Book Review: Dear Waheed – a mother’s legacy of love and wisdom in 30 unforgettable letters, by Farhana Yunnus

There’s something special about receiving a book at the “right” time… and this one felt like that for me. I started reading Dear Waheed – a mother’s legacy of love and wisdom in 30 unforgettable letters almost to the day six years after Farhana Yunnus began writing it — the first letter is dated April 2020 (Ramadan), penned deep in lockdown. And I won’t lie, that in itself brought back all those bittersweet memories we hold from that time… Do you remember the calm in the face of uncertainty, the anxiety we all felt? Do you remember trying to work from home? (Such a laugh nowadays!) But there was also some positivity, remember? Those quiet hours, bonding with the kids, togetherness, and so much time to reflect.

The book is made up of 30 letters written over 30 days (with a couple more after Eid), and you really feel that rhythm as you read. It’s definitely not the kind of book you rush through. It’s more like something you sit with, dip into, one letter at a time — like enjoying a piece of barfi slowly, letting it melt and linger on your tongue before taking the next bite. Each letter touches on some meaningful aspect that any parent would love to pour into their child’s ear (if they stood still long enough, that is): love, kindness, self-worth, the weight our words carry, faith and doubt, grief, gratitude… all the things that shape us as women, as mothers, as Muslimahs.

What stood out to me most is how deeply personal it feels. As I read, I couldn’t help but think, ‘I’ve said this to my son’ or… ‘I’ve felt this’… or ‘I’ve wanted to teach this to my own boys’. Yunnus’s words related to me, mother to mother.

There’s also a sincerity in her words that makes you realise that these letters weren’t just written for her child – they were part of her own healing too. Letter 23, “The Woman I Became,” really captures that evolution of Becoming so many of us go through.

In particular, I appreciated the small, practical gems tucked in between the deeper reflections – how to answer the telephone, being mindful of the company you keep. It’s such a good reminder that our legacy doesn’t only lie in the big lessons we consciously teach, but in the little everyday things we pass down without even realising… in the things we teach our children by action, rather than with words.

I also loved how she wove in poetry throughout. It softens the reading experience and adds another layer of emotion, almost like she pauses for reflection. And every single letter ends the same way:

“I am because you are. I will love you till my last breath, and then some. With all my love, Mum.”

By the time you’ve read it a few times, that closing line settles into your heart – reminding you to say a dua for your own mum.

I found myself pleasantly surprised, and genuinely proud, seeing a book written so unapologetically from a Muslim perspective published by a mainstream publisher, in this case Penguin Books South Africa. As the founder of AMWASA, this means more than I can easily put into words. For so long, many of our stories have lived in smaller, more intimate spaces – so to see our voices, our expressions of speech, and our way of writing being embraced in mainstream publishing feels deeply affirming. It’s a reminder that there is space for us, just as we are, and that our narratives are not only valid, but valued.

More than anything, this was a feel-good read for me… a deeply comforting, familiar read. It felt like sitting with another mother over a cup of tea, sharing thoughts we don’t always say out loud but which we all carry within us like universal torches.

If you’re a mother, this one will stay with you. If you’re not, it’s still a beautiful reminder of the kind of legacy of love can leave behind. Either way, it’s a tribute to our own mums who, in some way or another, taught us to embrace life to the fullest while staying true to ourselves.

That’s all from me for now. Stay tuned for more… and remember: ‘Just Dua It.’

Waheeda, a.k.a Waydi

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P.P.S. My book, Kismet – For roses to blossom is available locally and on Kindle Unlimited.