Tribute to my late mother

BY DAHIRU HASSAN KERA

Today, I finally summoned the courage to overcome the mind riddling and sad event that occurred on Sunday, the 11th of November, 2019, at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe. The demise of my beloved mother.

Certainly, death is inevitable! Every living soul has its death coupon already issued depending on when, where and how. But it is most certain that we will all embark on that eternal journey someday. In spite of this, we still grieve when we lose our beloved ones, particularly, our parents.

Indeed, the sorrow of losing parents, especially a mother, is to the extreme and an emotionally severe one.

Hajiya Mamma, I am really saddened and grieving at your demise, it has made my siblings and I full-blown orphans with the loss of our lovely dad about 9 years ago. May Aljannah be your final abode.

I am just wondering where else we can get the heartfelt love and care you lavished on us? Anyway, we take solace in the fact that you lived a good life. A life that we are all proud of.

Mamma, you’ve been the source of my progress, cheerfulness, courage, and a strong pillar upon which I rest. You taught me to be generous and God fearing, even when you were bed-bound and could not talk, you beckoned on me to do good to others, you prayed for me even when I could not comprehend what you were saying, but seeing you raising your hands up is explicitly and unambiguously clear to me that, you were praying for me.

When you left us, I was comforted to some extent when I heard people around you emotionally proclaiming the same songs with us (your biological children) that they’ve lost a pillar, meaning; you’ve been a pillar to all and sundry not only to us (your children) Allah (SWT) said in the Holy Quran 31: 14 that, “And We have enjoined upon man, care for his parents. His mother carried him, increasing her in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the final destination.”

I’m indeed very grateful to you (my parents) and I pray to Allah to accept all your good deeds and forgive your wrongs. May He also accept and reward us abundantly for all we’ve done to give comfort our parents.

It is important to mention at this point, to anyone who’s reading this piece and whose parents are still alive to do well to take proper care of them by providing them with basic necessities of life. Please, do those things that make them feel happy, loved and appreciated, like a child in the arms of his nursing mother.

Of course, the gesture should be extended to their siblings and friends. For those of us that lost ours, the best we can do is to fervently pray for them always and seek the means of creating avenues for good deeds and charity works to dedicate the rewards to them.

‘’My Lord and Sustainer! Be kind and have mercy on them as they cherished, nurtured and sustained me in childhood.”

Mamma you were sick, bedbound, and shuttling from one hospital and medical facility to another all looking for how your sickness can be cured not knowing it will be the cause of your death. For about two consecutive years, it has been one sickness or the other until you departed. According to a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who said; when a Muslim is sick, the sins falls away just as fire purifies gold. I pray may your protracted sickness wipe away every atom of your sins.

Tears drifts down my face as I’m writing this piece with my heart fiery from the innermost, telling me that, from now on, I will spend the rest of my life here on earth without my loving, caring, and encouraging mother. It’s really an irreparable loss which has created a vacuum that cannot be filled.

I fervently pray that, all you’ve prayed for us during your lifetime continue to follow us until our last breath.
I can’t finish this without appreciating all those that stood with us at the time of our grief. No doubt, your presence at the funeral prayers, your outpoured prayers and consolations via direct calls, text massages, and on social media was overwhelming, calming, and encouraging. I really can’t thank you enough but I pray to Allah to reward you abundantly and may He continue to keep us together and forgive our deaths.

Adieu Hajiya Mamma! Continue to Rest in Peace until we meet to part no more.

Kera is a journalist