By Muftī Yūsuf Badāt
After a lengthy battle with cancer, my beloved and loving mother has peacefully passed away this morning. May the Almighty envelope her with mercy, forgiveness and a lofty abode in Paradise. Āmīn.
“Every soul will taste death.” – (Qur’ān 3:185)
As I struggle with my emotions, I share a few scattered thoughts about her. My mother has been a primary source, with the blessings of the Almighty, to shape positive values, mannerism and education in the lives of many, including myself. She sacrificed so much to see people around her happy and on a path of positivity. Her kind disciplined approach, to structure and schedule, facilitated growth and successes for us. Throughout my life, I saw her passionately serve her husband, my respected father, with love and care. Even in her final days, she would ask if my father took his daily medication. May the Almighty bless her with countless returns for her selflessness. Āmīn.
She deliberately chose to live a very simple life. She never owned a television, a cell phone or any fancy gadget. If we would offer her any of these things, she would respectfully decline while appreciating the gesture. She chose to always wear simple clothing. She never used makeup in a day of her life yet she was so beautiful (inward and outward). Despite not owning much, she was one of the happiest persons I have ever witnessed in my life. May the Almighty grant her continuous joy in Paradise. Āmīn.
Her generosity shined through her constant gifting and feeding others. In spite of her terminal illness, lying on her bed, whenever I visited her, she would not let me leave her side without gifting me something, even if it may be an apple. May her generosity and kindness be rewarded with the Kindness and Generosity of the Greatest, the Almighty. Āmīn.
Her regimented devotional acts and ‘ibādah (worship) were more than admirable. She would not fail to complete several 100 beads of tasbīhs, a few juz of the Qur’ān and several pages of hadīth reading on a daily basis. She always prayed and worked for the dīn of Islam, to be practiced and implemented in her life and the lives of all humanity. In her final days on this earth, she kept uttering, ‘Oh my Allāh’, ‘Yā Allāh’. May my loving mother be embraced by the very Allāh she loved and always called upon. May she be beautified with maghfirah and Jannat-Al-Firdaws. May she be told by the angels of mercy, “Oh soul, may you depart in a pleasant state towards the mercy and bounties of Allāh with grace.”
“So when their time has come, they will not remain behind a moment, nor will they precede [it].” – (Qur’ān 7:34)
“And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], “uff,” and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And be humble with them out of mercy, and pray, “My Lord! Be merciful to them as they raised me when I was young.” – (Qur’ān 17:24)
My family and I are extremely thankful to all who have and continue to reach out for condolences, prayers and support. May you all be rewarded handsomely. Āmīn.
