Ridwan Sarumi Esq.

To My Beloved Fateemah’Zahra, My little girl, my answered prayer, my piece of heaven on earth… Two years ago, my life changed in a way words will never be enough to explain. Two years ago, I met a tiny human being who would become one of the deepest parts of my heart. Two years ago, I became your mother, and in that moment, a part of me that I never knew existed came alive. Happy 2nd birthday, my darling daughter. Sometimes, I look at you and wonder how someone so little can hold such a big part of me. How can your tiny hands hold so much of my heart? How can your little voice bring me comfort in ways you will probably never understand? How can loving you feel like remembering something my soul has always known? My darling, your birth story is one I will carry with me for the rest of my life. It is a story filled with emotions that are difficult to put into words. A story that changed me. A story that gave me a different understanding of love, strength, fear, hope, and gratitude. Whenever I think about the day you came into this world, I am reminded that some moments are too sacred to be explained; they can only be felt. You came into my life, and something inside me became forever connected to you. Our story began long before you could look into my eyes, hold my fingers, or recognise my voice. And somehow, even now, I feel that the bond we share is deeper than words could ever describe. You are only two, my baby, but there are moments when I look into your eyes and feel as though you know a part of me that nobody else knows. There is something about you that touches the deepest corners of my heart. Perhaps it is the way you look for me, the way you come close to me, the way your little presence makes even an ordinary day feel special. Or perhaps it is simply because you are my daughter, and a part of my heart will always recognise a part of itself in you. You may not remember these early years when you grow older. You may not remember the way I watched you sleep, the way I held you close, the countless times I checked on you just to make sure you were okay, or the little moments when I looked at you and silently thanked Allah for your life. But I hope that, somehow, you will always feel how deeply you were loved. I hope you grow up knowing that you were never just another chapter in my life. You became a part of my story that I could never imagine living without. My sweet girl, motherhood has taught me that love is not always expressed through beautiful words. Sometimes, it is in the sacrifices nobody sees. It is in the silent prayers whispered over a sleeping child. It is in the worries a mother carries quietly, the strength she discovers when she has no choice but to be strong, and the countless ways she tries to make the world gentler for the little person who calls her Mum. And for you, my darling, I pray that my love will always be a safe place for your heart. I pray that as you grow, the world will be kind to you. I pray that Allah will protect your innocence, guard your heart, guide your steps, and surround you with people who recognise the precious soul that you are. May He make you a woman of beautiful character, firm faith, a gentle heart, and a strength that comes from knowing Him. May Allah grant you a life filled with barakah, good health, genuine happiness, beneficial knowledge, and beautiful opportunities. May He protect you from pain that breaks you, friendships that diminish you, and situations that make you question your worth. And when life inevitably becomes difficult, may He give you the courage to keep going and the certainty that His mercy is always near. I pray that you will always know Allah, love Him, trust Him, and find comfort in Him. May you grow to love your deen, carry it with dignity, and become a source of goodness wherever you go. And, my baby, I pray that I will be the mother you need me to be. I pray for the wisdom to guide you without dim