The beauty of good memories

السلام عليكم

I grew up with a wonderful extended family in South Africa. My father is the second born, from a family of 7 children. My grandparents doted on us and being the first grandchild I was never given the opportunity to cry as a baby. I was bounced from uncle to aunt to uncle and back. Life was good. There is always a downside and Allah has made us imperfect. Jealousy and envy are human qualities that have existed from the first sons of Adam AS and where there is so much love and affection there is bound to be some form of fitna that comes with the shayateen and their whispers. Even if it occurred as a child, you don’t forget those moments where as a six year old, an adult shows you hostility and tries to cause you some form of sadness. Jealousy is a poor excuse to to bully a child.

لا حَوْلَ وَ لا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّهِ

There is no Might or Power except with Allah

But those moments were minute and they were not blood relation. When I think of my childhood, I mainly recall my family and everything good. My weekends were spent staying at my grandmother’s, with my uncle and aunts and enjoying the best moments that Allah has blessed me with.

My father’s three sisters share a maternal bond with me. Bai and Banu took me everywhere with them. They treated me as if I was their own daughter. I grew up spending a lot of time at my grandmother’s house being bathed by them, taught how to bake, plant and pretty much everything. My Khairoon fui used to get me cassettes of “Mary Poppins” and “The sound of Music” and although the strictest of the three, her morals and respect were always admirable to me. Each, along with my uncle and parents, have shaped my character and personality today.

I was reminded of that today when, at uni, I checked my mail on my phone and saw this…

Hi Zahira,

I know I never write to you or communicate with you, but that does not mean I do not think about you,

I think your children are soooo beautiful, mashallah,

And Sabah looks like such a good child I almost want to just get on a plane so I could spend some time with them,

Cant you just bundle her up and send her to me ….

I felt everything in me light up. This was from Banu, one of my aunts who had looked after me so much, and who I think of often.

Alhamdulillah for all of Allah’s blessings in our lives, who has given us family and placed love and affection in them. They may be far away, but always remembered in my duaas. Allah have mercy on them, they cared for me too when I was young. Ameen.