Mimmi: 1920-2009
Posted on August 21, 2009
Filed Under Daily, Family | 34 Comments
Yesterday morning, I got the news that my grandmother (whom I’ve written about here, here, here, and here) passed away.
There’s not too much to say, other than she had the personality of a fire cracker.
She was married at 14, and by 15 she had her first baby. By the time she was my age, she already had six kids, and left her home in India, immigrating to Pakistan, and then eventually settling in the United States. I still remember the day she took her citizenship test. It was so funny to watch her study, and rattle off the names of American presidents. She never set foot inside a classroom, but she was one of the smartest people I have ever met. It was about her that people used to say, “She could count the feathers on a flying bird.”
That’s just how sharp she was.
She was a woman of strong will, with her own deep-rooted habits that not many people could understand. She had an incredible memory, sharp wit, and the ability to create the most profound poetry, so effortlessly, it made you wonder what the world looked like through her eyes.
Long before The Boss and I got married, Mimmi told me about a dream she had. She told me there was a big celebration coming, people were playing drums, and I was getting married.
A year and a half later, I wore the sari she gave me as my dad gave me away.
Though Mimmi was blind when The Boss and I went to see her after our wedding, and she was very weak when she met the man my sister will marry in seven weeks, I feel at peace knowing that she lived long enough to see that Uzma and I both grew up to be happy. She never shied away from telling us how proud of us she was at every stage of our lives, or from encouraging us to follow our dreams, and puruse higher education. My sister and I were also the youngest of her youngest, and I think that carved a special place in her heart for us.
My sister went into the funeral home yesterday, and saw Mimmi wrapped in a white sheet. She uncovered Mimmi’s face, held her hand, and kissed her head. When she called me later, she told me that Mimmi’s face was glowing, and she looked peaceful, like a sleeping baby.
She was buried this afternoon just before Friday prayers, right next to my grandfather.
Mimmi loved my sister and I so much, it was almost to a fault. She was constantly getting into arguments with her friends about who had better grand kids. It was embarrassing, but funny to see her get so riled up. The summer after I started wearing hijab, I was home from college, and I heard Mimmi yelling at her friend on the phone whose grandson had just completed his residency in some kind of neurosurgery, or maybe it was cardiology. I guess Mimmi wasn’t impressed by some guy that could fix a heart, or pull a tumor out of a person’s brain. She started to raise her voice, and as I walked down the stairs, I heard her say, “Yeah? Oh yeah? Well MY granddaughters wear hijab!” and then she hung up the phone. When I asked her why she did that she said, “Well, I was done talking to her anyway.”
What did I say?
Fire cracker.
Mimmi and me at my aunt’s house, June 2009.
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34 Responses to “Mimmi: 1920-2009”
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I rocked these bangs for my 4th grade yearbook photo. (Read more about my younger years)
I met Rihanna while working as a reporter. So fun!
Sabrina on YouTube: Athletica sports hijab and dance dares!
On Newlyweds-Dish: Happy Mother's Day!
On Newlyweds-Dish: Happy Mother's Day!
“Man in the early times was almost naked, and as his intellect evolved he started wearing clothes. What I am today and what I’m wearing represents the highest level of thought and civilization that man has achieved, and is not regressive. It’s the removal of clothes again that is regressive back to ancient times” - Nobel laureate, Tawakul Karman, in response to journalists who said her hijab was not proportionate with her level of intellect and education.
Want to know the truth about Shari'ah and how this Islamic law effects the U.S. Constitution? Watch the videos below.
Want to know the truth about Shari'ah and how this Islamic law effects the U.S. Constitution? Watch the videos below.
Inna lillah wa inna ilayhi rajioon. MAy Allah grant her Jannah. Ameen.
My deepest condolences to you and your family Sabrina.
may allah rest her soul in peace and grant her paradise.Ameen.
Innalillahi wa innailayhi rajioon
May this be the beginning of her Jannah…may your family get sabr esp with the coming of Ramadan, and may her sins be forgiven ameen…may you reunite with her in Jannah
—ameen.
Inna lillah wa inna ilayhi rajioon.
Inna lillah wa inna ilayhi raj’ioon. May Allah grant her Jannat al-Firdous. Ameen.
Innah lillahi wainnah elayhi rajioon, Im so sorry, Sabrina
May Allah grant her a high place in Jannah, may Allah make the next journey easy for her and may He give you and your family sabr, ameen.
inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. may Allah grant her paradise. and may He make this time easier for you and your family. ameen.
I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother. May she find eternal peace in jannah inshaAllah.
This was a very touching tribute to her.
inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiuun. may your grandmother rest in piece inshallah
Inna lillah.
God loved her more. It’s good that you can take comfort in knowing that she lived a good, vivacious life.
So sorry to hear this
It sounds like she was an amazing woman.
Innalillahi wa innailayhi rajioon, May Allah grant her a place in Jannah sis, and may he also give your family sabr…so sorry for your loss, from what you told us it looks like she was an wonderful person and grandmother:)
Innalillahi wa innailayhi rajioon…may Allah grant her a place in Jannah.
Inna lillah wa inna ilayhi rajioon.
I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother.
Inshallah she’ll be granted the peace she deserves and may Allah give you and your family the Sabr you need to get through this difficult time.
I’m sorry for your loss Sabrina, Your post brought me to tears, what can I say that hasn’t been said? She seems like she was really great.
I also just lost my grandmother 2 days ago. May Allah grant you patience during this tough time and inshallah she’s in a better place now.
Innalillahi wa innailayhi rajioon
sounds like she had a fulfilled life with joy and adventures and is now in a better place, inshAllah, and for that you can be grateful…but the pain still stings deeply, i’m know, but hopefully the timing with Ramadan will also deepen your ability to really be at peace with losing her.
Asalaam,
I feel your pain, My Grandmother has terminal cancer and I am just thinking of how it wil be when she is no longer here. Your grandmother sounds like a wonderful, sweet woman. I know you will miss her but hope she has achieved paradise and is happy.
Inalilahi wa Inal Ilayhi Rawjiaoon. May Allah have mercy on her as well as her family.
Oh, Mimmi sounds like such a beautiful person.
Allah unko Jannah naseeb karain.
This line gave me chills:
“She was buried this afternoon just before Friday prayers, right next to my grandfather.”
(:
That is truly sad and your grandma is in my prayers. I hope she goes to the highest level of Jannah. She sounds almost like my grandma…
My condolences to you and your family.
Your mimmi seemed like one fiery strong women.
Reading your post, I felt lots of love. She lived a good life!
Seemed like she had a great story… Please write more about her on your blog.
Inna lillah wa inna ilayhi raj’ioon.
So sorry for your loss Sabrina.
Asalamu Alaikum
Inna lillahi wa inna lillayhi rajioon
May Allah swt grant her Jannat-al firdous
Ameen
Although my great-grandmother and your grandmother can never meet, I’m sure your grandmother was a great womam :]
Plus,I’ve never seen my great-grandmother, and not to get all pessimistic but I would love to before it’s too late.
Take care sister
I’m so sorry for your loss. The picture is so life-affirming, the both of you taking joy in being together.
My condolences on the loss of your Mimi. May loving memories bring you peace in your time of sorrow.
Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. May Allah grant your grandmother the highest of Jannah, may He forgive her smallest errors, and may He grant your family patience in this time of sorrow. Ameen.
You are blessed to have lovely memories of her. Alhamdulillah. She sounds like she was an amazing woman, mashaAllah, and the picture shows a woman who looked absolutely charming and beautiful.
I am truly sorry for your loss.
Ina lillah wai ina ilayhi rajiroune
Condoleances for you and your family. May Allah open the doors of the heaven to your grandmother and bless her. Ameen
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon
What a wonderful legacy your grandmother has left for you Sabrina. You have so many memories to cherish. May your family find peace and be comforted during their mourning and may your Mimmi be at peace and rest hereafter. There is so much joy in knowing this.
Inna lillah wa inna ilayhi rajioon. May Allah grant her Jannah. I am so sorry for your loss. May you and your family find comfort in your mourning, sister.
oh sab, i’m so sorry to read this. it was a really beautiful post though – you are both lucky to have had each others love for this long.
kevin and i are thinking about you and your family. if you or your parents need anything, let me know – please.
i love you and hope you can feel my virtual hugs in california
I’m so sorry for your loss
I heart you.
Innalillahi wa innailayhi rajioon
May Allah grant her Jannah! Amiin!!!
Sorry for your loss, May Allah make it easy for you and your family.
inna lillah. may she be in jannah.. and may all the best memories of hers stay in our heart