When I think of strength, wisdom, and compassion, the first person who comes to mind is my mother, Ayesha Kadwa. She is not only an Aalimah whose knowledge has uplifted her community, but she is also the woman who has shaped me into who I am today.

My mother’s journey began at just 16 years old, when she qualified as an Aalimah at Moulana Akoonjee’s Madrasah in Pietermaritzburg. By the age of 17, she had already begun teaching, a calling she has devoted herself to ever since. Over the years, she has taught in Dannhauser, Matatiele, Estcourt, and now Verulam, impacting the lives of countless students with her wisdom, patience, and guidance. She runs a homeschool and madrasah from our home, dedicating herself not only to her students but also to creating a nurturing, loving environment for all who enter her doors.

What makes my mother truly extraordinary is not just her public service, but the way she runs our home with love, patience, and a rare kind of strength. She balances the demands of teaching, running her school, and caring for our family and not gonna lie often complaining when things get overwhelming, and yet, through it all, her love never falters. Her complaints are just a part of her humanity; they make her real, relatable, and even more inspiring because they come from someone who gives so much of herself.

Growing up, I watched her manage everything with determination and care. From her, I learned patience, responsibility, and integrity, not because she preached it, but because I saw her live it every single day. She has shaped me into the person I am, teaching me through example the importance of discipline, hard work, and selfless love.

Her love is both gentle and powerful. She sacrifices endlessly, whether it’s her time, her energy, or her comfort, to ensure that her students, her family, and her community are cared for. Her home is a reflection of her heart: warm, welcoming, and full of life. She leads not through perfection, but through humanity, wisdom, and unwavering faith.

I am proud every day to call her my mother. She has touched countless lives, yet her greatest impact has been on me. Because of her, I understand what it means to love selflessly, to work tirelessly, and to lead with wisdom and compassion.

For her dedication, her wisdom, her humanity, and her boundless love, my mother, Aalimah Ayesha Kadwa, is the embodiment of what it means to uplift, inspire, and transform a community. while still being the heartbeat of her own home.