My Mother's Necklace

My neck is guarded by a gold chain that carries the stories of all those who came before me. It has not left its place since my mother first clasped the chain around my neck at nine years old. Since then, I reach for the necklace instinctively at every burst of emotion I feel. When I am happy, I clutch the pendant as I jump up and down in joy; when I am nervous, I fiddle with the chain in between my fingers; when I am scared, I rub the clasp against the back of my neck. Over time, the necklace has become a part of me—a form of portable comfort I can bring everywhere. However, this comfort does not come from the physical object itself, rather the knowledge that I am another carrier of a long-standing history.

Gold has always been used to preserve history across generations [1]. Some necklaces even hang in museums as medals or relics of powerful empires. While my necklace cannot be found secured and guarded behind a glamorous trophy case, its story carries the same importance. In my family, gold is passed down from mother to daughter as a reminder of the strength and resilience running through my blood. The necklace I wear around my neck is a reminder that the women before me have survived so that I can get to this point. When my mother first revealed the necklace, I was too young to realize why a single piece of jewellery needed to be paired with such a long-winded family history. Ten years later, I realize that inheriting this necklace means inheriting the legacy of all those before me, in hopes of building onto it to pass down to the coming generations.

This necklace was not the first nor the last thing I ever inherited from my mother. I have always been told that I have my mother’s smile, nose, and cheeks, while she loves to remind me that I radiate her kindness, knowledge, and generosity. However, in my opinion, the most important thing I have inherited from my mother is her faith. My mother raised me with the same beliefs and values that contributed to her remarkable character. My mother radiates kindness, knowledge, and generosity because of her faith, and I hope and pray to follow in her footsteps.

Every decision I make and action I take throughout my life is influenced by the words of the Quran. My faith guides me to ensure that I leave behind a legacy that is virtuous and worthy. As a Muslim, I have both the privilege and responsibility of carrying a legacy that has existed long before me. In moments when the right decision feels too difficult or ambiguous to decipher, I turn to the words and stories of Islam and follow in the footsteps of the figures before me. I reflect Islam not only in my beliefs, but in my values and character because religion is not just about believing, but also about learning and growing. I take every story from the Quran as a lesson that supplements my growth in hopes of becoming a better version of myself every day. The Muslim legacy is about prayer and faith as well as charity, kindness, honesty, and working towards making this world a better place. As a Muslim, my legacy is not just about what I leave behind in this dunya, but also what follows me to my akhirah

Legacy is a beautiful thing; a preservation of people, stories, and faith. However, to leave behind a beautiful legacy and be remembered in a good light is a privilege. Our legacy is not a nascent creation, but an extension of our history. Every choice we make and action we take is writing another line in our chapter of a long deep-rooted book of legacies with the hope that, one day, we will be remembered through necklaces, books, and stories.

1. Pillsbury J. Gold in the Ancient Americas [Internet]. The Metropolitan Museum of Art; 2020 [cited 2023 Oct 30]. Available from: https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/gdaa/hd_gdaa.htm#:~:text=Gold%20was%20 highly%20valued%20for,the%20sway%20of%20gold’s%20allure.