THE OXON DIARY
“Don’t Look Back in Anger”
By Sir Oxon
Oxford, UK
Man is a most forgetful creature.
So forgetful, indeed, that he even forgets where
he comes from, where he’s at, or where he’s
going. And that may be most of us! Reminders and
promptings of some sort are therefore always useful.
That is, reminders of one’s personal history,
as well as the longer timescale of history.
Dr Hani al-Banna, the president and founder of
the charity Islamic Relief, was one such reminder.
When I bumped into him at the Inaugural Dinner
of the Oxbridge Muslim Alumni in Cambridge last
week, we talked about old colleagues. “That
was twenty years ago,” he reminded, when
I mentioned an old Cambridge friend. We were discussing
shared personal history.
Al-Banna related his own history when giving his
after-dinner talk, which went down really well.
He came to study in the UK and intended to stay
for a couple of years before going back to Egypt.
Instead, he ended up settling here, and has now
been here for 28 years. “You don’t
know what Allah has in store for us. You don’t
know what He will do for you or what you will
do for Him.”
It is important to look back over one’s
life. When we look back we ultimately come to
our parents, the people who helped bring us to
where we are. I thought it most appropriate that
this topic, especially the emphasis on remembering
one’s mother, was brought up at the large
gathering in Cambridge.
After years of study and hard work we finally
attain or approach our goal. The Oxbridge lot
are among the highest achievers in the world in
a whole range of fields. It was essential, therefore,
to remind such the gathering to pause and remember
the support, encouragement and prayers of one’s
parents. Parents have a share in the success and
achievement of their children.
Al-Banna did well to remind everyone: “When
you excel in your subject don’t forget the
one who nurtured you, did not sleep because of
you, and deprived herself because of you”.
Furthermore, he advised that one ought to remember
one’s roots. British Muslims should remember
the back streets of Bradford and Birmingham, and
not forget the communities they hail from. In
fact, the young educated generation should engage
actively with their communities.
So, when you eventually get there, when you’re
at the top, pause and look back. Not the “look
back in anger”, but look back with love
and affection and with a view to giving back and
supporting the ones who supported you all those
years. When you have commenced your career that
is the time to look up to your parents and say
“I am from you”.
Muslims are reminded about Prophet Yusuf (Joseph)
and the respectful manner in which he treated
his parents: “And when they came in before
Joseph, he took his parents unto him, and said:
Come into Egypt safe, if Allah will! And he placed
his parents on the dais...” Quran, 13:99-100.
Another translation of the latter verse is: “And
he raised his parents to the highest place of
honour”. The literal translation is “onto
the throne”.
After all the trials and tribulations he had to
endure, Prophet Yusuf finally reached a senior
position in Egypt. He did not forget his parents.
He invited them to be with him and then raised
them also to the “highest place of honor”.
That is what they deserve in their old age. Don’t
imprison them in an Old People’s Home and
don’t torture them with loneliness.
Forgetful you may be, but don’t forget to
look back and never forget your parents.
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