Today's Reminders: Asma and Death

Assalaamualaikum Warahmutallahi Wabarakatuh,

So today as I was walking on the masjid's parking lot to go inside for the Salat-ul-Jummah, I saw a hearse (those cars owned by the funeral home to carry the deceased to the cemetery) parked backwards. I looked on the side of it and it said, Brust Funeral Home.

All of a sudden, it reminded me of Asma because thats where we gave Asma ghusl. They are also the ones who transported her from the masjid to the cemetery.

Anyways, after the Jummah, everyone came outside for Salat-ul-Janazah. Alhamdulillah almost everyone who was there for Jummah stayed for Salat-ul-Janazah as well.

Afterwards they took the deceased to the cemetery. Turns out, they were all going to bury him at the cemetery where Asma is. In fact, it was about two graves away from Asma's.

Subhana'Allah, the time from Salat-ul-Janazah till the time we buried him, it brought back all the memories of February 12th, 2005.

Everything from giving Asma a ghusl to Salat-ul-Janazah to the funeral procession to her burial, it all came back to me. :'(

In the end, it just reminded me of death is around the corner. More and more I have been thinking about death and how it can come any second. It can come right now as Im typing this. So scary when you think about it because Im not ready to die.

When he was getting buried, I was just standing there thinking that what if its me why was being buried. The deceased isnt coming back. If I die now, its over and I will be dealt with according to my deeds. Scary...

I started to think about how Asma would be right now and how peaceful she would be right now. I started to think how I wish I can be like that when I die. I want to free of any fitnah of the grave and just be in peace.

Then I realized that it wont just come to me. I have to work for it. If I really want to be from the fitnah of the grave and if I want to be reunited with Asma, then I really have to be a better Muslim and try to do what we are commaned to do by Allah Subhanawata'ala and our beloved Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasalam.

If I really want to avoid Allah's wrath, I must prepare for it. I cant just hope without doing anything about it.

Today was another reminder for me. It not only reminded me of Asma and the day she was buried, but I was also reminded of how near death is and how ready I am. Subhana'Allah...

May Allah forgive the sins of the deceased that was buried today and save him from the fitnah of the grave and akhirah. Ameen
May Allah give the deceased's wife, kids and rest of the family, sabr and shiffa. Ameen
May Allah forgive us all, guide us and keep us on the straight path. Ameen
May Allah make us better Muslims and take us as believers. Ameen
May Allah reunite us with Asma. Ameen

Assalaamualaikum Warahmutallahi Wabarakatuh.

For the Sake of Allah vs. Sake of Dunya.

Assalaamualiakum Warahmutallahi Wabarakatuh,

Subhana'Allah, I'm going to start updating this more often, Insha'Allah. I love this blog and it increases my Imaan whenever I go through my old posts on here. I like this more than my other blog.

Anyways, I was talking to someone last night and earlier today and it got me thinking about life and short our stay is here. I started to think about how much we do to prepare for the akhirah. Lets not even think about our akhirah right now...death is right around the corner. Death is near. We arent too far from our graves. Imagine what is going to happen to us in our graves. Are we ready?

When my sister was born, who would have thought that she would be with us for only 12 years? No one thought she would die so young. She was a healthy, normal kid when growing up until 8.5 years of age.

One of the things that I really admired about her (still do) was that she was never into materialistic things. I noticed some kids her age were all about money. They were into which brands of clothes and shoes were in style. They wanted to do anything and everything (dunya wise) to keep up with their peers. Trust me, I have witnessed this myself. Im not making this up.

Asma was the opposite. Of course, she wanted to look pretty and wear nice clothes. She liked to do her hair and wear nice necklaces. However, there is a difference between looking nice and spending tons of money to buy clothes every so often just to keep with fellow classmates.

Asma didnt care to spend money on such things. What she cared about was so pleasing Allah Subhanawataa'la. She used to tell me not do certain things as I may anger Allah. She used to tell me to fear Allah if I did something wrong or was about to. Subhana'Allah.

She was afraid of dying. She was afraid because she didnt know if she would go to Heaven or Hell. She even asked me if she will go to Hell for missing prayers. Allahu Akbar!

She cared about making people happy. Whenever guests would come over, she would play with their kids. Asma had a candy box which she made out of a shoe box. On it, she wrote "Asma's Candy Box." I still have it to this day. Insha'Allah I am going to take pics of her belongings and post them up.

All the kids would gather around her and stick their hands out for some candy. Asma would glady pass out pieces of candy to the kids. She would have the biggest smile on her face.

When Asma was sick, we had a guy come to our house to help Asma after the doctors had given up on her. He would spend hours and hours day after day trying to help her. Sometimes it would be frustrating. Sometimes we were full of joy when we made some progress.

One day it was late at night. It was probably 9 PM by the time we got done. He came to our house around 9 AM. No one had eaten anything as we were all busy with Asma. Asma was very weak and tired. Of course, she was sick and in pain as her tumor on her leg was painful. Out of nowhere, Asma told my mom to get some food ready for him because he didnt have anything to eat all day. She added that my mom should pack some food for him so he could take it home for his wife and child. Subhana'Allah we were all struck in awe. The guy had tears in his eyes and was surprised.

Thats how Asma was. Instead of caring about materialistic things, she cared about what really mattered. Most of all, she did things for the sake of Allah.

Subhana'Allah when I saw kids her age doing things for the dunya and then saw Asma do things which truly mattered, it put a smile on my face. Not only that, it taught me a few lessons; lessons that I still think about 'til this day.

Moral of this post: Forget about doing things for this short dunya we are in. Whatever you do, do it for the sake of Allah. Who cares if people have more money, better clothes, nice shoes, new cars or jewelry? Seriously, who cares?

Are you, I, WE prepared to die? Asma was a living example in my life. I saw her live and die right in front of my eyes. Literally.

We spend so much time back biting and slandering people. Honestly, ask yourself, can you afford to do that? Do you even have time to do that? Look at how much we have to learn. Memorize. Look at how much we have to implement in our lives.

Subhana'Allah. Scary. Very scary. This dunya seems so long, but its nothing compared to the akhirah where you will either be in Hell of Heaven.

Im so grateful that I have spent time with Asma who taught me many lessons.

May Allah reward Asma and elevate her status in Jannah to the highest level. Ameen
May Allah forgive us of our sins and guide us all to the straight path. Ameen
May Allah reunite us with Asma once again. Ameen
May Allah open up our hearts and clear them of evil. Ameen
May Allah keep us from going astray. Ameen
May Allah protect us all. Ameen

Assalaamualaikum Warahmutallahi Wabarakatuh.

Links of Muslims in Need

Assalaamualaikum Warahmutallahi Wabarakatuh,

Ever since Asma became ill, I have become more aware of other diseases and people who are ill. Everytime I would find out about certain situations, I want to do everything I can for them for the sake of Allah and because I cant see them in pain.

However, I cant always help people for whatever reasons. Therefore, I'd like to start posting links on the side of this blog of sites that are about helping Muslims. You never know who may end up helping fisabilillah.

I have seen a couple, one of them on this site. Insha'Allah I will get to it as soon as I can. So far I have two links.

If people can start posting them in the 'Comments' section or email them to me at haq_omar@hotmail.com.

I'd like to help the Muslims out there regardless where they are located.

May Allah reward you all and forgive us of our sins. Ameen
May Allah guide us to the straight path. Ameen
May Allah grant shiffa and sabr to all the sick. Ameen
May Allah grant Jannah to all the deceased and save them from the fitnah of the grave and akhirah. Ameen
May Allah reunite us with Asma once again. Ameen

Assalaamualaikum Warahmutallahi Wabarakatuh.

Asma and My Cousins

Assalaamualaikum Warahmutallahi Wabarakatuh,

So its about 2:40 AM and I got back from my khala's (mom's sister) house about half hour ago. I actually went to pick two of my cousins (one is in 1st grade and the other is in 4th grade) and brought them over to my house to sleep.

My khala is going to the hospital because she is going to have a baby, Insha'Allah.

May Allah bless my khala with a healthy, pious child who will be help lead the Ummah. Ameen

Their youngest child, the three year old, is with them. Shes so fun to be around. She will play around with. She loves me. lol She will jump on me and try to make me chase her.

Anyways, when I was about to leave, I was outside talking to my aunt's husband. The three year old came out too. I picked her up and held her as I talked to her and joked around. She was laughing.

Wallah it reminded me of Asma and the times I would hold her and play. I remember when Asma was wearing diapers, I'd hold and her walk around with her trying to put her to sleep. Subhana'Allah I wish those days would come back. I remember sometimes I would stand up and hold her trying to get her to burp. lol It was funny.

The first grader resembles Asma a lot. Seriously, she resembles Asma quite of bit. So whenever I look at her, I think of Asma.

I sometimes take the picture of Asma that I have in my wallet and show it to them. They would yell out, "ASMA BAJI" and get all excited.

Asma loved her cousins. She loved babies. lol All the little kids looked up to Asma. Subhana'Allah, Asma was someone whom everyone loved automatically.

Anyways, Im going to as Im really tired and miss Asma a lot.

Take care.

May Allah reunite us with Asma once again. Ameen
May Allah forgive us of our sins, guide us and keep us on it. Ameen


Assalaamualaikum Warahmutallahi Wabaraktuh