Abdul Rehman: A Man of Rehman 💜

Brother Abdul Rehman is from Peshawar and has been working as a private guard at our hostel for the past one and a half years. He is a wonderful person, a devout worshipper, and regularly recites the Quran.

I often meet Brother Abdul Rehman coming and going.

I haven’t seen Brother Abdul Rehman go home in the past 18 months. I’ve asked him many times, “Brother Rehman, you should go home at least every six months,” but he only responds with a smile.

Brother Abdul Rehman has an 8-year-old son and three daughters younger than him. The children are receiving education for memorizing the Quran at a religious school, mashaAllah.

Time was passing by, and Eid al-Adha arrived. Today, Brother Rehman was very happy. He called me over, “Arif Bhai, I have something to show you.”

He took me to the parking area and brought out this beautiful bicycle. The joy, contentment, and excitement on Brother Rehman’s face… I can’t even describe it. He was so happy!

He then told me about his 8-year-old son, Ikramullah. Being the only son among three sisters, Ikramullah is very pampered. Two years ago, my son asked me, “Dad, I want a bicycle,” and I couldn’t refuse my son’s request. I promised my son that when I come home next time, I would bring a bicycle.

I got this private job for 18,000 rupees. Every month, I send 17,500 rupees home for my three daughters, son, wife, and elderly mother. I saved 500 rupees each month. My mother is elderly and often sick, so I told my wife to use the savings for my mother’s medicine and to prepare better food for her. This 17,500 rupees is a blessing due to my mother’s prayers.

My wife very carefully manages my mother’s expenses, the children’s education, and everything else, and she is very happy with this, alhamdulillah.

Now, my son’s wish became the biggest task for me. I saved 500 rupees every month, and now, after 18 months, I had saved 9,000 rupees. I couldn’t go home for 18 months because the fare to Peshawar and my expenses were exceeding my budget. Today, alhamdulillah, I have saved enough money to buy a bicycle for my son.

Arif Bhai, please take a picture of me. I’ll give you the number from my diary so you can send it. Ikramullah will know that his father has bought him a bicycle… 💜

That’s where I broke down 😭

I don’t know how tears started flowing from my eyes like a small child. This is a father’s love… 18 months of hard work… I don’t know what was going through my mind. And unfortunately, we often grow up and say to our parents, “What have you done for us?” 😭

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I sat Brother Rehman down and apologized, saying that if he had told me about this special purpose earlier, he wouldn’t have had to wait 18 months.

We gave Brother Rehman a bicycle, gifts for his children, Eid money, a return ticket to Peshawar, and lots of prayers through the platform of Akhirah Project. We sent him home under my supervision at 11:30 PM.

And I made a promise to myself that when Brother Rehman returns, we will provide him with a better job than his current 18,000 rupees job because he has the potential to earn much more.

What we did doesn’t even compare to a father’s love for his son. May Allah keep Brother Rehman safe. May Allah grant all the members of Akhirah Project the strength to spread happiness like this. Ameen, sum Ameen.