Mumtaz Moosa | mumtazs@icloud.com
14 June 2023 | 19:00 CAT
2 min read

Photo Credit: IslamiCity

My father, who had been on a waiting list for what seemed like an eternity, never stopped yearning or gave up hope.

Naturally, as his children, we had concerns – his health, age, and many other issues. But we accepted that Allah S.W.T wanted him there.

Firstly, he was accredited last minute. Secondly, he didn’t have a valid passport, and we weren’t sure if he would get one.

Despite the odds and the last-minute planning, he was on his way to the blessed lands on his spiritual journey.

As a daughter, it was difficult to accept that my father was going alone and would have to navigate the new technology. I worried about his general well-being.

The fears began to creep in, and naturally, we tried to find someone to accompany or take him under their wing. But my father was overjoyed at being chosen to make the most important journey, with or without his family. After all, he was going as the guest of Allah, who would keep him under His protection.

My father was energised as he playfully teased us about our stress levels. And it dawned on me that parenting your parenting was no easy task, as I fretted over everything like I was taking care of a wayward teen! But it also made me realise that my father was capable of Allah’s mercy and care, and I needed to put my faith in Him too.

So, what if he needs help navigating a phone app? We forget that our parents grew up in a time of human connection; they didn’t spend time with their heads buried in phones; they spent time making conversations while waiting in line. They’re older with oodles of wisdom and are not afraid to ask for help from strangers if they need to. After all, they didn’t have Google Maps and relied on strangers for directions.

The lesson to us all is that we need to understand that our parents will ask for help when they require it, but we also need to take a step back and allow them to live as they can with our support.