Raisul Hoda Syed

A full day, lived well " And the sun runs its course for a period determined; that is the decree of the Exalted in Might. The All-Knowing " (Surah Yasin, 36:38) As the sun runs its course for a determined period, so do we. Our father started life at daybreak, he had glorious decades of sunshine and long years of golden sunset, before he was enveloped in the light of God's love. Daybreak was on 23 February 1939 when Rais ul Hoda Syed was born, brought into a world soon to be at war with itself. Whilst the soil of Bihar - India, the land of his ancestors, nurtured him in the morning, he briefly brushed with the ‘promised land' known as Pakistan. He didn't linger long; he soon moved on. Before midday, at the age of 24, he was a keen traveller bursting to explore. He travelled to England by ship via Yemen and the Suez. After he arrived, he moved around England, making life long friends. Doing odd jobs as a means to an end. He saved enough funds to travel once more, this time to indulge in his passion of travel by train. He went to France, rode on the Orient Express, travelled through Europe to Turkey, Tehran and Kabul. He spent time in each place and gathered valuable jewels which he gifted to our mother, Hoor Bano Syed, on their marriage. When asked where they should settle, there was no hesitation, his home was where his heart was and it was firmly in England. As the sun was reaching its zenith, they both arrived back in London in August 1970, full of excitement and a promise of their life ahead. Dad secured his dream job on the railways and moved to Yorkshire with his young family in tow. His life of meagre means but full of fine things. We dined with Royal Doulton, crystal glasses and with silver cutlery as the norm. Such was his love for the exquisite: fine perfumes, specialty teas and pure essential oils. Whilst university education skipped his generation due to the partition, he more than made up for it. Reading broad sheets and encouraging us to do the same, he was determined that his children would excel in the world. He instilled in us that education was the key to future personal success and to making a better world. His second love after England was Turkey, a place he travelled to as a bachelor, then with us as a family, and in the afternoon of his life, with mum in their villa. He loved their fruit, spices, herbs and hospitality. Dad was strong in faith, fastidious in prayer and devoted to the Qur'an and the Almighty. At the same time he was soft-hearted and often moved to tears during his personal conversations with his Lord. Dad's kindness and compassion was second to none, his empathy and moral compass is our guide for ever more. He saw the best in people and always supported the underdog, the poor and any needy along the way. Through circumstance he was careful with his money, through faith he was unrestrained in charity. In the early evening, he travelled with his family to places he yearned to visit once more: the Hijaz, Andalusia, Canada and even Bourton-on-the-Water. As he viewed the golden skies he was content with his lot. A devoted wife, his son a doctor, his daughter a lawyer, and their respective spouses. He had seven bright and talented grandchildren whom he loved dearly and made him proud. Despite his diagnosis he remained strong and undefeated. He welcomed visitors and any new faces. He was walking and talking right until the end, he seldom complained, he made little mention of the obvious pain. The skies continued to glow with love from his family and close friends, until the sun finally set on him, on 30 September 2020. The end of the day was peaceful and we can ask no more of this beautiful person. Our father was just an ordinary man with an extraordinary life. His legacy was simple: gentleness, love and charity. He instilled this in us and to others he bestowed. We pray that these values continue through the generations, for ever more. Ameen " So glory to Him in whose hands is the dominion of all things: and to Him will ye be all brought back. " (Surah Yasin, 36:83)