A moment in front of the holy memory of the father!

Our own family history is something that many of us, knowingly or unknowingly, do not try to understand, or do not delve deeply into. A person’s first history should be his own history and the history of the family in which he grew up. We grew up in their shadow, drawing energy from those roots. I can’t imagine where we would be without them. But still we do not try to know their history. The names of their great-grandfathers are not remembered.

But many Arabs know their family roots go back centuries. In a single breath, they have remembered the tradition and history of at least six generations and watched in awe. Because family is so important. What enables a great tree to hold its head up is its roots. And so is his own family.

His father was a native of Chemnad Chekaramkot CH. Bulli Haji called Abdullah. Mother Mogral Puthur Vaidyar family member B.M. Khadijabi Umm and Uppa were two orphans whose parents died when they were young and had to lead a difficult life. He is the third of the seven children of their married life. The elder sister Asmabi left for Allah earlier. The others are elder brother Muhammadali, younger brothers Abdusalam, Abdurrahiman and Abdurrahim and sister Fatima.

A little flashback

My sister Asmabi, whom we respectfully called Ummama, was five years older than me. She was immensely read, visionary and loving. He used to hold my hand when I was studying in Batak Pambat Girls’ School. According to the practice of that time, after completing their UP school studies, their marriage took place. Kovwal Abdur Rasheed was the groom. She gave birth to three girls, Sina, Najmu, and Rameeza, and both of them departed prematurely to Allah.

Uppa, Umma, Aliyan, Icha and Ummumak gave every possible treatment to Ummumak while he was ill. Kutti Ikkaka’s service was noteworthy. It was he who was often with Umm when she was taken to Manipal and Kozhikode alternately for treatment. Umma will often remember Antacha and Shaficha Ichicha who donated blood to her that day. Whenever those events unfolded, Umm’s eyes would become wet. And those who listen. Her death was a very emotional event for everyone in the family.

To Kuwait

In 1960, on an adventure in the launch from Mompe, at that time people including his father had left for Kuwait. Uppa used to tell about working in the desert in extreme heat without refrigeration. Later economic prosperity began with Bakhala in the desert region known as Maqwa near Ahmadi, Kuwait. A thousand praises to Allah.

Uncle had great love for us. If he came from Kuwait, he would take her by the hand and take her to Kasaragod town and buy her all the necessary things. I am reminded of the fragrance of the red amber that was brought from Kuwait. Uppa was associated with around five shops in Kasaragod city. Two grocery stores, a hardware store, a cloth shop and a shoe store. All of them were close friends of uncle.

Uppa’s clothes were white cloth and full sleeve shirt in the country. The groceries needed for the home were bought from CTH’s or CT Ahmadalichan’s shop. The shoe was made to measure from CT Allenchant’s shop. He had bought a pair of leather sandals. Our clothes were sourced from Oucherchant’s shop on Market Road.

A life full of reading

Uppak was very interested in Islamic knowledge. In addition to the Qur’an and Hadith, he used to read Islamic texts including the Tafhimul Qur’an for a long time. Marhum Issuddin Maulavi, a scholar and orator, was Uppak’s mentor in this regard. It was Issuddin Maulavi who laid the foundation stone of Rahmat Masjid near his house in Chemnad sand area.

His father, who was fluent in Arabic, used to read Arabic books and Malayalam books including Quran translation. He used to ask for some Arabic books to be sent from Jeddah. Uppa always used to recite ‘Masurat’, a work of Marhum Hasanul Banna’s prayers and dikurs.

Being admitted to Islamia College, Shantapuram on the advice of the Maulavi, was a blessing in life. Later many of the family members got facilities to study in Islamic colleges. When I was studying in Shantapuram, it was rare that a letter sent by Uppa from Kuwait by post did not have two hundred rupee notes inside the envelope.

The scene of Postman Narayanan of Pathalkad Post Office bringing the money order to the classroom and signing and receiving the money brought joy to my mind. His father’s letters were a treasure trove of precious thoughts and advice. Exhortational letters quoting Qur’anic verses and hadiths. Whenever he remembered his father, he used to re-read those letters.

Suratul Azhar

Surat Asr is the short but important 103rd chapter of the Qur’an. That word means time. The content of this surah contains the four things that a man needs to be successful. Those four things are faith, good deeds, admonition with truth, and admonition with patience. Imam Shafi’i commented on this Surah that if Allah had revealed this single Surah for the human society, it would have been sufficient. In most of the letters that Uppa used to send, he used to advise this surah in advance.

There are two ayats that Uppa used to recite regularly if he had to stand as the imam for the Maghrib prayer in the mosque he built himself. It was the last verses 128 and 129 of Surat Tawbah. He regularly used to recite Dhikr from Shaheed Hasanul Banna’s book of Dhikr called ‘Masurat’.

Performance of Hajj

It is known that Uppa has performed Hajj three times. One of them was in Kuwait, where father and mother performed Hajj together. Later, after settling down in the country, first Uppa and his friend Matil Abdullahcha together, then after a few years, Uppa and Umma performed Hajj again. He was working in Jeddah while performing these two Hajj rituals.

The year uncle and umma came for Hajj, I was also allowed to go for Hajj. I was able to participate in the Hajj rituals with them in Mina, Arafa and Muzdalifah and stoned in Jamra together. Although there were strict restrictions to enter the tent of the Indian pilgrims, by the immense grace of Allah, the tent was able to enter.

After the demise of Issuddin Maulavi in 1978, Abdul Hakeem Maulavi, who was the khatib of Kandypalli in Kasaragod and a famous scholar, filled the gap. According to his advice, his father established a center for reciting the Qur’an near Masjid Rahmat. As a part of it, an educational complex including many classrooms, an auditorium, a hostel and a canteen was built on three floors.

Pamphlet on interest

Due to his extreme loyalty and obligation to the Holy Deen of Islam, Uppak had a great aversion to usury and banks. I was asked if I could prepare a leaflet explaining what to do with the interest received from the bank. He undertook the task with little experience writing in periodicals.

This subject was posed as a question in class to Maulavi Abu Salah, a renowned scholar who taught us at Islahia College, Chendamangallur. He was a teacher who liked to answer any question from the students. It is remembered that he answered it in three forms by quoting Dr. Yusuf Qardawi.

1. Bank lends out interest by collecting people’s money as deposits. It is better to spend it on public needs. For example, expenditure on roads, public wells etc.
2. The poor are often the scapegoats of usury. The money earned as interest can be used to pay off their interest-bearing debt.
3. Return the excess money earned as interest to the bank. But Maulavi Abu Salah suggested that the first two opinions are better because the bank is flourishing through this.

Uppa liked the pamphlet prepared by including these three things. I remember him printing it and distributing it at Chemnad Jamaat Masjid on Fridays after Jumu’ah Namaz.

with father

Before the results came out after his degree studies, the elder Muhammadali had taken a visa. At that time, it was lucky to get a visa to Kuwait. He searched for a job for two months but did not get it. At that time, I was lucky to be able to work with my father for a year and a half, saying that he stayed here when he came to see his father, who was in the country on vacation.

Abdul Khader Haji of Kasarkot Bayvinja was also present as Uppa’s business partner. After selling salt for six months and going home, the next six months are the turn of Khader Haji. Our family member Chirakal Abdurrahman, also called Antacha, was there to help in Bakhala. The clients were a few Pakistanis and Kuwaitis. Arabic and Urdu must be known to conduct business among them. You need to know the name of the goods in both languages. Antacha taught each and every one of them.

Uppan’s Bakhala was in Maqwa area on the route from Kuwait to Iraq. It was the time when the Iran-Iraq war was at its peak. The heavy sound of the explosions scared Makhwa too. At that time, the weapons were shipped to Iraq using the Shuwaikh port in Kuwait. From six in the evening to six in the morning, I was surprised to see the death patch of armed vehicles with sirens.

Meanwhile, several small and large explosions were common in Kuwait. Once there was a huge explosion at the Ahmadi refinery and the Kuwaiti authorities evacuated everyone from the area. With that, in 1986, my father and I returned to Safat in search of new pastures.

Financial matters

It was pointed out that Uppa had helped generously during his studies. He was a middleman who gave money to many people in the country. Sometimes it is because of the purchase of land. Otherwise, it may be the amount given as grant or loan. Without mentioning it, they will just say that you paid this money there. Sometimes he would go to Keezhur where his uncle’s family was and take him with him. These are all small channels of love. I used to enjoy all that back then.

When he came to Kuwait, Kaitangai Uppa helped him with a lot of money there too. During Saddam Hussain’s occupation, while returning from Kuwait and moving forward in the town, starting with the computer center, Patapil Moecha (Shah Jahan’s father) informed him why you are bothering here and that you have a visa for Saudi Arabia. It was a time when family traditions were coming. Through Umma, he asked Uncle if he could get a loan of 50,000 rupees. It was with those aids that the doors of infinite blessings were opened.

Active presence in the country

The Holy Prophet said: When a man dies, all but three activities cease to be associated with him. Ever-lasting charity, beneficial knowledge, and the prayer of blessed children. The father traveled to Allah by planning all the things to get these three. My father did countless good deeds in one birth like helping the poor generously, giving us waqf properties, giving us Islamic and material education.

In Tablighi Jamaat

During his stay in the country, his father used to come in contact with Tablighi activists and participate in their events. Saju Patappil, a family member, became close friends with many Tabligh activists like Poinchi Basheer Sahib, Tabligh Habib, Karamu Haji, CT Abdurahiman Sahib and participated in many Tabligh events and journeys with them. May Allah accept it all as good deeds. February 18, 2009 We all mourned and departed to Allah. Lord… forgive us our sins and let us enter your heaven. Amen.

The dream must come true

The above mentioned center of Islamic studies was the main dream of Uppa and Umma. It is the responsibility of all of us to raise that institution which was built by spending a good part of the savings of Uppa’s life in exile. Let’s work together. May the Almighty give us strength and power for that.

The bird and the bird’s nest

Umma informed that uncle’s illness is worsening and he should come home. He left his wife and children in Jeddah and returned home for a two-week vacation. The seriousness of the disease was confirmed when the biopsy was taken. And spent most of the time with Uppa. Among the many other things that Uppappa went to Thanjavur, he said:

The body and the soul can be likened to a bird and a bird’s nest. Just as the bird has no relevance to the bird’s nest, so the soul has no relevance to the body. So there is no need to fear death. Do many good deeds and enrich your life. This was the last advice given to me by my father who gave me many advices.

It is a lesson for us and our future generations that our father left this world by doing many small and big good deeds. Quran recitation, Tahajjud prayer, Sunnah fasting, financial aid etc. continued till the last moment. He was not at all interested in material comforts.

Training our generations to live by these models is essential to our collective success. Hope this post will help you. He loved to give everything, reminding us of the prophetic saying that the hand that gives is high. If there is nothing to give, those who come to pray in the mosque, even if they give Kadali fruit, Uppa Sayujyamada. Such a tender heart. May Allah admit him and us to heaven. Let the sins be forgiven. Amen.