The concept of fatherhood has been accorded considerable significance within the major religious holy books of the world. Within the Holy Qur’an, the word ‘father’ appears almost 117 times. The Bible mentions fathers or fatherhood more than 1,500 times. Hindu scriptures and the Guru Granth Sahib also reference fathers. This message is about a father like no other – one who guides, sacrifices, and shapes lives without ever being noticed.
Shoiab Mohmmad Bhat
Today, the message is a special one; it has to do with a father like no other. The reality is, there are some of us here who grew up without a father, or there are others who grew up with a horrible, irresponsible father. How you wish you could have a really good father. I wrote about a father like no other, and he wants you to know him. For those of you who have wonderful fathers, I praise Almighty this message will also help you to appreciate your father even more. And to those of you who are fathers, I want you to learn from the perfect Father that you will learn today.
The concept of fatherhood has been accorded considerable significance within the major religious holy books of the world, thus emphasising the importance of fatherhood in the lives of people and society. Within the Holy Qur’an, for example, the word “father” has been used almost 117 times. In particular, the roles played by certain fathers, such as that of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), Prophet Yaqub (AS), and Luqman as fathers who guide their children towards righteousness, have been extensively mentioned. There are more than 1,500 instances in which fathers or fatherhood are mentioned in the Bible. Similarly, there have been references in Hindu scriptures and the Guru Granth Sahib to fathers as well.
So, we understand the importance given in all religious texts, most importantly, prominent in our family. Let me give an example, if I were to talk to children and ask, what is the most important thing when it comes to your father? In other words, I ask them what is most important to your father? What will children say? Will they say “the most important thing for my father is their career, money, social media, hobbies, and sports”? The way children will answer is by observing their fathers. How do you spend their time? How do you spend your money? What do you talk about? What excites you? That is what will determine their answer.
I remember when I asked children, school kids, what do you like to be when they grow up? And I was shocked, they said, “I want to be a businessman, I want to have lots of money. I want to be like that person.” And I cried in my heart when I heard it, because for them, the most important thing for us is about money, it’s business.
Also, I remember when I was in school, I wanted to become a good human being, as we wrote an essay about the aim of life, if any of us shared an aim like becoming a doctor to serve humanity, treat the poor people, as others said.
Behind every successful person is a father who makes huge sacrifices without ever being noticed. Many fathers have been working very hard for years to ensure that their loved ones can benefit from opportunities that would otherwise be impossible for them to access due to various factors. There are many obstacles, hardships, difficulties, and other things that fathers go through just because they want the best for their families. A father’s affection is often expressed through actions rather than words, such as working hard for his family, guiding them with wisdom and supporting them through any situation that comes their way. Even if all these contributions made by the father do not always get acknowledged by everyone else, what he does does affect their kids greatly, helping form some of their character traits, like respect, integrity, humility, and others.
This year’s theme is guiding strength and building futures
Father is full of courage, kindness, strength, gentleness, fortitude, and tenderness. A father, a leader, a lifelong teacher, a comfort, a patient listener, a hero in a world changer, a gift from God.
A father is a protector, a provider, a hard worker, a family man, a role model and a faithful friend, so from all of us, to all of you.
So today we celebrate you, not just a role you felt yet the heart you bring. You are the early morning risers, and the late-night listeners, the lunch makers, the gardeners, coaches, counsellors, and doctors. Your days are filled with tasks that don’t always get noticed, but they matter more than you know because you are doing more than providing.
You are planting seed, seeds of character, seeds of faith and love. Some of you, while not natural fathers, may have stepped in to fill a need as mentors, uncles, or spiritual fathers. No matter your path, your presence leaves a mark, and your example is shaping lives. Through your quiet strength, your daily sacrifices, and your simple faithfulness, you reflect the love of our heavenly Father in ways words can’t always capture. You are not in it for the applause, yet we want to say thank you anyway.
Thank you for showing up even when you are tired. For staying steady even when life feels uncertain. For loving deeply just as our heavenly Father loves us. You are a blessing, and your legacy will echo far beyond today.
Today, we honour, and always, we thank you, and we thank God for you. Happy Father’s Day.
The writer is a social educator and researcher, holding a Master’s in Gender Studies and a BEd
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