By Haroon L Balogun

Since death is surely inevitable, it perhaps has an innate honesty that wraps its mystical finality with tainted dignity.  It’s debt owed and that must be paid!  It’s amazing how much guilty we feel about the good deeds that we ignored and never performed at the time of living of a beloved.  After, the exit of loved ones, our in-actions mythically shatters our realities.

We sway in contrite apology! Never put yourself in this fearful state of cruelty.  Do all the good that you can, forever, for all persons, even those you know detest your identity.  Life’s a mixture of ecstasy of love that sweetly balm the soul and the dark depravity of scorn that retain bad moral compass which enact evil deeds.

May Allah guide us to live a prayerful life that’s contented, devoid of bitterness and full of piety as espoused by my friend and brother, AbdulHafiz who, eight days ago, died at 34.  He stayed off smoke, alcohol, discotheques, prayed five daily, and never cursed.  Piety and discipline enriched his love of Allah and his faith, and he always wore as armour, life’s fullest contentment.  His warmth and humour was the bond he shared with his nephews who are my own sons.

He was a gift for hop in life’s adversity.  He had a remarkable richness for virtuous living that was both awesome and boundless in spiritual assuredness of salvation.  He’s gone to rest.  Still, we beseech Allah to keep AbdulHafiz in Aljanah Firdaus.  We also ask Him to forgive and direct the rest of us as we persist in our sole struggles of daily battle.

Happy Jumah —Dr. Adewale Adeeyo, OON