Abdur Rahman Molla is a resident of Baradeha village of Nagar Union of Baraigram Upazila of Natore. The age has exceeded 115 years. This hundred-year-old blind man still runs to the mosque with a stick carrying a rope.
In 1973, Abdur Rahman Molla was a UP member of the city union council. He lost both eyes in an accident about 20 years ago. On one side is the burden of age, on the other side is the misery of life without sight. However, this elder is persistent in worship. Carrying bamboos and sticks and holding on to ropes stretched by the roadside, he ran to his own hand-built mosque for five daily prayers. Azan is given by himself. He also taught prayers. His tenacity impresses anyone.
To facilitate Abdur Rahman's movement, bamboo and ropes have been stretched along the side of the road for about 200 meters from his house to the mosque. In this he can easily go to the mosque by holding the rope. When the prayer time starts, he performs ablution and leaves the house with a stick in his hand towards the mosque. After leaving the house with a stick, he took the rope and climbed to the main road. Then he crossed the road with the help of a stick and reached the mosque by holding on to the bamboo.
According to local residents, Abdur Rahman Molla lost his sight in an accident about 20 years ago. Even after becoming blind, he performed Hajj in 2011 with his elder son. After that, he built a paved mosque on his own five-hundred-year-old land in the village. He continues to perform the duties of the muezzin and imam of that mosque.
Abdur Rahman's two wives have 19 sons and daughters. Children are all established in their respective fields. Some of them are teachers, some are agricultural officers, some are doctors, some are members of BGB, some are traders, some look after their own land.
Abdur Rahman Molla's son Bardeha Government Primary School Assistant Headmaster Md. Shafiqul Islam said, about 20 years ago, due to an accident, father's eye problem occurred. Since then father gradually became blind. Despite many treatments, it was not possible to get better. I performed Hajj with my father in 2011.
Teacher Rafiqul Islam said, My father has been blind for 20 years. After performing Hajj, I built a mosque 200 meters away from my house at my own expense on my father's land. In addition to family members, passers-by and local residents offer prayers there. We pull bamboo and rope from home to mosque on Baba's advice for ease of movement. At first we used to show bamboo and rope and take them to the mosque. Now the father can go to the mosque alone.
Abdur Rahman's grandson Naeem Molla said, even at this age, grandfather went to the mosque to give adhan and pray. Seeing grandfather, the children of the house also go to the mosque to pray. It is not a problem to go from the house to the main road, but it is a bit difficult to cross the paved road. Many vehicles ply on the road. Because of this, we are somewhat afraid. However, on our request, the drivers of light vehicles including rickshaw-vans plying on the road should move carefully in front of the mosque. It is better if the road has a speed bump.
Imam of another nearby mosque. Ramzan Ali Natori said, in a hadith narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira, a companion of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) named Umm Maktoum (RA) was blind. A rope was pulled from the house to the mosque so that the companion could go to the mosque. Imitating that companion, this old man came to the mosque like this, thanks to Allah. Abdur Rahman is an inspiration for Muslims. The efforts of this hundred-year-old man in fulfilling the obligatory laws of Allah are exemplary for others.
Centenarian Abdur Rahman said, I built the mosque by selling my land. I pray that Allah accepts the mosque and gives guidance to all the family.
He said that now due to non-flow of water in the tube well, other people have problems in performing ablution, it would be great if there is a water pump near the mosque and toilet bathroom and an ablution facility are needed. I prayed with all my heart.