A child named in memory of a tragedy that once shook the world has now become the centre of another heartbreak.

Twenty-two-month-old Alan Rumi, son of a Kerala-born Indian expat in the UAE, died in a freak accident in Sharjah’s Muwaileh area last week. His father, Sherafudheen, had named him after Syrian toddler Alan Kurdi — whose image in 2015 stirred global conscience — and the 13th-century mystic poet Rumi, hoping the name would reflect remembrance, faith and hope.

“It was after Alan Kurdi and Rumi,” the father was quoted as saying. “He was the light of our life. But we were only destined to have him for a short time.”

The accident occurred shortly after 7 pm in a sandy parking lot near their residential building. On the day of the tragedy, Sherafudheen was at work in Dubai. His wife had taken their son downstairs to dispose of garbage. The area, which also has a footpath where children often play, became the setting for an unforeseen tragedy.

While playing with another child of the same age, Alan reportedly spotted a cat and ran after it. His mother called out to stop him. The other boy halted, but Alan, seeing his mother run toward him, thought it was a game and dashed forward — straight into the path of a car exiting the parking lot.

The driver, an Indian expat who was heading out to pick up his wife, could not see the toddler in time. The impact was sudden. The driver immediately rushed the child to a nearby private hospital rather than waiting for an ambulance. Doctors later referred him to a government hospital, but despite emergency care, the child succumbed to internal injuries.

In an extraordinary act of forgiveness, the parents chose not to press charges. When they learned that the driver had been taken into custody for questioning, they informed police that they did not wish to file a complaint and submitted their decision in writing.

“Our loss is our loss,” the father said. “We cannot replace it. But we do not want another family to suffer for something that happened unknowingly.”

Police confirmed that the case has been referred to Public Prosecution and urged both parents and drivers to exercise greater caution to prevent similar accidents.

Alan was buried in Dubai the following day. The couple returned to India soon after, their plans for a special Ramadan shattered. They had hoped to perform Umrah during the last ten days of the holy month and later travel to India for Eid Al Fitr. The family had also been preparing to settle permanently in the UAE after Eid, with arrangements underway for a family visa.

Instead, they now carry home memories — and faith.

“We had many plans,” the father said. “But God had other plans for us. We are trusting Him and trying to move forward.”