Our Early Memories with Maviyah

Her papa wanted a girl from the very beginning of her conception, with mixed features from both her parents. And that is whom they were blessed with - their little angel, Maviyah. Her mother raised her like the quintessential, perfect child, constantly adapting to new changes and welcoming her parents’ teachings like writings on stone. Her mama didn’t permit her to do anything new but she vividly recalls how when Maviyah was 14, back from the pleasant stay in the UK, her mother finally did allow her to visit the supermarket with her friend, to which she ecstatically rejoiced in shock and delight. Upon sudden change, she questioned this move to which her Mama said, “I have raised you as well as I could. Now you are responsible for yourself. You know what is right and what is wrong, and I trust you to make the right decisions. You can travel the world if you want to. I have nothing else to impart to you, my love.”

When she was only in grade 6, her teacher offered her son for her wedlock in the future. Maviyah’s mama in utter shock and disbelief at the idea of being separated from her daughter, didn’t react to this proposition. But now that she looks back, it makes her so proud of her daughter and the love she constantly received from everyone around her.

Everyone loved her. She was the apple of their eyes. Her parents were recognised through Maviyah and her goodness, light and life. She was raised in an Islamic household, where her father taught her the essence of prayer and imparted as much religious knowledge as he could. Her Khala let her sleep once on the couch where she had dozed off mid-evening, but when she woke up she realized she was late for Isha prayer. Her aunt had only wanted her to sleep but the idea of missing a prayer horrified the little 10 year old then. Eventually, she practiced Islam in her last days with a resolution and commitment never exhibited by anyone her age. In retrospect, maybe it was an inkling in her that wanted to fit in a lifetime of devotion to Allah in those last few weeks.