Tribute to Moulana Ebrahim Adam
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The following is a tribute to Maulana Ebrahim Adam, written by his youngest daugter Dr Atia Adam. Maulana Adam passed away on Friday, after battling post-polio disease.
My father’s sole purpose on this Earth, was to educate. He taught us many life lessons along the way. Here are just a few of those that we would like to share with the Ummah.
Life lesson 1: After Maghrib is seen as a new day
Our father, Hazrat Moulana Ebrahim Adam RA, was born on the 23 February 1940, after Maghrieb Salaah. That is when the first controversy started. For many years, we thought he’d been born on the 24th, because that is what was told to us. Many years later, we came to the realization what his actual birth date was.
Life lesson 2: Find a balance between work and family
My father never attended any of our school plays, school meetings, and secular activities. However, when it came to our graduations, he was the first one there. His presence was felt at my first and second graduation he was there, and realized by the time I graduated for the third time I realised that I had his tenacity of never giving up. He always told me: An Adam never quits. After achieving my second Ph.D., his words to me were:” You should stop now, but if you feel you want to and you have something to contribute, do so. After acquiring my third PH.D, he cried and said, ‘Now, don’t do what I did and sacrifice your family for others – find that balance.’
Life lesson 3: For children, your parents sacrificed a lot for you
My parents guided us into choosing our professions. Zahida become a doctor, who could give us the medical reality of a situation when that was needed. She made the difficult decision to leave her parents and siblings to settle abroad, but continued keeping my parents’ name in high regard.
My parents sent their only son away to study Hifth at the young age of 11. This sacrifice was extremely difficult on my mother. She tried compensating for this when he came home by preparing him his special meals. He became a Hafith and an Alim. This sacrifice will certainly help them in the Hereafter, Inshallah.
For myself, anyone who knew my father, personally, will know that I was his pet. With my brother being away, I had to step in and take over where he needed me. He always referred to me as his baby and people never knew what my real name was. One of the things I will hold dear to my heart, is Thikr. Whenever we went for a drive, from the time the car started, till we reached our destination, all you heard in the car was Thikr. When he became ill, he constantly called me and I would lie with my head on his shoulder, hearing his ‘complaints’ about my mother. I would always take his side, much to his delight, as he knew I was his voice when no one could understand him.
We have to be there for them every step of the way, especially in their time of need. We can never repay them for what they did. NEVER.
Life lesson 4: At times you have apply the principle of best interest when situations arise
When my Dad got ill, my siblings and I tried to create a situation that would ease our Mother’s burdens and gave my Dad all the comfort he deserved. Along came Aunty Joyce, the most remarkable carer anyone could have asked for. As a child you are taught never to refuse your parents anything, and I could not say no to my father. Aunty Joyce had that ability to say no to him and he would adhere.
In conclusion, we sincerely hope and pray that the three of us made our parents proud and that they were proud of us. Those are enormous shoes to fill and we have to keep their legacy alive for the sake of our children and the Ummah. My parents’ code of conduct involved discipline, empathy and an absolute clarity about our responsibilities and ongoing commitment to society as a whole.
May Allah grant Hazrat Ebrahim RA and Rahimuth (affectionately known as Aunty Julie) Jannatul Firdous, Inshallah and put Nur in their Qabr, Inshallah Ameen.
Innalillahi wa inna iliahi raaji un. VOC
My father’s sole purpose on this Earth, was to educate. He taught us many life lessons along the way. Here are just a few of those that we would like to share with the Ummah.
Life lesson 1: After Maghrib is seen as a new day
Our father, Hazrat Moulana Ebrahim Adam RA, was born on the 23 February 1940, after Maghrieb Salaah. That is when the first controversy started. For many years, we thought he’d been born on the 24th, because that is what was told to us. Many years later, we came to the realization what his actual birth date was.
Life lesson 2: Find a balance between work and family
My father never attended any of our school plays, school meetings, and secular activities. However, when it came to our graduations, he was the first one there. His presence was felt at my first and second graduation he was there, and realized by the time I graduated for the third time I realised that I had his tenacity of never giving up. He always told me: An Adam never quits. After achieving my second Ph.D., his words to me were:” You should stop now, but if you feel you want to and you have something to contribute, do so. After acquiring my third PH.D, he cried and said, ‘Now, don’t do what I did and sacrifice your family for others – find that balance.’
Life lesson 3: For children, your parents sacrificed a lot for you
My parents guided us into choosing our professions. Zahida become a doctor, who could give us the medical reality of a situation when that was needed. She made the difficult decision to leave her parents and siblings to settle abroad, but continued keeping my parents’ name in high regard.
My parents sent their only son away to study Hifth at the young age of 11. This sacrifice was extremely difficult on my mother. She tried compensating for this when he came home by preparing him his special meals. He became a Hafith and an Alim. This sacrifice will certainly help them in the Hereafter, Inshallah.
For myself, anyone who knew my father, personally, will know that I was his pet. With my brother being away, I had to step in and take over where he needed me. He always referred to me as his baby and people never knew what my real name was. One of the things I will hold dear to my heart, is Thikr. Whenever we went for a drive, from the time the car started, till we reached our destination, all you heard in the car was Thikr. When he became ill, he constantly called me and I would lie with my head on his shoulder, hearing his ‘complaints’ about my mother. I would always take his side, much to his delight, as he knew I was his voice when no one could understand him.
We have to be there for them every step of the way, especially in their time of need. We can never repay them for what they did. NEVER.
Life lesson 4: At times you have apply the principle of best interest when situations arise
When my Dad got ill, my siblings and I tried to create a situation that would ease our Mother’s burdens and gave my Dad all the comfort he deserved. Along came Aunty Joyce, the most remarkable carer anyone could have asked for. As a child you are taught never to refuse your parents anything, and I could not say no to my father. Aunty Joyce had that ability to say no to him and he would adhere.
In conclusion, we sincerely hope and pray that the three of us made our parents proud and that they were proud of us. Those are enormous shoes to fill and we have to keep their legacy alive for the sake of our children and the Ummah. My parents’ code of conduct involved discipline, empathy and an absolute clarity about our responsibilities and ongoing commitment to society as a whole.
May Allah grant Hazrat Ebrahim RA and Rahimuth (affectionately known as Aunty Julie) Jannatul Firdous, Inshallah and put Nur in their Qabr, Inshallah Ameen.
Innalillahi wa inna iliahi raaji un. VOC