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Asaalam – o – Alaikum –
Namaste –
God’s Blessings to All
My Personal Epitaph to My Dad
Dad, it is now seventeen years you have departed this world
and into Allah’s hand, and although this seems like a long
time, to this day, I always remember you for the father you
were and the principles that guided your sojourner’s life.
Like my mother, I was separated from both of you by
thousands of miles of land and sea. This did not happen by
willful intent, but by circumstances
beyond all of our control.
Over the years I have come to realize that it was God’s
“Will” that I left for that dist ant
journey. Sometimes it is very difficult to understand the
mystery of God’s mercies. Such was
the
case at the time I left in 1970. But this Omniscient God,
out of tragedy, with his love and mercy, he certainly
brought glory. I did not realize until today that it was
seventeen years after I left
that
you died, and this is now seventeen years to the date, that
you crossed over the Jordan to up yonder.
Dad, the world has gone quite “mad” since you left it in
1987, and I feel compelled and propelled to tell the world
that if we saw the world through your eyes, the way you saw
it, the world would be a better place, more peaceful and
despite diversity we would have unity. My father
was born a Moslem, lived a Moslem life, (he was an Imam) and
he died and was buried a Moslem.
The amazing thing about my father is that he never condemned
anyone, he did not condemn anyone’s religion, and he
believed with all his heart that we are all God’s children.
He took no position about who was going to heaven or hell:
he always tried to do his best. To ensure how true this
story about my Dad is, let me share a personal matter with
you.
Through the age of sixteen I attended Mosque with my Dad
which was on a regular basis. My Dad prayed five times per
day. Because he worked six days per week he always had to
make up his daily prayer at nights. In 1967 tragedy struck
our family, it was most devastating. I made a decision to
attend a Christian Church, but my love and respect for my
father was very important to me. So I asked my Dad about
what I was contemplating. He told me without any
equivocation whatsoever: “son, if that is what you want,
then go ahead and do it, for it matters not which building
we worship the Almighty God.”
His tolerance to respect people’s right to choose is what
made him special. This special gift that God bestowed upon
my Dad turned intolerance into tolerance, hate into love,
sorrows into joy, and gave hope for better tomorrows. Dad I
wish you were around to help turn this world that has gone
upside-down to right-side up.
Your Loving Son, Sheriff Ali
Dad, on behalf of all of your children, Salima, Nadarine,
Zoreena, Afrose, Jameel, Sheriff, Ashmeed and Latisha,
we pray that you are wearing cardigans of Immanuel’s grace,
and that your coronation includes gold diadems and your
rewards are bountiful baskets of God’s providence of peace,
joy and eternal happiness.
We Love You Dad. |
