O Father.....

I know I have blogged in the past about my mother; what an inspiration she was to me and how much (x100000000000000000000000 x infinity) I miss her.
I realised I have never blogged about my father. And just to set the record straight - he is an amazing man, masha'allah.

My dad is amazing. Why?

Because he is strong. He is sensible. He is giving. And generous. He is one of the most unselfish and giving people I know.

He is also the complete opposite to my mother.

How can that make sense?Because I use these adjectives to describe my mother also.

My mother was gentle and kind - and many of these attributes were a part of her. She could no more help them than she could help the colour of her eyes or skin.

My dad -had to work on many of these to become who and what he is today.

My memories of my dad when I was young are not too numerous - but they are mainly good memories, memories of a father who cared, in his own way.

It was only after mum died that we, me and my sister, got to start getting to know dad properly.

And he us.

He didnt understand the needs, especially the emotional needs, of a couple of teenage daughters. Especially considering what we were all going through.But may Allah reward him, he tried so hard to overcome his personal shortcomings. For example, my dad is not a tactile or touchy-feely person. He doesnt like hugs or kisses or any of that; whereas my mum was extremely demonstrative and tactile. Yet, dad slowly overcame this - and now tolerates us hugging and kissing him now and then with good humour.
Infact, once I was really upset with him about something (probaby very silly thing!) and didnt demonstrate affection or hug him for about a week, and it was he who came to me and asked if everything was alright as he missed me chatting with him and hugging him when he came home!!! Now that was years ago but its one of my favourite memories.

In the same way my mum is and always will be my hero - so is my dad.
He is strong, as men should be. But he also has strength of mind and spirit - so that he is strong enough to bend and be flexible.

He has had the strength to let me and my sister find our own ways in life - to practice the deen to our hearts content, always cautioning us that Islam is the middle way but that it also requires full commitment; he lets us grow, while reminding us what it's all about.

Dad, may Allah bless him, has made many sacrifices to bring me and my sister up and I know I shall never be able to show him how proud and grateful I am. How very much I love him.
Infact, if he ever read this blog - he'd probably tell me off for being an emotional female!!! lol

But it softens and fills my heart when I remember the hadith of the Prophet (SAW) that says that a man who brings up 2 daughters in a good way will be with him in Paradise/Jannah. I hope my father is there, with the Prophet (SAW) one day, Insha'allah.

So this is a blog - dedicated to my dad. Please remember him in your duas.