Father’s Day By Dr. Hossam Badrawi

At the Dreamers’ Café – Father’s Day
By Dr. Hossam Badrawi

The youth of “Dreamers of Tomorrow” touched my soul when they asked,
“Why don’t we celebrate Father’s Day in Egypt as we do Mother’s Day?”

A gentle young woman said:
“My father is my role model. Without him, I wouldn’t be who I am. Dr., what’s the story of Father’s Day?”

I replied:
Historically, the idea of dedicating a day to honor fathers came from a woman named Sonora Louise from Michigan in 1909.
She wanted to honor her father, who had single-handedly raised his six children after their mother died.
She submitted a petition recommending the celebration of Father’s Day, and it was supported by many groups.
June 19th was set for the celebration in her town, and the idea eventually spread across the U.S. and to other countries.
Today, countries worldwide celebrate Father’s Day on different dates.

Most Arab countries, including Egypt, celebrate it on June 21st.

The Quran says in Surah Al-Isra:
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in your life, do not say to them a word of disrespect, nor scold them, but address them in terms of honor.”

This shows that God placed the duty to parents right after His worship.
Caring for them and celebrating them is a duty — not just on one day, but every day.

The young woman said:
“You’ve often spoken about your mother, but we haven’t heard much about your father. What was he like, and how did he influence you?”

I answered:
What measure do we use to define the value of a person in life?
This question came to my mind as I remembered my father on Father’s Day after your question.
Should I feel sorrow or joy when remembering him after he passed?

Do I grieve his absence from my eyes, thoughts, and heart?
Do I miss his wisdom, fairness, and love?
Do I long for his smile, his care, his distinctive kiss?
Do I feel sorrow when I see my late mother’s eyes drift in sadness and her anxious beauty when we mentioned him?

Do I grieve for all that?
Or do I rejoice for such a father — a grandfather, a great-grandfather, an uncle, and a man whose presence enriched every member of our family, young and old?

He enriched us with his mind, justice, and wisdom.
He gave unconditionally, united us around him, and gave meaning, form, and identity to the word “family.”

I rejoice for him and us — for a man whose life was full of endless giving and innovative thought.
A man who took responsibility for those around him without hesitation or complaint — even from the age of ten.

I rejoice for a father we are proud of, who instilled in us love and respect for work, quiet closeness to God, fairness and integrity woven into his being,
and an incredible ability for tolerance and kindness toward others.
If only I could be like him — or even just part of what he was to us.

Should I rejoice and smile when I see the deep love and respect people still hold for him — those who worked with him and those who merely met him?

My father, dear daughter, was a living example — in his love for my mother,
the way his eyes always looked at her with tenderness and affection.
He made sure to instruct each of us to care for her, to stay close, and to respect her wishes.

Each of us would quietly say to himself, “How does he love her this much?”
And every wife in the family would look at her husband and hope he could be like him — or at least a little.

He was the head of a family where both men and women — young and old — saw him as a hope, an example, and a role model, even in the simplest aspects of life.

Looking back at our lives in his presence, he opened horizons for us and gave us all he dreamed of when we were young.
He gave us a social status that allowed each of us to pursue our dreams.

He brought us together in joy, travel, and discovery of the world.
How many times did each of us have a place with him — somewhere in this world?

He made the pursuit of knowledge, and the seriousness in achieving it, a non-negotiable part of our lives — for us and even our children — with encouragement and support.

He made charity and giving quietly a hidden part of each of us — a belief we carry from him and practice with him.

He turned every Saturday into a celebration we eagerly awaited — with unmatched love.
He connected the entire family together in a brilliant, beautiful, and subtle way.

His presence among us, his seat in front of us, his gaze upon us — all are unforgettable memories.
May God keep his memory alive within us.

May we be granted the strength to become like him…
Because, my dear, he is simply… irreplaceable.

The young woman said, with tears in her eyes:
“I wish every son and daughter could see their parents through your eyes — with such love and depth.”

I said:
Every father and mother are irreplaceable to their children.

A sharp young man said:
“You told us about your father, but what kind of father are you?”

I answered:
Fatherhood is the embodiment of a set of values, feelings, and behaviors through which a father expresses his love and care for his children.

It includes protection, guidance, positive patience, assuming the best in them so they strive to meet it, fairness, sincere affection through actions — not just words — and being a role model.

The well-read young woman said:
“I’ve read what your children wrote about you in your book ‘They said to him, about him, and he said’, and I’d like to read it to my peers so they know who you are as a father.”

Your son Hassan wrote:
His dignity is in his features,
His compassion in his words,
His culture in his writings,
His emotions in his tone,
His heritage in his noble ancestors,
His love for life in his smile,
His patriotism in his risks,
His faith in his actions.
We revolve around his love and wisdom.
He taught me the meaning of life.

Your daughter Dalia wrote:
I consider life with my father a gift from God and a blessing from the universe.
He taught me that the world is beautiful, that knowing people is a treasure,
That happiness is a choice, and that hope is always present and accessible,
And that we should spread positivity among people.

It’s hard to believe someone can possess so much positive energy — but he does.

In the hardest times, he tells us to try, to learn from life’s lessons.
In moments of deep loss, he reminds us to remember the good times.
In sorrow, he shows us that there is always a ray of hope.

Some see him as Hossam the respected politician,
Others as Hossam the skilled doctor,
Still others as Hossam the thinker and philosopher.

But to me, he is Hossam the affectionate father, the loving man, the close friend.

Throughout my childhood and still now, he talks to me about everything — religion, relationships, life.
I can talk to him about anything without hesitation.
He challenges my thoughts and makes me think deeply.
Even if we agree or disagree, I leave the conversation with a thirst for more knowledge.

He taught me that there’s no limit to dreams.
Even now, he is the extraordinary father who taught me to dream —
who pushes me to keep learning, to pursue my dreams,
to believe in my abilities, and to trust myself.

I have seen him affect and transform the lives of others every single day —
with his positive energy —
and it makes me want to be just like him.

And he… is irreplaceable.

Truly, it is a blessing to be the child of such a great father.

As the saying goes:

• “A father is a son’s first hero, and a daughter’s first love.”
• “When you look at your father’s life, you see the future you wish to live.”
• “A father gives without expecting and waits for us without us realizing.”
• “A father’s strength is in his silence, and his love in his actions.”
• “A father feels your pain even when you say nothing.”
• “When children grow up, they realize their father’s words were wiser than they thought.”
• “There’s no greater joy than a son’s pride in his father, and no greater pride than a father in his child.”
• “The lion roars but never eats its cubs.”
• “Fatherhood isn’t just about having children — it’s about big hearts and limitless giving.”

So let us celebrate them while they are with us, and repay them not just on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day —
but every single day of our lives.