June 23, 2012

Death is a very painful and emotional time, yet one that may be filled with hope and mercy. Muslims believe that death is a departure from this life, but not the end of a person's existence. Yesterday marks the death of a special woman who raised a generation according to Islam. My mother, Fatumo Molu, was taken away from our livelihoods at approximately 7:47 PM.

God retains those souls for which He has ordained death, whereas He releases the rest for an appointed term. [39:42] In our religion we believe everything is already prescribed by Allah and has its own time, and yesterday happened to be the ending of my beloved mother’s life. As hard as it is to accept the death of a family member, let alone the one who took care of you from womb to manhood. We must remain strong in faith to understand that The- Almighty (God) is also The All-Knowing and knows what’s best. For He (God) is the one who gives life, and to Him we shall return.

My mother was known to be the strongest woman in our village and maintained that persona until her last breath. She was known as “Ayow” by everyone meaning “mother” in our culture. Not a day would pass as anyone would visit and couldn’t retell a story if not possibly two, recalling all the times where Ayow would either amaze or help them in some manner. Teaching morals, responsibility and religion, Ayow structured me into the man I am today. She taught me the ethics and tradition in hard work and pure belief in Islam which I now bestow upon my children, hoping I can retain the same family value. During these hard times, it is essential for those who are close to the deceased one to stay calm and remain a firm believer. Grief is normal for any loved one, however it is best for the family to strive for patience, understanding “Al-Aalam” (All-Knowing) is mistake free and it is not the trademark of a Muslim to question Him.

As believers we tend to bury the deceased as soon as possible in order to avoid the disturbance of the body. The process begins with funeral prayers that will occur later on today followed by the burial. When one dies, all the earthly assets are no longer beneficial. None will take anything besides their deeds and sins in order to be brought forth and questioned by our maker on the Day of Judgment. However as a mercy, Allah allows three things the deceased may benefit from while still in their graves: charity given during life which continues to help others, knowledge from which people continue to benefit, and a righteous child who prays for him or her. Inshallah (by Allah’s will) she left behind enough and will continue to benefit until the Day arrives. She will always remain in our hearts and minds.



Sincerely, yours
Ibrahim S Hussein