated by her every day.

After her death, according to her wish, she was buried in the tower, and her crown and her sword were placed on the sarcophagus. The gates of the tower were thereafter closed with masonry. Cypress trees are painted on the outer walls of the tomb, and on this account the tomb is referred to as “Saru Wala Maqbarra’.

 During the Sikh period, the Sikhs under the impression that the building contained valuable treasure broke it open. Failing to find the treasure they carried away the Quran and the sword.

              Allama Iqbal has immortalized Sharaf-un-Nissa in his classical poem ‘Javid Nama’. According to Iqbal the secret of the greatness of the Muslims lies in the sword and the Quran. When the Muslims understand the Quran and can wield the sword, none can surpass them in greatness. he Quran and the sword are the symbols of spiritual and physical power and in order to survive, the Muslims have to guard these symbols jealously.

    In the words of Allama Iqbal, Sharaf-un-Nissa willed:

            “Better my tomb without dome and lamp;

            For believers Quran and sword suffice;

            Let this be the furniture of my grave”.