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child being very kind hearted, sharing
everything she had and liked. She was
very sensitive, and felt the pain of those
she loved as her own . I remember if I cut
my finger she would cry and grip her own
finger in pain, mommy you are in pain it
hurts so much.
Whether school or home she was always
respectful to everyone. She was her
fathers little nightingale with a contagious
smile and loving demeanour. If any maid
accidentally broke a glass or something
she would readily take the blame to avoid
the poor maid being scolded. She loved
balloons, dolls , books. As she grew
older children replaced dolls and she grew
attracted to the elderly and volunteered in
senior citizen homes and preschools.
She also had an ardent love for the Quran ,
and memorised it with her own effort with
meanings and context, thus also studying
the bible and Torah . Fowzia used to refer
to her as an encyclopaedia of comparative
religions. On the eve before Eid she would
buy lots of bangles, henna, toys and other
stuff and distribute to little less fortunate
girls so they can share the joys of Eid. In
all of this Aafia never advertised o bragged
of her actions. No my daughter was very
modest
Payam-e-Haya:
What two things about
aafia do you miss the most?
Ismat Siddiqui
:
I am her mother I miss
her and everything about her. But most of
all the sound of her early morning quranic
recitation and humming around the house.
And at night when she would massage my
feet and share stories of what happened in
school...
Payam-e-Haya:
Mothers of Pakistan
salute your patience and steadfast faith.
Can you share with us what gives you this
strength and hope?
Ismat Siddiqui
:
My saviour is the
Quran. It gives me peace and provides
a solution to all my problems. Anyway
pessimism is unislamic. I am here in
Pakistan with friends and family and I
think of my innocent little baby alone
locked in a dungeon for life. What she goes
through everyday and never complains but
praises Allah and his messenger may peace
be upon him. Indeed it is times like these
and tests like these that give us the warmth
and closeness of Allah swt. It reminds me
of a couplet
‘Na shahi ke Tamanna ho na faqay hon
pareshan kun (no desire for kingdoms, nor
will starvation worry us ) shab e tareek
me Ronay ki Lazat gar Khuda de de. ( the
flavor of tearful meditation in dark nights
if God grants us). Also there are thousands
of people around the world who pray and
comfort me and are trying for Aafia’s
freedom.
(To be continued on page: 50)