Competitions
Short Story Contest ‘08 Runner Up – Of Love, Parents, and Ramadhaan by Sr. Sadia
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Yes, dear MM readers, it’s time! The moment you’ve all been waiting for has arrived… the great moment of revelation… and the winners of MuslimMatter’s Nights of Power: Short Tales of Inspiration short story contest areeeeee – *SKREEEEEEEEEEEEE-EEEEEEEK…….*
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*Drops malfunctioning microphone, claps hands over ears*
Ooops, looks like our sound system messed up again, in typical Muslim fashion! Excuse me while I go check it out… *Prepares to leave stage, is stopped by roar of outrage from the audience*
What’s that? I haven’t told you who the winners are yet? Well, ummmm… how’s this for now: Our first runner-up (consolation prize) goes to sister Sadia Virk of Banu Asad (Montreal, Quebec) for her story: Of Love, Parents, and Ramadhaan. Congratulations, sister Sadia, and jazaakiAllahu khairan for your submission!
And that’s all you’re getting for now! Stay tuned this week for our other runner-ups and, of course, the TOP THREE! *Cheeky grin*
*Ducks and runssssssssssss to avoid onslaught of rotten vegetables*
Note: As one of the three runner-ups, sister Sadia wins a consolation prize of one free adult’s registration at this year’s Texas Da’wah Convention!
Of Love, Parents, and Ramadhaan by Sadia Virk
When I was getting married, friends and family members alike were busy sharing advice and tips for the new life ahead of me. Conflict resolution skills, how to divide up household chores, keeping good relations with your in-laws, how to whip up a dinner in 30 minutes or less, getting grease stains out of your husband\’s shirt. Only after marriage did I realize that no one, absolutely no one, had offered any wisdom on what seemed to be one of the biggest challenges: how to deal with the ache of separation from your family.
Although Allah SWT blessed me with a loving, caring husband and a happy, peaceful marriage life, I was still painfully missing my family, especially my mother and father. Many times I would sit and cry, as I thought of all the things I should have said to my parents when I was living with them, all the “I love yous†and “I\’m sorrys†that I had left unspoken, all the things I should have done for them without them asking me. So much I had meant to tell them but didn\’t; so much I had wanted to do for them, but fell short. Over and over in my mind I played back memories of the days, months and years I had spent living with them. How many times had I hurt them without even knowing? When was the last time I told them how much I love them? Did I truly ever thank them for everything they did for me? Did I ever take the time to sit down and really talk to them about their day, to really understand them as the wonderful people they are? Did I ever even come close to comprehending what an immense blessing Allah SWT bestowed upon me when He SWT, in His Infinite Mercy and Bounty, gave me my parents?
My first Ramadan away from home brought with it a surge of bittersweet memories and worry. Preparing suhoor for my husband, I wondered how many hundreds of suhoor meals my mother had prepared for me over the years, rising before everyone else in the family in the dark of the night, never complaining. Didn\’t she ever get tired, didn\’t she ever miss that extra hour of sleep? Why did I never stop to acknowledge all that she had sacrificed for my comfort and well-being?
In the darkness of the Ramadan nights, it was in the beautiful words of Allah SWT that my heart finally found comfort and rest, in the supplication taught to us by He who hears the call of all who supplicate to Him. “And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: ‘My Lord! Bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.\’†(17:24) My Lord! Bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood. My Lord! My Lord! Bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood. Please my Lord. Please.
My face pressed against the ground in sujood, over and over again I implored Allah SWT, night after blessed night of Ramadan. My shortcomings were many; my sins enough to bury me. I did not trust my own words. So I turned to the blessed words from the Quran. The blessed words from my Rabb. My Lord! Bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood. Each word I prayed from my heart, with whatever semblance of sincerity I could muster, my tears washing away the pain of my heart. It was in this prayer that my heart felt light and comfort. It was only in the words of Allah SWT that I felt peace.
I realized that Ramadan that none of us is promised another day. Whatever you want to say to your parents, say it now before it is too late. Don\’t wait; do something nice for them today. Tell them you love them, tell them thank you for what they have done for you. Give them a gift to show you care. Take the time to really listen to them. Never go to bed with them being upset or angry with you. Truly whatever time we have to spend with them is worth more than the riches of the whole world. Value this time, treasure this time. And pray that I am able to do the same.
Ya Allah, I ask you to forgive my parents and forgive me for all that I have wronged them. I pray that they will live and die with your Blessing, Mercy and Love. Ease all of their hardships and fill their lives with Your Light. Write their names amongst those most beloved to you, my Lord and give them Your Shade on the Day when there will be no shade save Yours. As we lived together in this world, join us together again in a home in Jannah al Firdaus. Bestow on them your Mercy, bestow on them your Mercy, bestow on them your Mercy, just as they cherished me in my childhood and continue to do so today. Ameen, Ya Rabb, Ameen.
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simsim
October 13, 2008 at 12:05 PM
MashaAllah, what a touching story. May Allah aza wa jal extend His mercy and bless each and every one of our parents. And may He grant our parents with the best in this life and with Jannatul Firdaws in the next.
Azra
October 13, 2008 at 12:11 PM
*Tears* I know exactly what you mean, Sadia. When they say that no one will ever care for you the way your parents do, it REALLY is true.
AbuAbdAllah, the Houstonian
October 13, 2008 at 12:19 PM
innalhamdolillah. bismillah. mashaAllah, if this is among the consolation prize winners, then truly, “wah, wah!” a high bar indeed has been set. and much the expectations for the pieces of khayr to follow. this is really one article to forward via e-mail.
ya ibnabuomer! honor your parents and give us that tutorial for publicizing articles. this one needs to be digg’ed all the way to China. mashaAllah.
simsim, are you by any chance from GTA? if so, (and in any case) as salamu alaykum. it is good to see you here on MM.
Amad
October 13, 2008 at 12:49 PM
AbuAbdAllah, in fact, the bar was very high… and we had a very difficult time discerning winners because scores were so close together.
Anisa
October 13, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Masha’Allah, TabarakALlah
BarakAllahu Feekum
simsim
October 13, 2008 at 12:53 PM
AbuAbdAllah, wa alaykum asalam. no i’m actually from california. jazakAllahu khayrun, it’s a pleasure to be here :).
And to the rest of MMers, keep up the excellent work, barakAllahu feekum!
nikhat mansoori
October 13, 2008 at 2:03 PM
JazakaAllhu Khairan sister,
For SUCH A Touching,inspiring nd emotional article.We
don’t really realize the worth of things until they are taken away from us.After reading your article ,i actually
realized how much parents do for us nd the little we offer them.
May Allah bestow upon you and your family the best of His blessings.AMEEN!!!
Muslimah
October 13, 2008 at 8:24 PM
That was a really nice story. Sounds like me, except I am away for college without a husband.
Raniah
October 13, 2008 at 10:06 PM
Masha’allah sister. This was really a touching story.
As I read over this, tears welled in my eyes.
I constantly find myself asking the same questions that you raised in your article.
We take our parents for granted and do not give them the true haqq that they deserve. Subhana’allah, we don’t truly realize what we have until it is taken away from us.
May Allah reward our parents for everything they sacrificed and did for us and grant them with jannat alFirdous!!!
I agree with one of the comments made above, if this was the runner-up, i can’t wait to read the rest!!! We’re in for a treat insha’allah.
vindicated
October 14, 2008 at 8:30 AM
Masha’Allah, the competition does seem tough! :) Can’t wait for the rest. I’m one from the rotten vegies crowd :D
Fatimah
October 14, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Subhanallah, tears welled up in my eyes too. I have the same feelings and regret for not doing my duty. I can never trun things around, and since I stay so far away from my parents (in another country) can only pray for them. When I was near to them, I disobeyed, and now I want to serve them, but too far to anything.. May Allah grant them Jannatul Firdaws.
Shaam
October 14, 2008 at 11:17 AM
MaShaAllah, what a great article. I feel your pain sister Sadia. I live with my husband alone, with no family. Sometimes I just go out of my house, find a quiet place by the lake and cry my heart out. Oh how i miss my childhood, my parents, my family! My husbands loves me infinetly, we are soulmates and happily married…. But, You are right…no one can be as dear to us as our parents. May Allah Bless them. May Allah open hands of all Muslims to pray for their parents. Ameen
sadia
October 15, 2008 at 2:08 PM
assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu..jazakum Allahu khayrane to you all for your kind words, and ameen to all your du’as. may Allah SWT always keep us all as the comfort of our parents eyes and join us together with them in jannah al firdaus, ameen!!
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The Muslim Kid
August 23, 2009 at 12:18 AM
Its absolutely amazing!
Great Read.
-The Muslim Kid-