In Loving Memory
Ghulam Faruk Rafat
Dr. Ghulam Faruk Rafat, beloved husband, father, and esteemed family member died February 10, 2020 in Tucson, AZ. He was born September 25, 1936, in Herat, Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife, Habiba Ahrary, his son, Said Rafat; brothers, Ghulam Behrooz and Wahab Timory; and sisters, Habiba Ahrary, Aziza Fazly and Fowzia Temori. He is preceded in death by his father, Ghulam Rasol Khan and mother Sultana Timori, and youngest son, Farid Rafat.
His life journey included being the oldest of six siblings, scholastic success, immigration to the U.S. in 1967, dedication to his profession as a medical doctor, a sixty-two-year marriage, raising two sons, a passion for poetry and short story writings, and, providing comfort, guidance, and opportunity for many in his extended family. His life produced a legacy of many accomplishments fueled by his hard work, kindness, generosity, and dedication to family.
Professionally, Dr. Rafat had a nearly 40-year career as a physician. His internship, residency, and fellowship appointments had him working in Ebnesina Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, Atlanta, GA, Dallas, TX, San Antonio, TX, New York, NY, and Washington, DC. He chose gastroenterology as his subspecialty and settled in Salisbury, NC as a physician at the Veterans Administration Hospital. Following the death of his youngest son, he moved the family to Leesburg, Virginia, and continued his career as VA physician until he retired in July of 2001. Throughout his career, he consistently earned respect and praise from hospital administrators, colleagues, patients, and nursing staff.
Shortly after retiring, Dr. Rafat and his wife, Habiba, moved to Tucson, AZ as in previous trips through the Southwest, Arizona had captured their hearts as their retirement destination. His retirement years were spent traveling, visiting or welcoming friends and family, and neighbors, and pursuing Dr. Rafat’s passion for writing. During retirement, he wrote three books: Wildflower (poems), Reflections (a retrospective look at the different stages of life), and Fast Pacer (a series of short stories), all three of which, in some part, reflect his love for his home country, Afghanistan, and observations on the tragic consequences of war.
Throughout his life, he has filled the family with proud thankfulness for his character, accomplishments, and his impact on their lives. He is deeply missed.
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Celebration of Life
Saturday, March 13
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If you would like to make a donation in Ghulam’s honor, please consider contributing to Doctors Without Borders or Mustafa Center.
It is with deepest sorrow and sadness that I write this tribute to my greatest cousin, Doctor Rafat, who played the role of an uncle in my life. He was humble, kind, loving, caring and good at heart and soul.!!! The whole extended family across the globe is mourning for his loss.
When I was grieving the loss of my mom, you flew from Arizona to Bay Area to comfort me and honor your aunt. You visited my mom’s, grave, wrote a memorial poem to honor my mom and followed up on my well being. The last phone conversation I had was very promising that you are on your way to recovery and will visit me in Seattle. I have so many fond childhood and adulthood memories of you when you visited mom and dad who were so proud of you and loved you dearly. I will always treasure those memories and what you modeled for the younger generation in our family. You will be missed in this world. You have nevertheless left us with a beautiful legacy, that continues to shine brightly.
Aside from praying for your soul to rest in peace, there is nothing more I could want or ask for you from Allah.
May God Almighty comfort your wife, son, the rest of our family and keep you resting in peace till resurrection day, Amen.!!
This poem is comforting for me:
“Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sun on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quite birds in circle flights.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there; I did not die.”
به مناسبت وفات
عالیقدر بزرگوار مامایم، داکتر غلام فاروق
رفعت، خواستم مختصراً خاطراتی بنویسم
بعد از وفات مرحومه ای بزرگوار مادرم، محترم رفعت مجدداً از ارزونا پرواز کرده و برای تسلیت من، فامیل و احترام به عمه ای خود، به کالیفورنیا آمدند. بزرگوار رفعت به زیارت عمه‌ای خود رفتند و شعر زیبایی در مناسبت وفات مادرم نوشتند که همیشه در زیارت مادرم باقی مانده و ارزش نهایت تاریخی در فامیل ما دارد. لطف و مهربانی محترم رفعت همیشه شامل حال من بود. آخرین صحبت من با بزرگوار رفعت امیدوار کننده بود که انشاءالله سفری به سیاتل خواهند کرد تا با هم ملاقات کنیم. من خاطرات نهایت خوشی از طفولیت و بعداً از ایشان دارم. محترم رفعت در نزد مادر و پدرم بسیار عالیقدر و گرامی بودند. همیشه این خاطرات نزدم گرامی اند. در حالیکه جای مرحوم عالیقدر رفعت درین دنیا خالی است، جای بسیار خوشی است که نام نیک شان همیشه درخشان می‌باشد.
در گاه خداوند متعال دعا میکنم تا روح مرحوم مامایم را همیشه شاد و آرام داشته و به خانم، اولاد و فامیل ما صبر خواهان صبر هستم.
آمین
My brother – My hero. Gone from my sight, but never from my heart and mind.
In the mixed of war and uncertainty when I was looking for a refuge, he opened the path for me and he became my refuge. He taught and guided me in how to cope in a new society. He valued education and set the finest examples of work ethic, high levels of integrity, kindness, and social responsibilities. He always made sure that I made the right decisions. Being one of the best doctors, one of the finest poets, and a teacher for the family, I do not know how he found time for humor, but he also had the greatest sense of humor. I will miss my brother Rafat dearly.
I would like to thank my sister-in-law Habiba and my nephew Said for comforting him and providing the best care during his time of declining health. My brother was lucky to have had such a wonderful family.
Rest in peace my big brother. I shall see you again one day.
Dr. Rafat was a good family friend of us. Osman and I considered him as our big brother and a father. Every time we visited them, he had a new poem written about his lovely wife or children and was reciting for us.
Dr. Rafat loved his family. He truly was a great father and a wonderful husband. He was very kind, humble and respectful to all.
We have fond memories of him to cherish. We will miss him dearly. Rest in Peace, Dr. Rafat!
بنده داكتر عبدالرازق سمندر هم بنوبه خويش عميق ترين تاثرات خود را به مناسبت در گزشت مرحوم داكتر صاحب رفعت خدمت فاميل محترمشان و تمام اقوام و دوستان تسليت عرض كرده از بارگاه ايز د متعال روح مرحومي را شادو جايگاهش را بهشت برين و به همه باز ماندگان صبر جميل استدعا دارم.
شناختيكه من از ساليان دراز با داكتر صاحب رفعت از افغانستان تا امروز دارم، موصوف شخصي بسيار حليم ، بردبار، مسلماني صادق و يك داكتر دلسوز كه با پشتكار زياد هميشه در خدمت مردم بوده و در افغانستان هر زماني كه مريضان را از هرات به كابل نزد شان ميبردم با بسيار مهر باني خود شان تداوي ميكردند يا به كدام متخصص ديگر ار جاع مينمودند.
در اخير بايد ياد آور شد كه در گزشت مرحوم يك ضايعه يي بزرگ علمي و فرهنگي در پيكر نيمه جان افغانستان بوده كه خدا وند به همه مايان صبر و مقاومت اعطا كند تا بتوانيم اين نبود را تحمل كنيم.
با عرض حرمت عبدالرازق سمندر
من نفیسه معصومی تاثر خیلی عمیق خود به نسبت درگذشت داکتر صاحب رفعت ابراز داشته ضایع بزر گی بود کمبود شان در بین همه فامیل ودوستان آقای رفعت به همه شخص بسیار مهربان وشخصیت والای که داشتند غیر خوبی واحترام به همه وجزیی ترین رنجیشی به کسی نرساندند وبا زبا ن خو ش ولطفی که داشتندبرای شان دعای خیر مینمایندجنت فردوس نصیب شان بادوبه فامیل صبروسلامتی خداوند نصیب گرداند
السلام علیکم فامیل های عزیز و گرامی و دوستان عالیقدر، با عرض احترام و ادب
از الله متعال صحتمندی و عافیت برایتان استدعامینمایم.
إبراز امتنان و خوشنودى از احترامات صميمانه و مهمانوازى روح متوفى شاد و غريق رحمت نمايد.
My deepest condolences to my dearest friend Habiba jan and the rest of the family. Dr. Sahib was a wonderful man. May God bless him. He will be missed.
السلام عليكم فاميل هاى عزيز و گرامى و دوستان عاليقدر ، با عرض احترام و أدب و صحتمندى و عافيت
إبراز امتنان و خوشنودى خود به نسبت خاطرات مهمان نوازى و احترامات صميمانه ايشان الله متعال روح متوفى را خوشنود و غريق رحمت نمايد
با احترام
عادله
Dr. Rafat was a good doctor, father, husband, and most importantly person. He was a good man and a family friend of ours. He will be missed dearly. His place is in heaven. We pray for him and his family especially during this rough time. We will always have great memories of Dr. Rafat close to our hearts.
من در ایامی که مرحوم برادرم رفغت در بستر بیماری بودند با سرودن رباعی ذیل از خداوند منان خواستار شدم که اوشان را برای ما نگهدارد که دعای بنده مستجاب نشد و خواست خداوند این بود که اوشان را نزد خود بخواند چونکه تقدیر همین بود
راضی آم به رضای او که هست کرده و نیست می کند
نام او رفعت مقامش رفعت است
هم شهنشا ادب را طاعت است
موجی است از مهربانی هم صبور
تو ز افاتش نگهدار ای غفور
وهاب تیموری
وفات المناک مرحوم داکتر صاحب رفعت مارا سخت متاثر ساخت.بر علاوه که ایشان یک طبیب صادق و پاک نفس بوده یک شخصیت علمی وفرهنگی کشور ما بشمار میروند. مرحوم آقای رفعت شخص خوش طبع، متواضع و خوش برخورد بودند و برای من حیثیت یک برادر بزرگوار راداشتند و الطاف ومهربانی های شان همیشه در خور ستایش است.
دعا میکنیم که الله متعال ایشان را مغفرت کند و جای شان رادرعلیین و فردوس اعلا قرار بدهد برای بازماندگان و ارادتمندان شان وباقی فامیل محترم شان صبر جمیل و اجر جزیل عنایت فرماید.
با عرض احترام: هدایت الله حیدری
صالحه احراری خلیق خواستم تاثرات عمیق قلبی خودرانسبت درگذشت المناک آقای رفعت ابرازداشته ازخداوند طلب معفرت نموده روح شان شاد و یاد شان برای همیشه گرامی باد صبر وشکیبائ برای بازماندگان آرزو مندم
I have great memories from Dr. Rafat. Many years ago, when I visited him and his lovely wife Habiba, he took me to the hospital that he was working at, and as a young graduate myself, I got to see how much respect Dr. Rafat had earned with his colleagues, nurses and even pharmacy staff. That actually thought me a great lesson in life. Today’s a sad day for me, but I’m forever grateful for knowing and having him for a brief time in my life.
السلام علیکم با عرض احترام و ادب به همه و صحتمندی و عافیت
الله متعال متوفی را غریق رحمت نماید.
خداوند روح مرحوم بچه کاکای بزرگوار مرا شاد داشته باشد و جنت برین را نصیب شان کند
My Deepest condolences ! Dr. Rafat lived a great life and will live on in the memories of the people who knew and loved him.
He was a great person, welcomed me open-heartedly to his house in Salsbury, NC some a few decades ago when I first arrived in America. I remember we used to watch Andy Griffin show together, one of his favorite shows back then. His son, Farid, who was into sports thought me many things. He was a funny and friendly guy.
I was there with my oldest brother, Heckmat , and my uncle Ahmad Ahrary was also living there with his family. Those were old good days to cherish, and we will miss Dr. Rafat dearly.
May he rest in peace.