"I can't, it's impossible" article by Shaikh Naser Al-Omar ...Our long history is full of such pioneering leaders and revivers, who recorded for us the most admirable examples; the Muslim’s ability to overcome the greatest of physical and mental obstacles, neither surrendering to psychological defeat, nor allowing the compound difficulties to numb their senses.
Many would say, “They were great men, and how few such men are!!”
I say that we did not know they were great until after they recorded those shinning pages of history with their admirable victories in different fields. Before that they were just ordinary men. However, for many reasons, they were able to climb the ladder of success that made them heroes and leaders. Foremost of these reasons is the destruction of the illusion “I can’t, it’s impossible.”
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What better time...?!
A couple of hours after I prayed taraweeh in preparation for the 27th fast, I learned that my grandfather had passed away. Truly we come from Allah and to Him we shall return.
After swallowing the news initially, I felt sadness, a general sadness...one that I feel when I hear of anyone’s death. Then I sat down to really digest the news. I saw his face in front of my eyes, even as my vision blurred by the soon-to-be tears, and then realized that I will never see that face again…at least not in this lifetime.
But then it hit me. Why was I sad? I really wasn’t…well… maybe a little. For the first time ever (and quite surprisingly), I felt some sort of joy after hearing news of someone’s passing. I began to wonder if there was any better time I would like my janaazah to be prayed than one of the most virtuous nights in one of the holiest months in my life. Honestly, I couldn’t come up with anything better than the 27th night of Ramadan…the day of my grandfather’s death (26th of Ramadan) and time of janaazah (27th night).
No doubt I will miss him. But it is somewhat comforting to know that he is most likely in a better place…in fact, very likely, considering that the gates of Hellfire are closed and gates of Paradise are wide-open, and the Infinitely Merciful One liberates many from Hellfire every night in this month. Every soul shall taste death. If mine doesn’t taste martyrdom, then I pray it’s a death like his.
