On each of my children’s graduation days, there is one thing that almost always happens: a quiet tear of joy. It comes from knowing how hard I have worked and how Allah, in His infinite Mercy, has blessed them, crowned our efforts, and rewarded the sacrifices made by both their father and me.
It is difficult to raise one child; how much more challenging is it to raise multiple children and teenagers as they journey toward adulthood?
Moments like these remind me that we should show even more gratitude to Allah for granting us this opportunity, while some of our beloved brothers and sisters are still waiting and praying for the same blessing.
We should be grateful that Allah blessed us with Islam and allowed our children to follow us upon this noble religion.
We should be grateful that He gave us the Qur’an and enabled our children to learn it, read it, and even memorize this noble Book.
Yet, while we give all praise and gratitude to Allah for these achievements, we continue to beg Him to grant them steadfastness upon the Deen, Islam, the Qur’an, Ṣalāh, Tawḥīd, and Tahajjud. We ask Him to rectify their shortcomings and correct any unhealthy habits or behaviors that may be present in them.
May Allah grant them hearts that fear Him, ears that listen to beneficial advice, and souls that readily accept correction when they are reminded of goodness and truth. May He make them a source of reward for us and not a proof against us on the Day of Judgment. Āmīn.
Umm Sumayyah Mai
