“There is a young man in hospital, very sick. People are requested to go and visit him,” was the appeal that went out in the community.
I had grown up living across the street from the local hospital, witnessing many births, operations and deaths in the process. I was used to these appeals and felt responsible living so close to the hospital.
It was the summer of 2003, a year before I went to prison for 11 years.
I made my way to the hospital ward and there lay a young man of 19. A Muslim of Pakistani origin, he was a rapper before he was struck down with cancer. Let’s call him Adil.
Adil’s cancer was spreading fast. It had made his skin highly sensitive to touch so he was lying there on the hospital bed wearing only a pair of shorts. If anything was to touch his skin, it would discomfort him.
His voice had almost gone so he would barely whisper when speaking.
I had learned that one of the things that cancer patients frequently dislike is sympathy. I remembered that as I conversed with Adil about different things.
“I spoke a lot of rubbish with this tongue,” he smiled. “So now Allah [God] has silenced my tongue so that I can only remember Him.”
He told me about his short life, how he regretted all the years he had spent, in a bubble, without a purpose to his life.
I asked him if there was one lesson that he would share with other young people living their lives far from Allah.
“Keep good company,” he whispered. “You are what your friends are. Keep good company and you will be OK.”
As I left, I asked him if he prayed. He replied that he didn’t because he couldn’t make wudu (pre-prayer ablution cleansing) and he was too weak to do all the actions.
I told him that Allah was easy going in these matters and that he could pray lying down on his bed, without washing with water. I taught him how to make the dry ablution (tayammum) and how to pray lying down. Then I left, promising to return.
A few days later I returned. I found that he had started to pray.
We spoke a bit more. He told me about his family and how important they were to him. It seemed that at this stage of his life, his loved ones were all that mattered. By now he was wheezing and needed an oxygen mask to breathe.
Over the next few weeks I visited Adil several more times. On one of these occasions, I told him that I was going to Makkah to perform the umrah (lesser pilgrimage) and that I would surely pray for him.
A week later I was in Madinah when I telephoned home. Adil had passed away.
His cancer had become incurable. The hospital had sent him home, with an oxygen mask, to die. One morning at home he had just prayed the Fajr at home with his family.
All of a sudden, he tore the oxygen mask off his face, shouted “Allahu Akbar” [Allah is the Greatest] three times and then he died.
As I went to the Prophet’s Mosque later that day, I prayed for Adil. I reflected on his short life and how, just before he died, Allah had chosen to guide him so that his last actions were something good.
I reflected on his advice: keep good company, keep good friends. He always used to say that, with a tone of regret in his voice.
Sometimes, the shortest of words are the most powerful.
Keep good company.
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Great reminder! MarshaaAAllah
May Allah reward you.
Ameen
I have tried to contact u on Facebook.
Sister Shamila
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I returned from a party yesterday, regretting the fact that I had to take alcohol after deciding to quit. It happened because of the company I was with. “Keep good company”. What a timely advice for me!
Thank you brother Babar
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Amazing, SubhanAllah
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May Allah help us to the best deed just before our souls leave our bodies.
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Ameen
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I am a new Muslim n wish from heart may my life be a cause in the path of Allah
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After a long read.. I have to say wow!
SubhanAllah!..
Your sabr and courage, to make the best of everything! Every situation..
Its so refreshing!
May Allah subhana WA talah grant you Jannah Al Firdous.. Ameen
I feel happy and sad at the same time for what you have had to endure!..the fact Allah chose you to test..is Amazing!
Allah tests those that he loves the most!..
Sad because it’s a tall order!
SubhanAllah may Allah grant you peace joy and happiness..
And may you continue to be an inspiration to the rest of us!
Ameen
Your writing is real!.. And I like that!
Alhumdulilah.
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Thank you Sham for reading my writings and the interview. My experience was not harder than what other people endure. We all have our struggles in life, we just need to try our best to get through them to please Allah.
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Make dua Allah swt gives all of us a good death.
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Jazak Allah for this reminder, We know this but unfortunately we just don’t think much of what type our friends are!
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Ya Allah! This chilled my blood.
What a beautiful young man and what a beautiful death he met. There is no doubt that he is chilling it in Hannah now forevermore.
SubhanAllah Babar bro, what a life you’ve lead.
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Asalamalaykum
Oh lala babar are you waiting for me to die of cancer before you contact me, or is it the CTU that’s scaring you. I know your famous now but flipping heck….,,
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I’m worried that if a bee comes into your room you will beat such a hasty retreat that it will make that lawyer’s retreat in the programme look like a snail coming out of its shell.
I think your missus asked a couple of months ago, I said I would love to get in touch, so don’t play the victim with me beta otherwise I’m going to have to bring my grandad shoes to teach you a lesson…
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Yes my brother, I’m sure you would love to get in touch,but some practical method of doing that would be nice. It’s like a prison officer saying ‘put in an application son, and you will get your property’ knowing full well your not getting nothing. Now,
Do we have to wash our dirty laundry in public, because I’ll end up exposing your wild nights of partying in HMP Manchester, and your fan club will leave you.
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I see you haven’t lost your sense of humour beta. 🙂
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