السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Wednesday 13th January 2021.
Let’s talk about ‘Bereavement’ today.
As Muslims, it is our firm belief that this temporary life will most definitely end one day. The moment of departure from the world has been written and upon the arrival of that particular moment, there will not be a delay of even one second. The passing away of a loved near and dear one is, without a shadow of doubt, a very sad time indeed.
Our beautiful religion teaches us that the most virtuous action at the time a loved one passes away is Sabr (patience). Yes, of course, we will be very sad indeed. The closer the deceased person was to us, the more we will feel it. Tears will naturally flow and the heart and mind will be grieved. There is no harm in showing your emotions.
However, this is the time to put the beautiful teaching of Sabr into action. Not one wrong word should be uttered nor any wrong action, such as shouting or screaming, should take place. Let the thought cross your mind, again and again, that the same Creator who created the deceased and gifted him/her to us, has temporarily withdrawn His gift from us. Exercise patience and start passing on the rewards of good deeds to the deceased (Īsāl ath-Thawāb). We will, most definitely, meet up with our loved ones in Jannat ul-Firdaus, اِنْ شَاءَ الَّلهُ.
Remember, Almighty Allāh created us and He knows how we will feel at the loss of a loved one. He will, unquestionably, take us through this very testing and challenging phase of our lives, on the condition that we do as He has told us to do. Under normal circumstances, the few days and weeks after the passing away of a family member are made easy and comfortable for us by the presence of family, friends, and community members who come to pay their respects. This is known as Tā’ziyah, the Sunnah method of consoling the bereaved.
However, during this coronavirus pandemic, hardly anyone can visit the house of the bereaved, due to lockdown or tier restrictions. These are very testing times and, as we are witnessing, many people are passing away due to Covid and other illnesses. In the absence of people coming for Tā’ziyah, it is the most ideal opportunity to busy yourself with the recitation of The Holy Qur’ān and engaging yourself in as much worship as possible.
Keep in mind that this is only a temporary separation. The deceased has gone for now, but you will meet again in Jannah, اِنْ شَاءَ الَّلهُ. Pray for the deceased and pray for yourself.
Almighty Allāh convert the resting places of all the Marḥūmeen into a Garden of Jannat ul-Firdaus and bless all whom they have left behind with Sabr Jamīl, Āmeen.
Almighty Allāh grant complete speedy shifa to all who are not well, Āmeen.
I end today’s message with a very emotional nazam reminding us all of the reality of this world.
جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
Request for Du’ās
وَالسَّلَامُ Hanif Dudhwala
Supplementary Resources
Ta’ziyah: The Sunnah Method of Consoling the Bereaved – Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Muḥammad Saleem Dhorāt Ḥafizahullāh
Ta’ziyah – Condolence (URDU Audio) – (Dr) Shaykh Muḥammad Saleem Anwar
Collective Quran recitation after death – Mufti Yūsuf Shabbir