Left Behind but Not Defeated: A Mother’s 32-Year Journey

The Journey of Faith, Struggle, and Triumph

BY:Khan

My story stretches over the past thirty-two years, marked by challenges, resilience, and the undeniable grace of God. From the very beginning, unusual and troubling incidents kept surfacing in our household, leaving us in constant distress. Yet, through the prayers of elders and the mercy of Allah Almighty, life moved forward.

In 1998, however, our lives took a completely new turn. At that time, my eldest daughter was pursuing her F.Sc. and my eldest son was in matriculation. Their father—my husband—had recently accepted the “Golden Handshake” from the army and resigned from his service. For a short time, he stayed with us in Karachi, but two years later, he brought us to Lahore, where we had no choice but to move into my maternal uncle’s vacant house.

Everyone around advised my husband not to remain idle since the children were still young. They urged him to either seek employment or start a business. But his response was always the same: “I’ve done what I had to do. Now it’s their turn. I have nothing left for them.”

Gradually, when he saw my father-in-law and brothers-in-law taking up jobs to support their families, he decided the best option for himself was escape. One day, he left us with the words: “My pension is enough for me. I will see how you raise and educate these children without me.” With that, he returned to Karachi, leaving us behind with uncertainty and grief.

Before he left, life under the same roof with him had felt suffocating, as though the house carried some strange shadow. The children were constantly anxious. At times he would spend entire days lost in television, while on other days, he would sit endlessly in the mosque. His obsession with books was unmatched. He spent most of his pension on buying them, filling nearly twenty cartons. We had little furniture, but six massive iron cupboards to hold his collection. When he moved back to Karachi, he sold more than half of those books. He left us with tears, but perhaps forgot that it is Allah who is the true Provider and Protector of His creation.

By the time he walked out of our lives, my daughter had advanced to her MSc, my eldest son was in engineering, the younger one was in matric, and the youngest was in sixth grade. I made a promise to all four children that their education would never be compromised. My intentions were sincere, and God’s hand was with us.

My father, brothers, and uncle stood by me like a fortress. Their support, coupled with the determination and hard work of my children, carried us through those testing years. Today, by the grace of Allah, we are in a much better place.

My daughter completed her MPhil, and now she and her husband both work in Saudi Arabia. My eldest son became an engineer and holds a senior position in a multinational company. His wedding is on the horizon. The second son, who endured the most struggles, began working while still studying so his elder brother’s education would not be affected. He is now completing his MSc in Economics while continuing his job. Even my eldest son contributed by teaching tuition classes after his graduation. My youngest son earned his BS Honors degree and is currently pursuing an MBA. I take great pride in the fact that all of them have achieved record-breaking success in their respective institutions.

Two of the strongest pillars of my support—my beloved father and my dear aunt, who always stood beside us—have since returned to their Creator. But their love and sacrifices eased our journey and made our lives more bearable.

And what of the man who should have been our protector? The one who left us stranded midway? I hear he has lived in poverty and hardship. May God ease his path. My children tried to include him in their joys, but he always responded with, “I have nothing,” before severing contact. For the past ten years, he has not contributed a single penny toward our household. Perhaps he always believed we only reached out to him to ask for money. He never understood that what his children wanted was not his wealth, but his presence.

Through all these trials, I learned one unshakable truth: Allah’s plans are always better than ours. He never abandoned us. He rewarded our perseverance and blessed us in ways we could never have imagined.

Sometimes, I wonder what would have become of us if my husband had stayed. Would my children still have grown into the strong, capable, and accomplished individuals they are today? Or would they have been weighed down by the instability that once surrounded us? Only God knows.

But today, when I watch my children live with dignity and success, when I see them stand tall through their own hard work, I thank Allah a thousand times. Indeed, what He does is always for the best.