#Culture

A Fatherly Gift

Published

May 1, 2015

A friend of mine had a child and named him the same name as mine. Sudanese tradition is that when a person names their child after you, you have to get that child a gift. Growing up I never knew any Ammars, so I was safe. Later on, I was surprised how many people liked the name, and they started popping up all over the place. Luckily, I started thinking of ways to still give gifts and keep $$$ in my pocket :)

So I wrote ‘lil Ammar a poem, from his father’s perspective.

To a new born

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May Allah protect you,

May your sleep be sweet,

May you feel comfort

As I lay at your feet

May your life be filled, with

Hope like your name sake

I’ll be by your side

For every step that you take

And though I wonder about

The world you’ve come into

May your sleep always be sweet

May your dreams come true

There are those however who find it difficult to find that beautiful hope for their children due to the difficulty they find themselves in. The below is the perspective of a Palestinian father:

A Palestinian Man

How can you explain the feeling of..

Knowing that your children aren’t limited by their dreams

Although their dreams are so big they have them gazing at the sky

Laughing at the stars, praying that they can fly

No, their dreams are limited by the opportunities that don’t exist

So you cry when they are born, for all the dreams that they will miss

thought captured by Ammar AlShukry

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Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah

Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.

Related Topics:father Gaza Islam Muslim palestine palestinian poem Rusty Heat Chronicles

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Ammar Al Shukry

Ammar Al Shukry is the author of the Poetry Collection: "What the Pen Wrote." Ammar AlShukry is Content Director of FaithEssentials, a complete learning hub for the everyday Muslim. FaithEssentials can be found at www.faithessentials.online

6 Comments

Tafi Nami

May 2, 2015 at 10:37 AM

Read Online Quran Translation In English

Reply
Umm A

May 3, 2015 at 7:26 AM

SubhaanAllah….lovely poem :))
I have a little Ammaarah

Brother, could you explain the meaning and root of the name Ammaar please. As In understand it, it meant someone who exceeds in fasting and prayer, or eloquent, but I am not a native Arabic speaker, and my little girl is always saying a teacher/friend told her that’s not what her name means.

Reply
Umm A

May 3, 2015 at 7:29 AM

SubhaanAllah….lovely poem :))
I have a little Ammaarah

Brother, could you explain the meaning and root of the name Ammar please. As I understand it, it meant someone who exceeds in fasting and prayer, or eloquent, but I am not a native Arabic speaker, and my little girl is always saying a teacher/friend told her that’s not what her name means.

Reply
- Khalida
  
  June 6, 2015 at 10:20 PM
  
  ‘ammaarah literally means “one who commands repeatedly” (so, the action of commanding is repetitive).
  
  Reply
- Sunny S. Jamil
  
  June 8, 2015 at 1:14 AM
  
  To add to the comment by Khalida said, look up the companion of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, named Ammar ibn Yasir, may Allaah be pleased with him. Ammaar is the masculine of Ammaarah.
  
  Reply
Masjid AL Aqsa

December 3, 2015 at 11:24 PM

MashaAllah.. Very nice poem.. Really I like it Very much.. Jajak ALlah khar for written and share this lovely poem.

Reply