With a heavy heart, I say goodbye to my beloved father-in-law, a man who was much more than a relative to me. For 36 years, I had the honour of sharing a home and life with him and during those years he became a father figure, a mentor and a source of strength and knowledge for our own family.
He was a modern Muslim man, whose faith showed through his character. He treated everyone with kindness, dignity, and respect. His wisdom was gentle, his advice was thoughtful, and his heart was full of compassion.
There are people who leave memories and people who leave lasting impacts on your soul. He was one of those rare people. His presence made our home blessed, his words brought comfort in difficult times. Through every stage of life, he stood as a pillar of support, and taught values of honesty, patience, humility and faith.
It is difficult to manage life without him. The chair where he sat, the conversations we had on politics, Islam and countless moments of guidance will always remain in my heart. I am grateful to Allah for blessing me with 36 precious years in his company. Those years were a gift that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Today, we mourn his loss and at the same time celebrate his life. You will always be remembered, always be loved, and never be forgotten.
May Allah grant him Jannat-ul-Firdous.
Shazia Hayat
Daughter-in-Law