“Yesterday I watched my fathers coffin being driven to the cemetery. The whole ride there I couldnt help but look back at the moments that my father just used to smile as he looked at me, I knew he was proud of me. That smile used to warm my heart. He died with that same exact smile on his face, but this time his face was lite up and not suffering in pain. As I watched him being lowered to the ground all these memories started flashing before me, an awesome great hearted man you were. May God light up your path and widen your grave, may god grant you Janet el Fardous, may God cleanse all your wrongdoings and accept all your right. Allah yerhamak ya baba. Im sure as your looking down on us now your smiling and assuring us your no longer in pain.”  ~My friend 

 My friend’s father had passed away on Thursday and I had went with her to his burial the next day on Friday. It was a life changing event for me especially because it was my first time seeing something like this. This was probably the seventh or eight person I have heard that passed away in the past week or two. The thing that struck me most was when she was telling me she wished she had seen him one more time, she wished that she spent more time with him, she wished to had visited him more often in the nursing home. Her nephew who is five or six was reading Qur’an and told his mom “I’m reading Qur’an so maybe I can bring back sidi (grandpa).” This kid touched my heart and may they both be gathered together in the highest level of Jannah. It comes to show you that this dunia is inherently imperfect and inherently impermanent. No matter how much money you have, no matter how advanced you are in science, you cannot fight death. That is what the hereafter is for. There is no pill that you can pop in order for you to live and never die.

I came to realize the situation I am in and how I am blessed to be living with both of my parents and still feel I don’t spend much time with them. It was another wake up call for me, subhanAllah Allah keeps sending me these people in my life so I can learn lessons from them. We’re capable of changing so much in the world, but the change needs to change within ourselves first. 

How am I taking advantage of my time and my youth, and my health!? Prophet Muhammad said to take advantage of five matters before five other matters; to take advantage of our youth before we come old, our health before we become sick, our wealth before we become poor, our free time before we become busy, and last but not least our life before our death. 

I took his death to remind me that this life is not going to last forever and to take advantage of every second of my life to become closer and closer to Allah (swt). I often find that doing small acts of kindness always helps me increase in faith. Small acts such as smiling at my mother and father. I find that happiness lifts within myself and I feel so much better. Other things are greeting other Muslims with a smile and a salam. These acts are so recommended by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Are we implementing these in our lives? 

Other small essential remedies to increase our faith is laughing and smiling because it makes our heart feel ease. Read Qur’an and listen to the words. It makes me feel more scared and prepared for the Day of Judgment by doing so. Charity- the next time we see a poor person reach to your wallet and give them a little something and we’ll feel the happiness from the smile they return to us, or the overwhelming “thank you” we’ll receive from them. Just going to the masjid and hearing the athan (call to prayer) gives me goosebumps. I ask Allah (swt) to help us and encourage us to feel closer to Him. 

May Allah rest his soul in peace, expand and lighten his grave. May Allah protect him from its trials and tribulations. May he be raised amongst the righteous and may he be forgiven for all his sins. May he reach the highest level of Jennah without further judgment. May Allah grant his family the patience to bare this hardship and may they turn to Allah (swt) alone during these difficult times. Ameen!