Son of Hamas
I just finished reading the book “Son of Hamas”. It was a New York Times Bestseller, written by Mosab Hassan Yousef, who is the son of Hassan Yousef, one of the seven founders of the Hamas. Hamas is a Palestinian organisation set up in 1987 and over the years, conducted many attacks on the Israelis. It was a riveting read, and many parts of it touched me. One message that jumped out at me was this – Mosab loved his father.
Mosab did not love his father because his father was rich, or even that he was powerful. He loved his father because his father was a kind man, loved his God and loved all people – even the Israelis. He had tremendous respect for his father because he was authentic and in his passion for serving his God and saw past politics and the hypocrisy of man. The impact that the father had on his son was amazing considering that they were apart for many years of their lives (with the father in prison). However, Mosab saw the consistency of his father’s character – in good times and bad; outside the prisons, and inside; and before Hamas, when Hamas was at its prime, and when Hamas was in decline.
According to Mosab, his family has disowned him for the book which he published, and his father is in great pain. I can understand that because the child had in a way, turned his back on his family and culture. However, father and son can never be separated. Mosab had an inheritance from his father – he had the same tenacity and courage to stand up for what he believed in. The only difference is that they both believed in different things.
Our children’s dreams may not be the dreams we have for them. In some instances they may reflect diametrically opposite value system. Is there any assurance that our children will grow up with our values and belief system (religious or otherwise?) There is no assurance. Should we then strengthen our children less so that they will be too weak to stand against what we believe in?
I think we are talking about two different things. Firstly, it is our responsibility to strengthen and equip our children as much as we can, so that they can achieve their destiny (whether we are in agreement with that destiny or not). This is because we respect their individuality. Secondly, it is also our responsibility to teach them a set values with which to guide their decisions in life. The best way to do it, is to teach them our own values. In the end, our children will choose. Whether they will choose our value system or not, depends on whether the values are relevant to them, whether we reflect authentic belief through our daily living, and whether they see us as better people because of what we believe in.
Will your children choose your way? ~ Elisa
