Honour your father and the lessons he has taught you

I salute dads in Bermuda this Father’s Day, or as I would like to call it, this ‘Dad’s Day’.

As the quote by an unknown author goes, “Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad.”  

My dad is my hero, as he is for my siblings. 

His children appreciate him for his love and guidance. He was a good father, who took his job as a parent seriously. 

Wisdom

He set an example of strength, honour, sacrifice, and responsibility. 

He was good to our mother, and I’m sure they had their ups and downs, but it never affected his role as father. 

I read somewhere a long, long time ago, that the best thing a father could do for his children is love their mother.  

On Father’s Day, we honour dads for their love and the lessons they have taught us.  

I was just speaking with my sister Karen the other day, and we both commented on how if we had only listened when our beloved dad was dropping pearls of wisdom to us, what a dynamic place we would be in.

A lot of the ups and downs we have experienced we would have been spared.

It has been proven that everything our dad predicted would happen if we didn’t take his advice, did happen! 

What a wise man he was, but somehow children never can see the wisdom their parents have until after we have attained a few knocks and bumps along the way, which could have been avoided had we listened! 

But I guess that’s life! 

And our Dad knew it, but he said what he had to say; he knew it was his duty to try and guide his hard-headed children anyway.

One of the most special dads of Islam was Prophet Muhammad. 

Prophet Muhammad was a perfect father and grandfather. 

He treated his children and grandchildren with great compassion; never neglecting to direct them to good deeds. 

He loved and treated them tenderly, but did not allow them to act inappropriately. 

He showed them how to lead a humane life, and never allowed them to neglect their religious duties or to become spoiled. 

The Messenger was balanced in the way he brought up his children. 

For example, one day his grandsons, Hasan or Husain, wanted to eat a date that had been given to be distributed among the poor as alms (charity). 

The Messenger immediately took it from his hand, and said, “Anything given as alms is forbidden to us.” (Ibn Hanbal, Muslim).

In teaching them while  young to be sensitive to forbidden acts, he established an important principle of right and wrong.

He also let them know that as much as he loved them, he would not tolerate wrong-doings.

Anas ibn Malik, the Messenger’s servant for 10 years, reported: “I have never seen a man who was more compassionate to his family members than Muhammad.” 

Prophet Muhammad had much affection toward his family members and openly displayed it. 

Prophet Muhammad loved his granddaughter Umamah.

He often went out with her on his shoulders, and even placed her on his shoulders while praying. 

When he prostrated, he put her down; when he had finished praying, he placed her on his back again.

He showed this degree of love to Umamah to teach his male followers how to treat girls. 

This was a significant lesson, as such public affection for girls had never been seen before in Arabia.

Prophet Muhammad openly displayed his affection to his granddaughter, to attest to the people that girls were just as loved as boys.  

Whenever he returned to Medina, he would carry children on his mount. 

On such occasions, the Messenger embraced not only his grandchildren but also those in his house and those nearby. 

He conquered their hearts through his compassion. He loved all children.

Let the dads of Bermuda, follow the perfect example of Prophet Muhammad in the way they treat and train their children. Ameen. 

Happy Dad’s Day!