I know it has been a long time since I last posted. Just had many things happening in my life. One of the happenings? Well, my father has been very sick the last few months. He transferred from this Dunyaa to the Allah SWT on Thursday 16th Shawwal 1429A (Thursday 16th October 2008).
Verily we belong to Allah, and to Allah we return
He had been sick for some time. In and out of hospital for the last few months. Then I had a phone call at work on Thursday.
Dad had collapsed due to a major heat attack. As I was rushing home, the urgency of the call was slowly dawning on me. At the same time, I was thinking that Dad was in hospital before, so he would go in, and be out again.
I scrambled into the house to find my Dad crumpled on the kitchen floor with three paramedics (May Allah give them reward with Guidance) trying their utmost to revive him. The kitchen floor strewn with medical equipment, medicines, and wrappers.
My heart was pounding. Seeing my Dad in this helpless state put me in a disposition which I cannot even begin to describe. My sister and niece in tears around me.The paramedics, seeing no improvement, hastened him out of the house on a stretcher in to the ambulance. I followed him in the ambulance car, with one of the paramedics.
Memories of my Father flooded into my head. How he used to smile at me. How I hugged him only a couple of weeks before. How he asked me to make Du’aa for him, to give him Shif’aa (recovery). I used to say to him, “Papa, dont worry, Allah will give you Shif’aa. Keep making Du’aa (supplications) because Allah is washing you”. He used to chuckle when I said this to him. We got to the hospital. Waited in the waiting room. I took my tasbeeh out, but couldn’t Dhikr. I placed my coat on the floor, and made 2 Rak’aat Salaat-ul-Haajaat (prayers of need), and made du’aa for his Shif’aa. I started reading Surah Yaseen waiting in anticipation for news. I could read only the first few Ayats (verses), and grief flooded me, and I couldn’t help but weep.
Two members of staff came in, and sat down solemnly, asking how we were related. They said: “I am afraid I have some bad news for you. We tried our best, but we could not save him. I am very sorry for you.”
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raji3own
Verily we belong to Allah, and to Allah we return
We wanted to be alone with Dad shortly after he died. We went in the room. He was there lying on the bed. I kissed his forehead. He was cold. I touched his hand. I just looked at my Father. Dad is gone now, and he is never coming back. He has gone to Allah SWT.
2 things chase a person wherever they are, whatever they do: Rizq (livlihood) and death. Someones death is a reminder of our death. Death is described my Beloved Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam as the cutter off of pleasures.
Ibne ‘Umar Radhi-Allahu-Anhu says: Once 10 of us, including myself visited Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam, when a man from the Ansaar stood up, and said: O Rasulullah! Who is the wisest and the most prudent of men?
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam said: The wisest of men are those who remember death more than everybody else, and who are occupied in making preparations for the Aakhirah more than everybody else. It is such people indeed who win distinction in this world, and who will be raised to positions of of honour in the Aakhirah.
Whilst someone is alive, we see their bad points. We have enmity rooted in our hearts. Ties are broken. We see nothing good in them. They see nothing good in us. Then the Angel of Death visits. Then we say, Masha-Allah he was so good. We only saw good come from him. No evil, did he do. etc. etc. Why don’t we see the good in each other before death comes? Before death separates us, let us make up, make du’aa for each other, and speak nice things about each other.
Both my Mother and Father have been transferred to the Hereafter. If you are lucky enough to have any of your parents alive, don’t let the chance escape your hands. Make their service. If you displeased them, disobeyed then, made them cry, then immediately please them, obey them (in accordance to Shari’ah), make them smile. If you made war with them, make peace with them. You only get one set of parents, and after this you don’t get another set. Earn their duas, by earning their pleasure. May Allah grant my parents and all parents forgiveness, and endow them with Jannat-ul-Firdows.
May Allah grant us the understanding of recognising our parents’ rights, and to fulfil them
“Rabbij-’alnee muqeemus-salaati wa min dhurriyyatee, rabbana wa taqabbal du’aa`.
Rabbanaghfirlee wali waalidayya, wa lil-mu`mineena, yawma yaqoomul hisaab”
O my Lord! Make me one who performs As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and (also) from my offspring, our Lord! And accept my invocation.Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established. (Soorah al-Ibraheem: 40-41)
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3 Responses:
October 21st, 2008 at 11:51 am
Death must be remembered, as life itself is a trust from Allah, whether that trust be our children, our sibling, our parents or ourselves. One day that trust has to be returned to its creator, to do with it as He pleases. May Allah grant all those returned to Him, His protection and mercy from the time that death arrives, in the grave and on to the day of judgement. I suppose this is why our parents always remind us to attend the funeral prayers and funerals of the deceased time and time again even when the deceased person is not known to us. It is that reminder that we are next, but not knwing when. May allah guide us all, Ameen.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Inna lilahi wainna ilayhir raajioon.
May Allah swt give u and ur family lots of sabr. May Allah fill his grave with noor. May his death be a zarya for all of us to prepare our selves before death over take as well.May Allah grant him the highest stages in Jannah .. Aameen Take care and keep us in ur duas as well xxx
October 27th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Inna lilahi wainna ilayhir raajioon.
may allah give your father jannatul firdaus and give you sabr and make his death a means of hidayat for the ummah
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