Family

Hazrat Chiragh Bibi Sahiba was the respected mother of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi, peace be upon him. She hailed from the village of Aima in the Hoshiarpur District of Punjab, India. Her family was known for its status and nobility. One of their relatives, Mirza Rahmatullah Beg Sahib, worked for the family of the Promised Messiah (as) a mukhtar (attorney). Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfani Sahib writes about him:

“Mirza Rahmatullah Beg Sahib worked as a mukhtar in the family of the Promised Messiah (as). He was a member of the Mughal family of Rurki Mughlan, and his family had ties of kinship with the family of the Promised Messiah (as). The Promised Messiah’s (as) first wife, Mirza Sultan Ahmad Sahib’s wife, and the late Mirza Fazl Ahmad Sahib’s wife were all related to the same family.” (Ashab-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, preface, p. 35)

Mirza Rahmatullah Beg served the family for around fifty years, until his death around 1865. Both of these matters can be inferred from a piece of writing by the Promised Messiah (as) himself. While mentioning a vision of 20 September 1905, he stated:

“[…] Mirza Rahmatullah, who was an old servant of … my father and had served him for fifty years and had died nearly forty years earlier […]” (Tadhkirah [English], Qadian: 2019, Nazarat Nashro Isha‘at, p. 778)

Marriage and children

The marriage of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Murtaza Sahib took place with Hazrat Chiragh Bibi Sahiba, the sister of Mirza Jamiat Beg Sahib from a distinguished Mughal family from the village of Aima Mughlan in the Hoshiarpur District of Punjab, India. As a result of this marriage, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Murtaza Sahib had a son first, who passed away at a young age. After that, a daughter was born, named Murad Bibi. She was a very virtuous lady, who was blessed with visions [ru’ya]. After her, a son was born named Mirza Ghulam Qadir. After that, one or two more children were born, but they passed away in childhood. Hazrat Chiragh Bibi Sahiba prayed a lot to God to grant her a son who would live to adulthood. Then, Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) was born.
A companion and biographer of the Promised Messiah (as), Hazrat Abdul Rahim Dard (ra) writes:

“The first son of Mirza Ghulam Murtaza died in his infancy and was followed by a daughter who was named Murad Bibi. She was a most pious woman. Then was born Mirza Ghulam Qadir (d. 1883 at the age of 55), who was followed by one or two children, who also died in infancy. It is said that Charagh Bibi, the wife of Mirza Ghulam Murtaza, had been long praying for a son who would live long when Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) was born, on a Friday morning, the 13th of February, 1835.” (Life of Ahmad,  Chapter IV, p. 33)

Noble character and virtues

Hazrat Chiragh Bibi Sahiba was known for her outstanding qualities of contentment, bravery, chastity, morality, generosity, patience, self-sufficiency, and hospitality. Providing for the needs of the impoverished and destitute people of the village brought her particular spiritual and emotional satisfaction. She was always available to provide shrouds for the deceased. Her far-sightedness and understanding of worldly affairs were famous. She was the best advisor and comforter for Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Murtaza Sahib, who never objected to any of her decisions related to household affairs, despite his own status and prestige.
The Promised Messiah (as) had a strong inclination towards solitude, remembrance of Allah, and study, right from the start, as opposed to any worldly engagements or business ventures. As a result, it is possible that he may have occasionally become the target of his father’s criticism and disapproval. Nevertheless, his respected mother held immense affection for him. She cherished his goodness, righteousness, purity of life, and obedience, and always took special care of his every need. Hence, he never even had to ask for anything during her lifetime, as she was fully aware of his modest and unassuming nature. She knew that he did not like to express his needs to anyone. Hence, for example, whenever there was a need to invite guests or friends, his mother would generously and abundantly serve them food, so that he may not have to ask.

An account by Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfani (ra)

Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Arfani Sahib, while mentioning the Promised Messiah’s (as) mother, wrote: 

“The Promised Messiah’s (as) revered mother was renowned for her astute insights and deep comprehension of matters. She was a trusted advisor and a source of solace to the late Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Murtaza Sahib. This is why, despite his own eminence and grandeur, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Murtaza Sahib held her words in high esteem and refrained from intervening in household affairs against her wishes. [...]
“The sister of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) was known as Murad Begum Sahiba. She herself was a woman of strong faith, dedicated to worship and devotion. As per the will of Allah the Almighty, she was widowed in the prime of her life and subsequently moved back to Qadian. Her life reflected the values of a God-fearing woman, much like that of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him. The respected mother of the Promised Messiah (as) sacrificed her own comfort and well-being for the sake of her son and daughter. She devoted herself to caring for her beloved children day and night. May Allah the Almighty bestow His great mercy and blessings upon her and elevate her to the rank of those with whom He is pleased through His grace. Amin.
“Without a doubt, the Promised Messiahas was raised by an incredibly compassionate and loving mother, who, due to her exceptional qualities, held a distinguished position among the women of Islam. It is difficult to fully express the honour and dignity of this woman, who gave birth to such a great and noble Man of God, who was prophesied by prophets and was greeted by the Holy Prophet (sa) with the greeting of salam and about whose ranks and virtues Allah the Exalted also spoke, saying, اَنْتَ مِنِّیْ وَ اَنَا مِنْکَ, that is, ‘You are from me, and I am from you.’” (Hayat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 1, p. 219-220)

Promised Messiah’s (as) love for his mother

While the Promised Messiah’s (as) revered mother was alive, she always stood up for him. Whenever his father expressed displeasure, her maternal love would ignite with fervour. When Huzoor (as) came to Sialkot at his respected father’s insistence, his mother regularly sent clothes and other items for him. In short, she was a shade of mercy for him. On the other hand, the Promised Messiah (as) also had boundless love for her. Whenever he spoke of her, tears would well up in his eyes.
Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) writes of the revered mother of the Promised Messiah (as):

“She had immense love for Hazrat Sahib (as) and he also had immense love for her. I have seen many times that when he mentioned her, tears would well up in his eyes." (Seeratul Mahdi, Vol. 10, Narration no. 10)

Demise

Having seen the immense love of his mother, it was but only natural that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) should respond to his mother’s devotion in an extraordinary way. Yet at the same time, his attitude toward his father was one of perfect obedience. He had no heart for the worldly business of his father and felt no inclination toward it, yet he applied himself to it simply to please his father and on his insistence, he opted for a government job in Sialkot.
He happened to be away from home in Sialkot when his mother died. All the family knew the intensity of love that subsisted between the mother and the son. Miran Bakhsh, a domestic servant, was dispatched with the instructions to fetch him and to break the news by degrees, lest his heart break. As soon as he started for home, and had left Batala behind, the servant urged the carriage driver to quicken the horse’s pace. He inquired of the servant as to the reason for this. He was told that his mother’s condition was rather bad. A little way further, the servant again urged upon the driver to hasten on whereupon he was again asked the reason for this unusual hurry. He said that her condition was rather too bad. Her condition, said the servant, rather gave cause for alarm, for he had left her in a precarious state. He did not know whether they would find her alive upon reaching Qadian. 
On hearing this, he became silent and the servant, after they had proceeded a little way up the road, again began to impel the driver to use his whip, at which Huzoor (as) suspecting something unusual, told him to let him know the whole thing. At this point, he said that up to this point, he had withheld the news lest the sudden imparting should break his heart, and then he told him the sad news of his mother’s death. 
All that he said on hearing this was the slow recitation of a Moslem’s creeds انا‭ ‬لله‭ ‬و‭ ‬انا‭ ‬اليه‭ ‬راجعون which means; we are God’s and to God, we are to return. So resigned was he to the will of God that he did not betray any uneasiness or emotion. He remained calm and collected even at that trying moment when grief unnerves even the stoutest hearts. (Review of Religions, March, April & May, 1922)

Burial

Usually, it is said that the respected mother of the Promised Messiah (as) passed away in 1868. However, a pen diary belonging to the family of the Promised Messiah (as), mostly written by the late Mirza Ghulam Qadir Sahib, states that her date of demise was 12 Zilhajj 1283 AH, which corresponds to 18 April 1867 CE. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 1, p. 103)
Her blessed grave rests in the ancient family cemetery of the Promised Messiah (as), situated near the local Eidgah and located to the west of Qadian. According to the research of Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), the map of a section of this cemetery is detailed in Sirat-ul-Mahdi, which identifies certain graves. One of these graves is that of the respected mother of the Promised Messiah (as). 

Promised Messiah (as) remembering his mother

The Promised Messiah (as) never forget his pious mother. Even in the twilight of his life, his eyes would well up with tears whenever he fondly recalled his kind mother. He would visit her grave and pray for her.
Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfani (ra) narrated an incident about the love of the Promised Messiah (as) for his mother in the following words:

“Once, Hazrat Masih Ma'ud (AS) went for a walk towards the cemetery known as ‘Shah Abdulullah Ghazi’, which was the old cemetery of his family. Going away from the usual path, with great zeal, he arrived at the grave of his mother and, along with his companions, who were with him at that time, he prayed for a long time. Whenever he would mention his mother’s name, his eyes would become full of tears.” (Hayat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 1, p. 221) 

Sources: Ahmad (as), Seerat wa Sawaneh