Our Uncle

Everybody has aunts and uncles. But not everybody appreciates them while they are alive and will disregard their advice or act rude and impatient toward them at times. And yet, we cry when they are gone and regret how we treated them badly or did not pay them enough attention.

We had a really hard time after our mom’s death. Our father often had to skip work because we were young and too afraid to stay at home alone. The money he made was barely enough to get by. It was during such a difficult time that God sent our uncle to visit us. My brother and I loved him very much and did not want him to leave. We felt such joy and peace of mind with him as if he was our mother, not our uncle.

My mother’s brother would indulge our every whim when he visited and buy us anything we ever wanted. If I wanted one Kinder chocolate egg, he bought me a whole package. If I wanted an ice cream cone, he filled up the freezer with ice cream.

One day, our uncle asked if we had outfits ready for the first day of school. We had not yet bought anything for school, but Dad told us to tell our uncle that everything was fine and we did not need anything. Dad was embarrassed that our uncle had helped us out a lot, even when Mom was still alive. So we said that we did have school outfits. Uncle asked us to show him. When we began to look for excuses, like “I do not remember where we put it,” he realized we were not ready to start the school year.

Without saying a word, our uncle went to the market and bought us school clothes and even winter coats. We were so happy!

Allah I helped us as our father had little money and we had no school clothes. Upon leaving, our uncle gave me and my brother some money. He promised to bring his wife Saadat next time.After he left, a dark, depressing atmosphere fell over our house again and the feeling that our mom was near started to fade away.

My mother's brother often brought his wife to visit us and she would teach us something, for example, how to cook, how to greet and say goodbye to guests. She helped us a lot and sewed our clothes.

When I fell sick, my uncle came to the hospital with a bag of candy. He brought so much of everything that I gladly shared it with other children in my ward.

Our uncle was always there for us when we needed help during the most difficult times. If we had a toothache, he would take us to the dentist; if we wanted something sweet, he would buy it right away. We lived at his place during the summer.

Time passed, we grew up, had our own families and settled far from home. They maintained the relationship at first and regularly called, but then they began to call less and less until the connection was broken. We would visit our uncle whenever we traveled back home. The way he and his wife met us and rejoiced at our arrival filled our hearts with even greater love for them. They would never let us leave emptyhanded and worried a lot about us.

Things were going fine until October 12 this year. Our always cheerful and joyful uncle suddenly died. It was hard for us to believe, because we had recently sat down together with Ama (the name we called him when we were kids), talking and enjoying each other’s company, sharing his plans and disappointment that he couldn’t perform the hajj this year. He looked healthy and strong, and now he lies in the damp ground... He died so quickly and unexpectedly that people cannot believe he is gone.

Our beloved uncle, who would do anything for his nephews, who cared so much about us, is now resting in the ground. God did not grace him with his own children so he gave all of his love to us.

I now ask myself many questions: Why didn’t I call him? Why didn’t I try to visit more often? Why did we stay so far away when things were going bad for him?

Oh, our beloved uncle, we did not have time to thank you for all you did for us!

But we will never forget your love, care and help. We will now make dua for you so God will ease your torment and questioning in the grave by Munkar and Nakir, and also that Allah I will help you cross the Sirat bridge and reunite you in Paradise with those you loved in this life and who loved you.

Aunts and uncles are our parents’ closest kin and we must love them no less.

Never postpone family visits and always take the time to give them a call. They will be happy to hear from you, even if you just call to ask how they are. Life is so short! One moment you are here and the next you are gone. Do not hesitate to express your gratitude and love to others.

We pray to Allah I to grant patience to our uncle's wife and kindly ask everyone to make dua for him.

STORY SHARED
BY RAKHMAT ABDULVAGABOVA