My Father Alhaj M.S. Shaikh Shamsudeen Makki is a grandson of Hasan Naina Maraikar Alim. He was born in Kayalpatnam on the 19th of March 1929 (Hijri 1347, Shawwal 4 - Saturday) to AlHaj AlHafil A.S. Muhideen Sadakathullah Alim and S.K. Aysha (their first son). He passed away in Chennai on 11th February, 2007 (It was on a Sunday and according to the Islamic calendar 22nd day of Muharram 1428 AH).

"Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilahi Rajioon - Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return." (Holy Quran 2:156)

In his early days, he lived in Chennai - with his father - after completing his primary education. Following his father's death in 1944, he joined a leather factory in Poonamallee and later moved to Jaffna (Srilanka) to work as the Head Cashier-cum-Accountant with LKS Jewellers. In 1960, he returned to Chennai and entered the real estate business. Till his death, he took active interest in the running of the business he had founded five decades ago. He was a respected businessman in the community - due to his punctuality, honesty and sincerity.

In 1955, my father married his maternal uncle's daughter O.V.Ahmed Meeranachi in Kayalpattinam. My father was involved in many social activities. He was one of the trustees of the Kayalpatnam Medical Trust (KMT) Hospital, a member of Zavia Arabic College, Kayalpattinam and a member of the Executive Committee, Masjid-e-Mamoor, Chennai.

My father was a deeply religious and hard working person. He had performed Haj pilgrimage twice. He was systematic in his daily works and he taught us all the good habits which he himself practised in his life. Overall, I would say, he was successful in his personal and his professional lives - Alhamdullilah.

For nearly four decades, my father observed several good practices:

He prayed all the five times with the Jamaath.
He used to wake up early in the morning and pray the Tahajjud.
He stayed in the masjid between Maghrib and Isha prayers and indulged in spiritual activities.
He used to fast three days in a month for many years - in addition to Ramadhan month fasting.

He had several other good habits. He was a generous man. Except for a few ailments, Masha Allah, he was healthy till his last days. He had good eating habits (he wouldn't eat till he is hungry and wouldn't eat too much) and rarely took medicines.

Let Almighty Allah forgive all his Sins and give him Jannath Ul Firdaus in the Hereafter. AAMEEN!

My Mother O.V. Ahmed Meeranachi could trace her lineage to Abubakr Siddeeq (Raliyallahu Anhu). She was born in 1936 in Kayalpatnam. She is the only daughter of Hafil S.K. Ovaisna Lebbai Alim (Zavia Ovais Appa) & Kona Asiya Katheeja. She is good natured and kind hearted and is always active. She is very religious too. She has performed Haj pilgrimage in 1984. There are lot of things to say about her, but in short "She is great".

I have been living with my parents together for very long. Their presence has been a blessing to my family (my father is no more now). Fathers or Mothers are special just because they are fathers and mothers. I thank the Almighty Allah (Alhamdulillah) for having been born as a son to such noble parents. I am lucky to have such good parents and I thank them for the good childhood and youth they gave me. I hope (Insha Allah) I can give the same to my two children.

Every child is born with some inherited characteristics. Child's growth and molding depends upon the environment and the socio-economic conditions. More so, it also depends on the emotional environment of the parents, as how they shape, train and educate the child. I was fortunate and blessed to have had all these.

I inherited honesty and self-discipline from my father and goodness and kindness from my mother. My father, Shaikh Shamsudeen Mackie and mother Ahmed Meera Nachi are widely regarded as ideal couple. I got my first inspirations from my parents.

My Invocation "Our Lord! cover (us) with thy Forgiveness-Me, My parents, and (all) Believers, On the Day that the Reckoning will be established. Our Lord! reward my parents for what they has done for me and my family, and for what they has given us to help us in this life, and in the next. AAMEEN!