In life and death...

If the month of Ramadan must teach us but one lesson, let it be this: Indeed, to Allah we belong and to him we return. Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji'oon.

Remember Umm Riyadh, the aged wife of my landlord in Jordan? Well, a friend informed me that a couple of days ago, in the end of the blessed month that has just passed us, she too passed through this life on to the eternal life with her Lord.

Ramadan comes and goes as Allah blesses us with increasing years of longevity yet we never ponder if Ramadan will come again to us the next year or not. Indeed, only Allah knows when the end of our term will come and when we will move on to the next life.

Umm Riyadh will not see next Ramadan. She did not even see the Eid of this world, although I pray that she celebrated it with a reward of one enjoying the fruits of a hard life of suffering and sacrifice. She tirelessly served her husband and children and I pray that the reward of her effort is a light for her in her grave, aameen.

I hope that this Ramadan leaves us with a new appreciation for life and it’s beauties and blessings. I hope it’s tinted our sight with new-found gratitude and that it’s showered our heart with new-found patience.

Please pray for Umm Riyadh and for all of us, that we receive Ramadan’s true blessings and benefits. Allahumma aameen.