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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

My Child's Inheritance, Water for Travelers

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • The author reflects on the meaning of legacy, emphasizing that true inheritance is not material wealth but enabling others to find their own way.
  • He shares an anecdote about giving his children books, hoping they will serve as guidance for their future journeys.
  • The article draws parallels between life and a journey, quoting a hadith about being a traveler in this world and the importance of leaving behind beneficial knowledge.

Aman Ahmad Rahmatulloh reflects on the profound nature of legacy, suggesting that the most valuable inheritance is not tangible wealth but the ability to empower others to navigate life independently. He shares a personal moment, gifting four newly printed books to his youngest son, Tegar, who is starting university. Tegar's question about the weighty titles, including one about a "black dog," prompts his father's gentle response that he will understand when the time is right.

True love is not about making someone dependent, but about enabling us to walk tall and find our own way home.

— Ahmad RahmatullohThe author's reflection on the nature of true inheritance.

Sitting alone with the remaining books, Rahmatulloh contemplates whether these volumes are sufficient to guide his children, Nadia and her siblings, after he is gone. He likens life to a long journey, observing people moving in various directions – some pursuing dreams, others weary, and many lost at crossroads. This perspective is rooted in a hadith from the Prophet Muhammad, advising believers to be like travelers in this world, passing through briefly.

Be in this world like a stranger, or a traveler passing through.

— Prophet MuhammadQuoted by the author to illustrate the transient nature of life.

This realization leads him to ponder the ultimate question: what legacy should one leave behind to enable others to continue their own journeys? He acknowledges the value of material possessions and reputation but concludes that what people truly need is not just provisions for living, but guidance to find their way home. While he may not leave abundant wealth, he hopes to leave behind something that endures beyond his own existence, referencing the Islamic concept of continuous charity, beneficial knowledge, and righteous offspring.

What legacy should one leave behind to enable others to continue their own journeys?

— Ahmad RahmatullohThe central question driving the author's contemplation on inheritance.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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