Sharifah expressed, “Everyone across the world who knows me also knows my son Shariqah, and it’s as though we’re inseparable, like a mother’s bond with her children. After the love we hold for Allah (S.W.A) and His Messenger (S.A.W), there is no stronger connection that binds us, even though we have different parents. There is nothing in this world that I cherish more than Shariqah, and the feeling is mutual. She is my dear sister, but it’s not just me following her; in fact, it’s the other way around.”

“Despite being married for a long time, Shariqah is a constant presence in my life. Even if she doesn’t come over, I find myself heading to her house because my husband lives out of town. We practically spend every night together, engaged in heartfelt conversations. Shariqah possesses the gift of unwavering patience and insight, even when I’m upset. She’s the one person in the world who supports me through thick and thin, the confidant to whom I reveal everything.”

“I gave birth to my daughter, Hamidah, and I can swear that after enduring nine months of pregnancy, labor, and forty days of breastfeeding, I can’t even fathom the challenges of raising a child. Shariqah has taken on everything when it comes to caring for the baby, tending to every messy situation, even when I was attending university and couldn’t be there.”

“Once, during a particularly heated argument, she told me that if she didn’t handle it, I should just leave the baby there. People might be shocked that a mother would say such a thing, but I knew she couldn’t abandon her daughter. That’s why I mention it. After eight months of breastfeeding Hamidah, I weaned her, and Shariqah and her husband moved to their own home.”

“Hamidah woke up thinking Shariqah was her mother, recognizing me but seeing me as her visiting sister. Hamidah has required ongoing medical treatment, and Shariqah often spent entire days waiting in the hospital queue. Many people, initially drawn to Shariqah, mistook her for a married woman when they saw her with her daughter. They’d call her ‘mummy,’ thinking she was in a marital relationship.”

“Her friends would sometimes tease her, suggesting that she would only venture out when she looked her best, so she could pick up her daughter and disrupt their plans. She’d respond that if someone wanted to love her, they had to love her and her daughter together. Even when traveling abroad for her finance studies, Shariqah would tell her friends not to buy her anything but to get things for Hamidah.”

“Shariqah and I share a striking resemblance in our hair, so Hamidah resembles me while she takes after Shariqah. The only thing that separates Shariqah and Hamidah now is marriage. I ensured she married someone understanding and supportive, but luck wasn’t on her side. So, Hamidah remained with our mother.”

“Hamidah’s father didn’t appreciate the value of family and neglected his responsibilities. He left his daughter without fulfilling his God-given duties. For me, this turned out to be a blessing because whenever I bring Hamidah to my home, there are constant conflicts. He’s a troublemaker and often uses Hamidah to provoke me, which is why she fears him and avoids him altogether.”

“He didn’t fulfill his obligations like providing for her needs, clothing, hospital expenses, and maintaining a conducive environment, so he didn’t prevent me from pursuing my career in different countries. His heart seems devoid of compassion, and he’s more interested in his own desires.”

“My mother has been a rock during these trying times for both me and my daughter. I’ve been managing my finances and hers to ensure our well-being. His failure to fulfill his duties has had consequences, leaving him jobless and struggling to secure new employment. I leave it to God and continue to take care of myself and my daughter, with my mother’s support.”

“Although Hamidah is under my mother’s care, she often visits Shariqah, who lives nearby in the same town. Their neighborhoods are not far apart. May Allah bless Shariqah with continuous blessings and unwavering strength. She has been tested with an abusive husband and unkind in-laws, and the fact that they live under the same roof is challenging for her.”

“Shariqah is remarkably patient, and Hamidah confides everything in her. However, she insists that Hamidah shouldn’t share certain things with me because she knows I can be hotheaded and don’t like being insulted.”

“Our mother is a strong-willed woman who loves her children and stands up for their rights. Even after our father’s passing, we didn’t feel like we’d lost anything because she embodies both feminine and masculine qualities, taking care of herself and others.”

“Shariqah’s struggles in her husband’s home often go unnoticed because she maintains her composure.”