All the lessons she taught us and the sadness of her absence linger. We still carry in our hearts her words, her love, and her strength. Her death is still felt a year later, but so is her lasting legacy of faith, resilience and unwavering love.
Time finds it difficult to fill the emptiness left by the loss of a loved one. We lost our beloved sister, Tehseen Didi, to the relentless agony of stomach cancer one year ago on November 27 at 4:45 am. That morning, she took her last breath in my lap, a moment etched into my soul that I can never forget. We carry that day’s memory with us forever, a sad reminder of both her resilience during her illness and her absence.
In our family, Tehseen Didi was more than simply a sister—she was a beacon of hope. Although she led a simple and subtle life, her courage in her last months was remarkable. Despite facing an unrelenting illness, she maintained her strength, patience, and strong faith. Her spirit persisted despite her weakened body, giving us priceless lessons in patience and hope. Her final words, “Take care of my children, not for material things, but to make them good humans,” still have an impact on us today. Teach them to read the Quran and pray five times a day. These wise and kind comments from a mother now serve as a guide for our behaviour. My heart aches every time I see her two young boys, Umair and Rayaan. Their innocence serves as a reminder of the task she placed on us, which is to nurture their faith and character in addition to providing for their fundamental requirements.
As a doctor, I see many people who are struggling for their life. However, I am reminded of my sister’s struggle each time I see someone who is really sick. Remembering her suffering and the silent courage with which she endured it, the connection is intensely close. I find it difficult to describe the state of the house in the last days of our sister’s illness. Although we all knew what was going to happen next, everyone walked around with gloomy expressions and an unwavering sense of fear. The typical warmth and laughter in our house had given way to an unbearable quiet, broken only by whispers and the sound of muffled tears. The walls appeared to be mourning with us, and each and every corner of the home seemed to reverberate with our shared suffering. As we prepared for the inevitable, it seemed as if time itself had halted, imprisoning us in those painful minutes.
In addition to being an inspiration to me as a sibling, her story has taught me the value of faith in the face of hardship and the depth of empathy.
Despite living a modest life, Tehseen Didi left behind an incredible legacy of love and determination. She never gave up on her faith in Allah and taught us how to face hardship with dignity. For everyone who knew her, her bravery and faith served as a beacon, a reminder that even in the darkest times, there is light to lead the way. I want Allah to give her the greatest position in Jannah as we remember a year after her death. May He grant her children eternal peace and help them develop into virtuous, kind, and pious Muslims. Our goal is to honour her memory by raising her children the way she desired, which goes beyond simply fulfilling her wish.
All the lessons she taught us and the sadness of her absence linger. We still carry in our hearts her words, her love, and her strength. Her death is still felt a year later, but so is her lasting legacy of faith, resilience, and unwavering love. As we move forward, may we find comfort in carrying on the task she began, keeping her memories close. May her soul rest in eternal peace.
The writer is a Medical Officer at the PHC Shargole
By Dr Fazal Ul Haq
wa*******@***il.com