On November 22nd, my 1st Quran teacher, Sheikh Osman Barre, returned to our creator; “We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.”
I didn’t know him but I find myself deeply saddened and grieving our communities loss as if it was my own. For the past few days, every corner I turned, I was greeted with an insight of who this beautiful man was and his wonderful life. My heart aches for I had not known this wonderful person nor had I reconnected with him and thanked him for kicking off my Quran learning. Subhanallah, my only recollection of attending his Quran Centre in British Columbia with several other kids is that we studied and memorized the beginning of the 1st juz that most people memorize, the 30th Juz, of course. I remember when we memorized our Quran correctly, we would receive a joyful treat; some random candy. Regardless of which candy, at our tender ages and during those innocent times, it definitely was the greatest incentive for any child, to be honest. Subhanallah, I am beyond grateful for this single memory.
….
Currently. one of my current favorite Qari’s is Salman Al Utaybi. His recitation is like therapy to me. When I am free I listen to him and his recitation alone fills me up with so much love, when I am sad, it uplifts me. It safe to say, that I listen to him daily. I recently re-discovered his Surah Qaf recitation and with my minimal Arabic, my mind was blown every few verses. Recently, I studied the Tafseer of this Surah which made me reflect on the late Sheikh’s life.
Below of are some of the verses that stood out
Upon understanding the Tasfeer of this ayah, I pray Allah his witness will testify for him and not against him.
Duaas that comes to mind are:
“O Allah, forgive and have mercy upon him, excuse him and pardon him, and make honorable his reception. Expand his entry, and cleanse him with water, snow, and ice, and purify him of sin as a white robe is purified of filth. Exchange his home for a better home, and his family for a better family, and his spouse for a better spouse. Admit him into the Garden, protect him from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the Fire.
and
“O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females…..
This was a very interesting verse because:
- Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, “there come around you consecutively angels in the night and angels in the day, and they meet in the Fajr and Asr prayers; those who spent the night among you ascend to heaven, Allah asks them and He knows best: in what state did you leave My slaves? So they say: we left and they were praying and we came back to them and they were praying”.
My imagination went to work with this one. :)
- The late Sheikh was a man of the Masjid. On the day of his passing, he prayed Fajr prayer in congregation and died shortly after he arrived home after his Fajr routine. The following Hadith comforts me and inspires to attain the promised reward.
“Whoever prays the two cooler prayer times (i.e., Fajr and Asr) will enter Paradise.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
And lastly, I pray he is of the people mentioned in the following verses:
Words of a Ramadan Addict 