A Quiet House, A Lasting Light* *In Loving Memory of our father Mohammad Farooq Lanker - 1st Anniversary*
October 17, 2025. That was the day the world changed for us. It has been a year, and it still feels like yesterday. He left us too soon, and left us with his beautiful memories to hold on to for a lifetime.
My father, Mohammad Farooq Lanker, was a deeply humble, pious man who carried a quiet grace in everything he did. His faith wasn't just something he practiced; it was his very breath. His lips were constantly moving, softly reciting the Kalima and Darood Sharif, filling the corners of our home with an unseen spiritual peace.
He was a self-made man in the truest sense. He worked day in and day out, tremendously hard. He was the first in our whole clan to find true success, the first to buy everything new and bring new dreams into our family. Life didn't hand him things easily. He suffered a lot of losses, heavy trials along the way, businesses that didn't work and setbacks that would break anyone. But he never lost faith. Not in Allah, and not in hard work.
His principle was simple, one he always taught us:
*"Work like a coolie and live like a king."*
He poured his days and nights into building a bright future for us and making sure my mother was looked after, giving us a foundation we could always stand on. He gave us the best life - not just in comforts, but in values.
He gave me and my brother the best education, but he was never the father who pressured us for 100% marks. He never insisted on ranks. He believed in attaining education in its true sense - to become a good human being, to have manners, to have deen.
Looking back, I realize how sheltered we were in the best possible way. I didn't even know what it meant to argue, defend, or offend, because my parents never gave us room for it. They met every situation with complete maturity and peace. From the quiet morning hours of Fajr until we drifted off to sleep, his voice—whether speaking, advising, or whispering prayers—filled our home with warmth and life. Now, the silence left behind feels so heavy.
His heart was impossibly big. He had a soft spot I could always count on—he simply could not bear to see a single tear fall from my eyes. At weddings or family gatherings, he would stress over every little detail, worrying more than anyone else to ensure everything went perfectly. He never took us for granted either—no matter how many times a day he saw us, he always greeted us with the same warmth as if it were his first time seeing us that day.
When I got married, a storm of emotions hit him all at once. He was so happy to see me happy, but the thought of me leaving home broke his heart. Whenever I visited and had to pack my bags to return to my in-law's house, he would quietly weep as I left, hating to see me go. He felt everything so deeply, tethered to the people he loved with every fiber of his being.
I need him in every second of my life, in every phase that unfolds. It feels like he left far too soon, but I find comfort in knowing that Allah is the best of planners.
May Allah illuminate his resting place with His blessed light, surround him with beautiful angels, forgive his shortcomings, and grant him the highest place in Jannat-ul-Firdous. May Allah make us a Sadaqah Jariyah for him.
Please remember him in your prayers.
Haziqa Farooq Lanker
Yamen Farooq Lanker
