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.