My sister and I attended a tahlil organized for my late maternal grandmother. My parents and aunts were all away so we represented the family. When I arrived, I was amazed at the house full of people.
The attendees were mainly 50-80 years old. I felt very conscious. We made our way to the center of the room. We read Quranic verses. This elder lady shared her book with me when I forgot some of the verses (fail betul). She asked me whether I was ''pelapis'' (successors) to the existing members.
I asked the kind lady how she knew the deceased. She said that they have been friends for more than 20 years. They enjoy coming together to pray for their friends who have parted. Hearing that struck a huge chord with me.
These women band together for the common good and go beyond the call of friendship to bless their friends' soul. May Allah reward them all with Jannah for their good intentions. I revealed that I was the deceased's granddaughter. She then became very happy and showed me around, introduced us to a few people. These ladies recognized us, and yet I could hardly make their faces. I felt bad. I felt like I needed to know these women who supported my grandmother.
In any case, the point of writing is this, while I am counselling couples to proceed to the next step, couples who are separating, couples who contemplate divorce, singles in general, feuding best friends, and feuding colleagues, I begin to think about...me.
Where am I in all the equation?
Where will I be 20 years from now?
Who will remain 30 years from now?
An optimistic at heart, I tend to be passionate with matters close to my heart.
Islam, family, love, friendship, justice, etc.
one of the good deeds that we can do for our deceased family members is to maintain the relationship (silaturrahim) with their friends (which you are rightly doing by getting to know your late grandma's friends)..
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