My father - my strength, my mentor, my inspiration.

We laid our father to rest, after Asr prayers on 24th Wednesday last month. He was 88 years old when he passed away. Our entire family continues to grapple with the loss of our patriarch. The many good wishes and prayers we have received have helped immensely. Many have also shared memories, including photographs, of my father – which is much appreciated.

I also took this time to reflect on my father’s life, and the ways in which he shaped my personality, my morals, and my perspectives. Over a life well lived, he has gifted me with a wealth of inspiration, and lessons for a lifetime.

My father hails from several great political families in Male’, both on his paternal and maternal sides – Kakaage, Bodugaluge/Dharavandhooge, and Velidhooge. His was a family that valued learning, and cherished teaching. Inspired by the generations that came before him, at a young age, my father fell in love with the pursuit of knowledge and the joy of sharing it. He memorized the Holy Quran at the tender age of nine. He acquired his knowledge and religious education from the great Maldivian scholar, Sheikh Hussein Salaahuddin – also his uncle.

While he was never active in politics, it caught up with him in early 1968. He was detained under house arrest for seven months. At the time, he was serving as one of the Chief Judges of the Judiciary. Earlier, he had also served as the last Khatheeb – a title granted by the Sultan – of Malé Henveiru ward. When he was released from his detention, he was asked to report back to work as a Judge, He refused. My father believed that even though he was found innocent and not accused of any wrong-doing, the mere fact that he was kept under house arrest disqualified him from returning to the judiciary, as his credibility and integrity has been questioned. To me, this incident clearly demonstrated his strength of character. When he refused to resume his duties in the Judiciary, he was offered a job to lead Friday prayers.

My father cherished teaching. He had started teaching at the age of 14 in 1949. He remained steadily on the path of imparting religious knowledge for his entire life. He was a teacher of some of the most important subjects in the formative years of a child in our community – Quran and Islamic Studies. He taught many generations. Furthermore, during earlier days, a time when Malé had only two state-run schools, he taught at all the private schools in the area. He taught at Fareedhiyyaa and Salaahiyyaa schools in the 1940’s and at Majeedhiyya School since mid 1970’s. He was also my teacher at Majeedhiyya School.

His students recall with love and fondness, his calm demeanour, his patience, and his pleasant disposition. My father believed in gently guiding young minds to embrace knowledge. And he saw it as his moral duty to shape the characters of his young students, and instil discipline in them, with compassion. His wisdom has touched many lives and earned their boundless respect – as evidenced by the many messages from his students I have received in these past few days.

I had not realized how wide his outreach in teaching has been felt, until I started to travel across the country later in my life. During our childhood, the availability of education was limited to the capital city Male’. Consequently, several young people from other islands travelled to Male’ and sought to learn from my father, at our family home. I would often go to bed listening to my father teaching his students, their young minds always eager for more knowledge. This tradition of teaching runs deep in our household; before him, it was his brother, and prior to that, his uncle, who upheld this noble tradition, spanning generations. These young people went back to their islands and served as Island Chiefs, Imams and teachers. On almost every island I travelled to, I was pleasantly surprised to meet former students of my father.

My father believed wholeheartedly in serving the nation. As a Hafiz, he served on the Hifz Committee (Committee in the Maldives, which examines those who memorize the Quran) for over 50 years. He was serving as the President of the Committee when he was given his retirement notice. Having served successive governments for several decades, being asked to retire – especially from the Hifz Committee – and not being able to serve, brought him immense sadness.

His profound love for this country is also evident in his decision to donate the centuries old Mushaf collection that he had inherited from his family to the National Centre for the Holy Quran when it was established on 22 December 2000. That collection was passed through generations within Dharavandhooge, but he believed that these national treasures – now housed at the National Museum - should be accessible to everyone. Whenever I gaze upon them, I am awed by his simple, but profound act of patriotism.

As a devoted family man, he shared heartfelt affection with my mother throughout their marriage of sixty-six years. They lived an exemplary life of togetherness, inspiring us in more ways than one.

My father was the bedrock of our clan, a figure revered by each generation. Whether seeking guidance, wisdom, or simply his comforting presence, we all turned to him—his children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and even their offspring. He wasn't just a father to me; he was a mentor, a guide, and an unwavering source of support. His wisdom ran deep, and his care for each of us was genuine and boundless.

Beyond our family circle, my father's respect for his friends and acquaintances was also a source of inspiration to me. For a man of few words, my father possessed a remarkable gift for listening, a quality that endeared him to many. It was this attentiveness that fostered many deep friendships - friendships that helped us in moments of sadness and occasions of joy. When he spoke, his words resonated with clarity and wisdom. Honesty and truth rang through in every word he expressed. He always exuded calmness. I have always admired his unique style of communication – courteous, gentle, and compassionate. These qualities not only enriched his friendships but also left a lasting impression on all who had the privilege of knowing him. In his life, my father not only enriched the bonds of family and friendship but also left behind a legacy of kindness, wisdom, and unwavering integrity. As at the core of it he valued all these relationships that he built with our family and with people from all walks of life, from various islands in the Maldives.

The biggest tragedy that any parent will encounter in their lifetime is the loss of their child. My father lost his only two daughters at sea – aged 12 and 14 - along with their caregiver, while holidaying in Vaavu Atoll. This was one of the saddest days we faced as a family. We were all devastated. We wept and cried, shaken and heartbroken. In the days that followed this heartbreaking loss, my father showed us his immensely strong faith. Not once did I hear him complain about the tragedy that befell on him. His complete acceptance of his fate touched me. My father found comfort in constant prayers – prayers for his dear daughters, and prayers to keep our lives steady. As an eloquent poet, my father composed an entire book of poetry, dedicated to their beautiful memories. Tears fill my eyes as I recall his heart-touching words for our beloved sisters. This was a chapter which never closed for him.

I am my father’s son – I am who I am because of his guidance. He has been my primary source of strength, my most constant advisor, and my most sincere critic. He has never faltered in guiding me in my professional career, in politics, and most importantly, in my everyday life.

As democratization and multi-party politics began taking root in the Maldives, I felt a growing desire to expand my efforts for my country, building upon the work I was already engaged in. As I delved deeper into politics, regardless of the various roles I have held throughout my career, I always sought guidance from my father. He was my source of strength, wisdom, and guidance. Whenever I glanced over my shoulder, seeking reassurance and direction, he was always there, ever so gentle and calm.

When furious political protests came to our doorstep, putting the sanctity of our home at risk, I would inform my parents of the seriousness of the situation, and remain focused on my responsibility to keep my beloved mother and father safe. Even at such instances, my father’s calmness kept me at ease. He trusted my capabilities to face those challenges. His complete trust in me, humbled me.

My father was my strength in every sense of the word. He was my North Star, guiding me and our family along the right path. He inspired us through action.

I will always stand in awe of my beloved father – always and forever.

May Allah (SWA) grant him the highest rank in Jannat-al-Firdous. Aameen.

Abdulla Shahid 27 April 2024

Editor's Note: Abdulla Shahid is the Former President of the 76th United Nations General Assembly and Former Foreign Minister of the Maldives. He is currently the President of Maldivian Democratic Party.