SHAH ALAM – A mother’s love does not disappear with hardship. If anything, it grows deeper through every sacrifice, heartbreak and prayer whispered quietly in the middle of the night.
For Zaliha Abdullah, 60, a retired teacher from Kelantan, life was never free from pain. Yet through every chapter, raising 11 children, losing her husband and mourning the death of her son, she chose to continue life with patience, faith and acceptance.
They say a mother’s heart is the one place where everyone in the family finds shelter, no matter how heavy life becomes.
This Mother’s Day, her story is not simply about motherhood, but about the quiet strength of a woman who carried love and loss in the same heart, yet still found gratitude in life.
“I consider my children a blessing and a gift from God.
“Every one of them came into my life with different personalities, different challenges and different ways of teaching me about love,” she said when contacted recently.
The mother of eight daughters and three sons described motherhood as the greatest journey of her life, one filled with moments she still treasures deeply.
“Every moment with them feels like an episode of life I would replay again and again.
“With them, I feel alive. My children are my strength and the reason I continue moving forward,” she said.
But among the many memories she carries, one loss remains especially close to her heart.
One of her sons passed away at the age of 18 after a drowning incident, a tragedy that changed her life forever.
Even years later, Zaliha admitted the longing for him never truly fades.
“I miss him very much. A mother will always remember her child.
“But I am at peace and accept it wholeheartedly. I believe every soul belongs to Allah and every destiny has already been written by Him in the most perfect way,” she said.
Rather than questioning the tragedy, she chose to fully surrender herself to faith, patience and prayer.
“I believe my son is waiting for me in paradise. I always pray that he is placed among the righteous and blessed.
“As a mother, of course the pain remains, but I accept everything with patience because this life and everything in it belongs to God,” she said.
In 2016, Zaliha was tested once again when her husband passed away due to age and health complications.
At the time, several of her children were still studying and depended heavily on her.
Yet even through grief, she continued standing strong for her family.
“There were difficult days where I felt tired emotionally and physically, but when I looked at my children, I knew I had to keep going.
“They became my source of strength without even realising it,” she said.
Today, some of her children have families of their own, while others are still pursuing higher education. Her youngest child is currently in secondary school.
Looking at them now, Zaliha said she feels grateful seeing them grow into responsible individuals despite the hardships they endured together.
“I am proud of all my children because even without a father beside them for part of their journey, they continued striving for a better life,” she said.
Reflecting on modern conversations surrounding financial pressure and family life, she acknowledged that raising children comes with sacrifice and responsibility.
However, she believes children should never be viewed as burdens.
“Yes, life today is expensive and people need financial planning.
“But for me, children are still gifts from God. They teach us patience, sacrifice, love and strength in ways nothing else can,” she said.
Now living a modest life surrounded by her large family, Zaliha said she no longer measures wealth through material things.
“Maybe my life is simple, but when I look around and see my children and family beside me, I feel rich.
“That is enough happiness for me,” she said.