Shaykh Waleed Basyouni’s Mother Passes Away

Over the weekend, we heard the sad news that our beloved Shaykh Waleed’s mother passed away in Egypt. She had been very sick recently and the Shaykh was by her side in the last few weeks before returning to the States.

I have known Shaykh Waleed “before the people knew him”. We brought him into our little musallah in Clear Lake, TX, to peg the masjid. We were next-door neighbors and my eldest two children literally grew up with his eldest two. We went to prayers together and spent hours talking. Little did I know that those were precious moments that were fleeting, before Shaykh Waleed became “the” Shaykh Waleed. I cherish and thank Allah for those amazing times when I had him for myself :)
While he was in Saudi recently, he surprised me with a call. We don’t talk that often anymore, being in different countries, but for him to remember me just because he is the region, is the kind of person he is. He doesn’t forget you and doesn’t let you forget him, each call reminding you why he was so special in your life.

Everyone knows Shaykh Waleed to have a really magnetic personality. Through ups and downs, you can count on him to have a cheery attitude and a smile on his face. There are some personalities who have positive energy and positive vibes, and he certainly is one of them.

And this is why when the Shaykh’s mother passed away, many of us felt a personal connection to her, even though most of us have never met her. The outpouring of emotions on social media for a shaykh’s mother (not for a Shaykh) is unprecedented, but this shouldn’t come as a surprise. While friends may have made a special connection to Shaykh Waleed, even his students and acquaintances make connections with him.

Shaykh Abu Eesa wrote on his facebook page: “I really feared this Subhanallah, I’m so sad right now. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. Please make du’a in these special moments before Maghrib today”. The thing about this note is that the two have known each other for just a few years, but the connection is so highly visible, and the love incredible.

Shaykh Abu Eesa further commented: “Please ask Allah to make it easy for Sh Waleed and his family, and that He blesses his mother with the best of Jannah, without account. =(” and asked his followers to make the following dua:

اللهم اغفر لها وارحمها وعافها واعف عنها وأكرم نزلها ووسع مدخلها واغسلها بالماء والثلج والبرد ونقها من الذنوب والخطايا كما ينقى الثوب الأبيض من الدنس…وأفسح لها في قبرها واجعله روضة من رياض الجنة

Shaykh Ibn Faqih tweeted:@WaleedKBasyouni‏ لله ما أعطى وله ما أخذ وإنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون… اللهم أغفر لها وارفع درجتها وأخلف على أهلها بخير وأجزل لهم الأجر

Shaykh Yasir wrote on FB:

Our dear mentor and friend Sh. Waleed Basyouni’s mother just passed away.
“>إنّا لله وإنّا إليه راجعون!! اللهم افسح لها في قبرها وارفع درجتها في العليّين واغفر لها وارحمها يا غفور يا رحيم!! آمين

The Shaykh *just* returned from a visit to her. May Allah grant him patience at this most difficult time. Please remember him, his family, and especially his mother in your du’aas.

Ya Shaykh your loss is our loss…

Yes, Shaykh Waleed, your loss is our loss. From the whole MuslimMatters family, we make dua that Allah grant her the highest levels in Jannatul Firdaus, forgive all her sins, and make you and your good deeds a source of sadaqah jahriyah for her. How many mothers have that kind of sadaqah coming to them? She is blessed and so are you.