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As I write these lines in loving memory of our Ammijan, Mrs. Khalda Waraich, who passed away by the command of our Lord on 17th May 2023, I am still coming to terms with the fact that she is no longer with us. She was a figure you could neither ignore nor dare to defy, especially her children.
I married Khadijah in December 1997 and became part of the Waraich family. My first meeting with Ammijan in G-9, Islamabad, was unremarkable, but over the years, it became clear that she was a larger-than-life figure, a mother and matriarch who shaped the family with her drive and guidance. She was the beating heart of this young family, the engine of change, the disciplinarian, and the motivator for her three children. If this family’s fortunes changed over the last three decades, it was largely because of her commitment and tireless efforts.
Though physically small, she possessed remarkable endurance and stamina. Anyone who met her could see she was driven by a vision of academic excellence, effective time management, and a profound religious outlook. She was a devout Muslim mother who succeeded while living in the absence of her husband in the UK, inspiring both her daughters to wear hijab and enter medicine as successful doctors. Our beloved Sajid, who once said, “Ammijan, your love is conditional,” was reformed and achieved membership of the ICAEW, a notable accomplishment considering his earlier rebellious streaks.
She was like an institution in herself, almost military in her discipline, producing three fine young human beings and practicing Muslims. In her later years, she was afflicted with dementia, enduring great hardship and becoming a shadow of her former self. While painful to witness, it inspired hope that, Insha’Allah, her sins were forgiven by our Merciful Rahman.
Her life, though relatively short, was packed with action. She had no time for laxity. Her favorite words were, “Do not waste time; get up and do something.” She led by personal example, always on the move. A candle that burns twice as bright lasts half as long seems to describe her life, leaving us longing for more of her company and awe-inspiring presence.
She left us perhaps a bit early. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. May Allah make her grave one of the gardens of Heaven and grant us the Tawfeeq to follow in her footsteps. Ameen.
Dr. Tariq Ahmed Cheema
Birmingham, UK