Family and Community
Look Who’s Coming Out, But It Isn’t What You Think
The hardest part about coming out has got to be coming up with a good opening line. I haven’t got one though. So I’ll give it to you straight.
I’m not gay, but I could be dying.
As far as I know, not imminently though. I’ve known for years now that certain things in my body aren’t working properly – like my heart and a part of my brain called the autonomic nervous system, and because we all need our hearts and autonomic nervous systems to keep things running smoothly, I do have a potentially life-threatening condition. Well, technically, I have two – Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
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You look unsettled. Don’t worry, a lot of people have that reaction. You should see them when they try to shake my hand and find that it’s already shaking. They search my face for nervousness, fear, or an explanation of why meeting them would horrify me so badly. I tell them I have some medical conditions that can make my hands tremble. They look blank. Then I tell them how awesome it is – all my drinks are shakes and all of my toothbrushes are extra sonic. They laugh uncertainly.
Laughter is important
When my son was six or seven months old we were in an accident that totalled the car and damaged my right knee. My husband called me in the ER and when I picked up the phone he said, “Look, if you want me to spend more time with you, there are better ways of letting me know.” We laughed. Then he came and pushed my wheelchair around the ER in laps until the baby fell asleep and we went home and lived happily ever after.
Somewhere in the fairy tale our baby prince was diagnosed with autism, but that’s another story. While I would be hanging out the baby prince’s baby laundry, my arms would get very tired. Then we had a baby princess and if I stood up too quickly I would pass out. A second princess was born and by then my muscles cramped and twitched and hurt for days at a time. At present, I own the world’s heaviest smart phone, use both arms to carry a two-ton, 13-inch laptop, and have noted that carpenters don’t make sofas like they used to. They’re hard to get out of, and on top of that – they make this huge WHOOSH and creak when I fall – errr – daintily settle into them.
But we’ve settled. I have a full-time housekeeper and the driver takes the kids to and from school. Not because I’m the Queen, but because the last time I mopped the kitchen my legs hurt for three days. Chronic illness does have its perks – I can’t remember the last time I cleaned a bathroom. Oh, and I have country-wide parking privileges. Technically it’s called disabled parking, but I prefer to call it VIP.
I get special treatment
When I walk – because I can – slowly out of my car, people specially glare at me, wondering why I’m parking in a disabled spot when I’m so obviously not in a wheelchair. My husband says they’re just jealous, but once upon a time I too glared at people who parked in disabled spots and then skipped out of their luxury sports cars to the mall. If you gave me a little red convertible, I’d probably skip too, but just once, and then I would limp for a few days before sulkily admitting that I probably shouldn’t skip anymore.
I don’t skip.
Also I don’t do stairs.
Or whistle.
The muscles of my mouth won’t. It’s a nerve thing, I think. I would never have known, since I’m not the whistling type, but I felt oddly insulted when my neurologist asked me if I could whistle. “Of course I can!” I huffed, and pursed my lips together to produce an indignant ffffffffffft.
He waited. I tried again. Then he made some notes and left me to mourn.
For a while I really did mourn. And by a while, I mean a good year or so. But the Kübler-Ross stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance, are overrated, so I made up my own. Instead of denial, I started with terror for my children’s future, followed by appreciating every minute details of their hands, faces, fingers, and words. Then, I remembered what an idiot I’ve been for an overwhelming majority of my sentient life, and I began to beg for forgiveness before Allah called me for account.
There was never room for denial, as my creeping disability was constantly present, and finally getting a diagnosis was reassurance that I was not, indeed, crazy. Because weakness, fatigue, and pain are invisible, and POTS is hard to diagnose, I was told many times that my symptoms were in my head. Not that I was making them up – but that not being able to manage my stress was taking a toll on my body. When my eye twitched for a week, I was told to relax and consider yoga.
It finally took a biopsy to confirm that my muscles were indeed atrophying. Before that, it took X-rays, CT scans, lab tests, MRIs, and genetic testing to rule out nearly every other option before finally coming to POTS and Ehlers-Danlos. It also took several modern forms of torture – clinically known as EMGs and EEGs. In an EMG, they stab a needle an inch or two into your muscle and ask you to flex while they actually listen for muscle recruitment and response. I would like you to consider how big a needle feels to have a microphone in it.
In an EEG they jab the prongs of a vicious, hospital-grade taser into your face, arms, and legs and then shock you with it. There is also a good ole fashioned tape measure involved. The goal is to measure the speed at which your nerves conduct the shock along major pathways, and the tape measure is used to count how many inches you jump off the chair while they are doing so.
Just kidding.
They measure the length of your limbs in order to calculate the speed at which the shock traversed said distance. So not only is it torture, it’s also math.
(If an electrical signal leaves the shoulder station at 4:15 pm travelling 30 mph, and the distance to the wrist is 60 centimeters, how hard will you punch the neurologist when it gets there?)
Are you laughing yet? Good, keep laughing. Because now I’m going to be serious. I have a seven-year old son with autism, a five-year old with exciting dreams, and a two-year old whose entire world revolves around me. And they’re all really cute, MashaAllah. In fact, they’re gorgeous, insane, challenging, and sweet. My five year old said to me the other day, “Momma, your hand is shaking!”
“Yes dear,” I said quietly, “It does sometimes.”
“I’ll stop if for you!” she said.
And then she held my hand.
My heart hurts.
Emotionally, I mean. Physically, too, sometimes, because I have tachycardia and chest pain, but being forced to withdraw from more and more of my children’s lives is a bigger pain that I had not anticipated. I can’t climb. I can’t slide. I can’t carry beach toys through the sand. I will never again take them to a water park, or have a picnic on top of a hill. I may not live to see my youngest get to first grade.
For an entire year or more my prayers were fueled with the urgency of my possible impending death, but eventually, the terror subsided. The shock value of OMG I COULD BE DYING?! got replaced with OMG I’M STILL HERE!? and I started to accept my health problems as being Allah’s decision. I changed my focus from dying with dignity to living with disability , but then I had a new and really serious problem: my duas weren’t good anymore. I wasn’t afraid anymore, and that made me… afraid.
So then I had some more learning to do. I met with one Shaykh. He told me that fear was only one door to Jannah. Gratitude, contentment, and trust in Allah’s decisions were three more. I may no longer be crying in fear, but I if I can call on Allah with contentment, gratitude, and trust, then new doors will open to me, InshaAllah.
Then another Shaykh – he asked me to focus on my family and my legacy. So if you benefit from this article in some way, make dua for him too, because he asked me to write it. This article is part of my legacy project to create things that will earn blessings even after my death. So please make dua for me, regardless of whether I’m not dead yet when you read this. JazakAllahuKhayran.
And then the third Shaykh – he talked about trusting Allah to look after my children after I died, since He was their Rabb after all. I’m only a temporary caretaker. Allah’s the one who’s been really looking out for them this whole time.
I know I haven’t been a good person, but I know that Allah 
is Most Merciful, Most Forgiving, and has promised forgiveness for those who sincerely seek it. If I’m going to meet Allah soon, and I am a believer, and I have accepted His plans for my self, my children, and my family – I have nothing left but excitement. Fear, yes – that I still have things to answer for, but definitely excitement.
Now, when I pray my heart is fluttery and nervous with excitement and my vision blurred with tears. I raise my hands and I whisper, “Oh Allah, please let me be among those who get to see your Blessed Face.”
There’s a naked greediness for khayr that you can only savor when you’re really, desperately, in need. Also, there’s an exhilaration when you realize that when you pray, one of only three things will happen:
- Allah gives you what you ask for.
- Allah diverts or reduces a calamity that would otherwise have befallen you.
- Allah keeps your duas and gives them back to you on the Day of Judgment as blessings in your scale of deeds, when you need them most. This, as the hadith says, will be so utterly awesome and amazing that it will make you wish that none of your duas had ever been granted in this life.
I tell you, if I hadn’t been sick I would never have fallen so head over heels in love with dua. It amazes me every time I think about it – when I make mention of Allah’s name, He makes mention of mine.
No matter how many times I remember that, it still humbles and awes me to think of the Lord who created the universes (plural) with nothing more than a word (Be) saying my name. Were He to grant all of mankind everything they wished, their demands would not diminish His bounty any more than a needle dipped diminishes the sea – and He said my name? Me? A tiny, insignificant assortment of blood, bones, and ingratitude meandering through life and remembering Him only when I need Him, but the voice that created the cosmos spoke my name???
AllahuAkbar
I’m not afraid anymore. I’m excited. That doesn’t mean I’m not still asking Allah to forgive my past sins, or heal me, or protect and guide my children, or help me settle my debts before I die, it just means that making dua is a whole lot more fun than it ever used to be. Some people are high on life. Pfft. I’m high on death, it’s awesome!
Unfortunately though, like every other non-chronically ill person whose body may or may not currently be dying, my faith ebbs and flows like tides on a beach. When the tide is high, I swim out to the sweet water beyond the edge of the world like Reepicheep. But when the tides are low, I struggle with my ankles in the sand and operational sea-foam up to my knees.
On a side note, there is a major difference between chronic illness on tv and chronic illness in real life. If this were TV, I’d get a Hallmark made-for-TV special: the tragedy of the brave special needs mother fighting to convert her Christian mother and leave a legacy for her children before she bravely and stoically dies – but not before an instrumental montage of her fight for acceptance, happiness, and eventually peace, before bravely and stoically passing away.
Also, if I were sick on TV I’d probably be losing weight in the crescendo towards my glamorous, waif-like death; pale but strangely beautiful in a victorian-style dressing gown of some sort. In real life I am overweight and physically unable to exercsie, I don’t own any dressing gowns, and I might not even die early. I could just live a long, disabled life. In the TV version, I’m supposed to be dying as an inspiration to those who live. In real life I might be around for a while. And I might need you to brush my teeth for me. Thanks.
In any case, if I’m going to be sick (and die maybe) and I’m going to learn a lesson from it, then you should probably learn it, too, because guess what?
We’re both dying
You and me buddy, both of our bodies are deteriorating, but the difference is that I can feel mine giving in. And you might feel sorry for me, but consciousness of my own mortality is a gift. Even though I didn’t ask to be sick, I cannot ignore how priceless a reminder it is.
Once upon a time, I mourned the deterioration of my body, but within this failing shell of flesh, my heart has been given new life. My mental faculties have been honed to razor-sharpness against the whetstone of urgency. My fears in this dunya – of rejection, of pity, of uselessness – have no place in serving my aakhirah. I don’t know how much longer I have to live, or how functional I will be for the remainder of my life, but my sole mission it to make it to Jannah and try my best to help my mother and my children make it there as well.
My lessons are your lessons
My life is your life, the only difference being I know I’m constantly reminded of death but you’re probably still thinking you’re immortal. Just because you aren’t old or sick doesn’t mean you won’t die tomorrow; alone, unprepared, and entirely ambushed by a spiritual audit that you’ve done nothing to prepare for. So try this – set yourself a death date.
Six months from now, assume you’re going to die. Feel it, believe it, and imagine the circumstances that you’re going to die in. Think about the shock and pain on the faces of your parents, your spouse, and your children. Imagine them crying over your body. Think of the sins you never repented for, the people you never apologized to, and the regrets you’ll have then about the choices you’re making now. Circle the date in your calendar, post it on your wall and work towards it every day. Your life will change when you remember death daily, just like mine has.
And you don’t even have to be sick.
For me, I’m grateful for my illness because apparently I needed my body to start dying in order for my heart to start coming alive. There’s an appreciable irony here – now that my hands are weak and shaking, I want most desperately to raise them in prayer. Now that I can no longer kneel in sajda or even stand in prayer, my entire soul wants to swim in the depths of khushu and not worry about coming up for air.
Sometimes I extend my sujud and hope, just hope, that the angel of death will meet me in prostration. Other times, I touch my children’s faces and wonder how they’ll look all grown up and whether I’ll be with them. Allah promises us in the Qur’an that after hardship will always come ease. Sometimes though – both come at the same time. I’ve never been more tired, more weak, or less able to tie my own shoes, but I’ve never felt stronger, calmer, or happier to be Muslim.
Alhamdulillah.
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Amad
October 16, 2013 at 2:35 AM
subhanallah sister– that was the most powerful post I have ever read… and so courageous of you to write it. May Allah preserve you and your family.
Not known
October 16, 2013 at 4:01 AM
Read ur article. Can’t stop thinking abt life & my petty issues which r so ginormous in my mind. You r a gifted writer. Thank you for sharing. Duas for you and your family
Salma
October 16, 2013 at 5:38 AM
SubhanaAllah a beautiful and powerful article. May Allah swt make these trials a means for your entry in to Jannah. Ameen.
Nur
October 16, 2013 at 5:49 AM
Salamu Aleykum sister Abez,
I just wanted to let you know that in your attempt to leave a legacy you have started my search for my own, I don’t know you but this article has pushed so many buttons in me I’m overwhelmed . I will never forget how I feel at this very moment, death is a real thing and me sticking my head in the sand will not push it away nor prolong my fate..
This ayah came to mind,
أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ
It is time for our hearts to realize they were made for something bigger than this world and all that it contains..
جزاك الله خيرا ورزقك الفردوس الاعلى ونعيما لا ينفذ فى الدنيا والاخرة
You truly are an inspiration..
Wassalam
Alia
October 22, 2013 at 6:17 PM
Which surah is the ayah u mentioned above in?
Um Faisal
October 22, 2013 at 11:16 PM
آية 16 سورة الحديد
La Chica Del Universo
October 16, 2013 at 7:45 AM
I have read an article and it changed my life. Thank you sister. I cannot find the proper words to describe how extremely beautiful, positive, (and funny!:), meaningful, strong that was. You are a hero sister, in real life. Maybe a hero who occasionally needs sb to brush her teeth, but definetely a hero! Jazakallahu Khayran. May Allah treat you with the best in both worlds.
Yasir Qadhi
October 16, 2013 at 10:31 AM
Sr. Abez, as Allah is my witness, you are a true inspiration to me and to many, many others.
Allah will take care of you, and of your children after you. Put your trust in Him, for only He is worthy of that trust.
Your brother in Islam,
Yasir Qadhi
Abez
October 16, 2013 at 1:38 PM
JazakAllahukheiran, for the part you’ve played in helping me understand my situation and giving me the reminders I needed to trust Allah.
Ameen.
Fritz
October 17, 2013 at 6:56 AM
I was wondering at which point does one stop making Dua for cure and move to a “living with disability” mode?
I have found that in our communities people often start to trawl through the person’s past history and say “oh maybe it was because of a,b,c…”; did you find that yourself (or even have a similar process yourself)?
Anyways, sounds like you have a very supporting family mashAllah and I am sure many will take inspiration from your patience and perservearance.
Amber
October 17, 2013 at 3:30 PM
I felt that way when I had cancer – that well meaning people were trying to find a link between something I had done in the past to me getting cancer. While their intentions might not have to blame me for getting it, I felt that perhaps they thought I deserved it due to xyz I did in my life.
Sometimes things just happen and the only way I could reconcile with my diagnosis was to know Allah was testing me and giving me hardship so I can seek his forgiveness.
Dear sister, you are amazing and may Allah grant you and your family peace in this world and the other.
Abez
October 18, 2013 at 7:39 AM
Fritz, Amber: Yes, people do have a tendency to look for cause & effect. That’s the way humans work. I had the same issues when my son was diagnosed with autism, and people said “well maybe it’s because you always picked him up!” or “maybe it was his vaccine” or “maybe it’s in the family!”
To make a long story short- everything comes from Allah. Everything is a test. Every test in an opportunity to earn blessings. Full stop. It doesn’t matter what the mechanism is- environmental, chemical or genetic- there are people who live good, healthy lives and die suddently of cancer. And there are people who live hard, smoke, and abuse their bodies only to die of “natural causes” at the age of 100.
At the end of the day it’s all about what Allah has written for us. That’s cause enough.
And I still pray to be cured, but I also pray for live with contentment for what Allah wills for me. They’re not mutually exclusive, so there wasn’t a dramatic shift of any sort. :)
Fatima
December 9, 2016 at 6:44 AM
How is this sister doing now. I have read this post many times in lst three years. Any update ?
Abeer E.
October 16, 2013 at 10:48 AM
May Allah bless you & your family sister. I laughed, I cried, & I related more than you know. I’m often reminded that blessings come in disguise, & this was a powerful reminder. Jazaki Allah khair for sharing your story & Eid Mubarak :)
Ubah
October 16, 2013 at 11:30 AM
Assalamu alaykum dear Sister,
I’m really at a loss of words to describe the emotions that I’m feeling after reading your post. I want you to know that your raw honesty and drive has totally changed my perspective on so many things. Cultivating gratitude has been on the top of my mental to-do list, and this article came at such a timely moment.
This part stuck a cord with me:
“My lessons are your lessons. My life is your life, the only difference being I know I’m constantly reminded of death but you’re probably still thinking you’re immortal. Just because you aren’t old or sick doesn’t mean you won’t die tomorrow; alone, unprepared, and entirely ambushed by a spiritual audit that you’ve done nothing to prepare for.”
It’s so true.
You are so brave and such a hero, and I want you to know that you *have* indeed already left a legacy behind and you’ve inspired so many people all across the globe.
May Allah(SWT) bless, protect ,and forgive you and your family dear Sis, ameen.
grace
October 16, 2013 at 12:50 PM
Sister, I have always loved your work, now i love it even more. You have a gift, thank you for sharing
Your honesty and sense of humor are so refreshing. Jazakee Allah Kharyun
Abez
October 16, 2013 at 1:36 PM
AssalamuAlaikum to everyone- I’m really humbled by the response this post has gotten, and boy am I am ever grateful that I wrote “Fear of Good Deeds” before this posted, because now I know what dua to make when praised.
اللهمَ اجْعَلْنِى خَيْرًا مِمَّا يَظُنُّونَ وَاغْفِرْ لِى مَا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ وَلَا تُؤَاخِذْنِى بِمَا يَقُولُون
O Allāh, make me better than what they think of me, and forgive me for what they do not know about me, and do not take me to account for what they say about me.
JazakAllahuKheiran for the duas- I’ll take all the prayers I can get. And I pray as well that people are able to learn a lesson from my situation, which betters their position in the Aakhira as well as mine. :)
Aron
November 1, 2013 at 7:32 PM
I’m sorry I somehow pressed dislike 2 times and don’t know how to cancel :( I really love this article and also your comment is lovely.
Hayat
October 16, 2013 at 2:18 PM
Sister, your posts have been a great help to me in so many ways. Its heart-aching to learn the truth but so is the case with truth. I pray to Allaah that in His infinite mercy, He may make a place for you in Janaatul Firdaus. Your recommendation to take up a deadline for this life is an effective one. I tried such a thing from July to September, and it has helped me in achieving firmness in my deen. I would recommend the same thing to the readers. It worked for me.
Siraaj
October 16, 2013 at 2:19 PM
What a well-written piece, masha’Allah =) Your comedic timing and commentary was better than any made-for-tv tragedy biopic could have done justice for, lol.
I gave some thought to your challenge of setting a date for some time until death. I’m thinking I may try one year and see how that changes my priorities, as that’s far enough out to get something done, yet close enough that it can change quite a bit of one’s actions.
This post and your resilience and humor through these difficulties, and sharing them with us is both inspirational and also appreciated. May Allah (SWT) enable you to see all your grandchildren with full physical capability, and make your difficulties easy on you and your family. As Shaykh Yasir said above, have no fear that Allah (SWT) will take care of your family.
Abez
October 18, 2013 at 7:41 AM
Brother, I would LOVE to see a mega-post following the year leading up to your “death.” I think that would be awesome.
Zaid Mohammad (@Zaid_m95)
October 16, 2013 at 2:31 PM
Subhan’Allah, its posts like these that make me reflect on my own life, and where its going to go in the future.
I do plan on contributing to your legacy, and I have placed a death date time, and am motivated to work towards that, to try and bring a change in my own particular life. Jazak’Allahu Khairan
and I pray that Allah(Swt) accepts every effort you have put.
The Salafi Feminist
October 16, 2013 at 2:37 PM
I read this earlier today and couldn’t think of anything to say that hasn’t already been said, or that would reflect accurately how deeply moved I am. I’m trying again now, because… well, because this was too incredible to not say something about.
This made me tear up, and made my heart ache, and my soul honored that you are my sister in Islam.
Heartbreaking and humorous at the same time – may Allah answer every one of your du’as, and always protect your eman, your inspirational spirit, your sense of humour, and your family.
Hamiidah
October 16, 2013 at 3:31 PM
Masha Allah Sis. Beautiful. May Allah do the best for you in this life and the next and may He care for your children and reunite you all, indeed all of us in aljannatul firdaws,amin. May Allah love you.
Ash Shams
October 16, 2013 at 3:40 PM
May Allah accept all your duas sister Abez.
To Allah we belong and to Him is our return – I pray you, your family, I, the entire ummah is raised as as sabiqoon on the day of judgement.
My sincere duas and love towards your little ones and your family. May Allah bless you all with sabr – ameen ya rabbi.
Jazak Allah khair for writing this amazing and courageous post.
Maryam
October 16, 2013 at 3:43 PM
sr.Abez, I don’t have words other than to say may Allah make you of His awliyaa and make your progeny and every person you love of His awliyaa and join you all in the highest Paradise with the Prophet sal Allahu alayhe wa salam without reckoning.
Nirgaz
October 16, 2013 at 4:31 PM
Indeed these hardships are blessings in disguise. My daughter was diagnosed in utero with a serious heart defect, she had open heart surgery at 5 days old and is now doing well Alhamdullilah. She was diagnosed with Turner Syndrome afterwards and will need more heart surgeries in future and may have other health issues. But I am forever grateful…her issues made me rely on Allah more than ever. Also personally I suffer from Manic Depressive Disorder…this has made being a mother and a wife a huge struggle…but it also made me rely on Allah completely.
Sister I loved your article and JazakAllah for the reminders <3
Abez
October 18, 2013 at 7:43 AM
May Allah strengthen you and your daughter, in health as well as Iman and make the trials easy and the taste of Iman sweet. <<>> and Wa Iyaki
ibnabeeomar
October 16, 2013 at 4:54 PM
Amazing article, jazakallahu khayr
Olivia Kompier
October 16, 2013 at 5:11 PM
Seriously speechless. Masha’Allah you are nothing short of an inspiration and i loved the way you wrote this <3 may Allah bless you and your family always.
Fatma
October 16, 2013 at 5:17 PM
Assalam u Alaykum ya jama3,
Sister Abez you have no idea how much I am touched by this and what emotions you have awakened in me, may Allah make me as God-fearing, death-awaiting and thankful as you. May Allah subside your pain but keep the positive effects it has had on you. May he take care of you and your family while you are yet alive and even more so after you have commenced your journey to an eternity of peace, joy,love and beauty in Jannah, Insha Allah. May He guide all onto the right path and make us among those believers that He has prepared immense rewards for. May we all meet under his shade of love in Jannah.
Jazakillah Khair
Moath
October 16, 2013 at 5:23 PM
I ask Allah to gather you and us with Prophet Mohammad in Jannat Al-ferdous inshallah, thank you for the reminder.
ummabdullah
October 16, 2013 at 5:27 PM
My life for the past almost 2 years has come packaged with similarish hardships. I could relate so well. Your test is inshallah raising your level with Allah! It is waking you out of the stupor many of us are still functioning in.
I want to leave you with a one word advice: ruqya.
Ruqya attacks the cause of all types of illness.
My dear sister I advise you to recite surah baqarah daily and blow on water and oil. Drink the water and apply the oil on your whole body daily. I can list a mile long list of medical ailments that I suffered from which disappeared into thin air due to this treatment.
If Allah has allowed for sickness to come to you then He knows a wisdom in it that you and I don’t know of.
*hug*
You will Inshallah be in my prayers. Pls keep us in yours
tarannum
October 17, 2013 at 7:45 AM
ASA,
Sr Abez, this was truly an amazing article and I urge you to keep writing so we can all benefit.
Sr UmmAbdallah, truly this works! Unfortunately very few people talk about Ruqya. I do it all the time and it works. Where ever it hurts I touch it and recite Quran and it ultimately goes away. SubhanAllah! My son had Asthma from kindergarten to 3rd grade but consistent Ruqya took that away completely. I used to touch his chest and recite quran. Then he developed bad stomach pains from 2nd-4rth grade and I would touch his stomach and recited Quran and this yr he is 100% pain free. It was so hard to see him in pain every morning before going to school. All I could do was rely on Allah. He and I made lots of duas and lots of Ruqya. Alhamdullilah! Without even realizing when it happened exactly he was painfree.
We really need to revive this Sunnah! Allahu Akbar!
saba
October 16, 2013 at 5:29 PM
Asalamalaykum sister this is a truly inspiring and motivating article. It made me cry ur so strong sister and may Allah keep u that way and make you better. I pray sister that your duas are answered and may your children be god fearing and pious Ameen.
lots of love from sister saba
Sara
October 16, 2013 at 6:38 PM
Your words brought sadness and smiles simultaneously, a testament of a beautiful soul. Throughout reading your article, I couldn’t help but think how Allah loves you, and perhaps smiles at your courage, humor and reflection as well. I am just as excited for you to meet your Lord, yet, may you live to see your children grow up and live healthy, peaceful lives, and may you gain excellent health and the best of both worlds, insha’Allah. I don’t know you, but I feel as though I have been touched by a light. Thank you.
asmah
October 16, 2013 at 7:17 PM
Oh my you have left your legacy my dear sister! An utter and true inspiration! May Allah SWT grant you the best of the dunya and Aakhira and make your children of the pious and righteous Ameen!
MadyyA
October 16, 2013 at 7:17 PM
May Allah heal you and may you live a life long enough to see your kids grow up and become wonderful adults. Jazakallah for teaching us an important lesson in gratitude. Praise be to Allah.
Mariam
October 16, 2013 at 7:48 PM
Jazakillahu kairan, your story is a source of inspiration to me, May Allah ans your duas, May you be a source of joy to your family … Amin
UmmSumayya
October 16, 2013 at 7:58 PM
Very inspiring and beautifully written (as well as your article on your prince) . InshaAllah, I’ll be taking up your challenge! May Allah (SWT) make things easy for you and your family. Ameen.
Nadine
October 16, 2013 at 8:20 PM
Assalamu Aleikom,
I’m trying to write sentences to describe my emotions reading your article, but all I can come up with are disjointed words and they all seem really inadequate.
Joy, relief, life, apprehension, fun, fear, beauty, change, gratefulness, patience.
Thank you for writing. May Allah swt reward you and your beautiful family in this life and the next.
Afaf
October 16, 2013 at 8:41 PM
All I can say is jazakallah keyr!!! I’m reading this in the middle of the night whilst my kids and husband are asleep… Looking at their faces and thinking this could be the last night we are all together!!! Appreciating my life all of it and this post just got to me I don’t know how to put it in words, but mashallah!!! May Allah ease ur pain May Allah ease ur heart from one mother to another!!! Xxx thank you xxxx
Aly Balagamwala (@DiscoMaulvi)
October 16, 2013 at 10:07 PM
Jazakillah Khairin sister Abez for that post right from your heart. May Allah (SWT) accept your duas and enable us to take heed to your words.
-Aly
Habiba
October 16, 2013 at 11:14 PM
Dearest Abez,
I think I loved you before anyone else did (Atleast in the blogging world.)
Didn’t you have a blog on xanga? I was your number one fan. I love you fi sa bilillah. I love you writing style and I love your humor. May Allah reward you and may Allah answer all your hearts desires.
hannah
October 17, 2013 at 8:35 AM
Habiba, I did too. maybe we were xanga friends?! ! What was your member name? I was bint. so many years ago. I was also part of zebas group and followed.
Muhammad
October 22, 2013 at 7:59 PM
Abez I’ve run out of what and how to express my prayers to you my sister in Islam.May Allah make us to realize our mistakes before we meet him(Amin).Also may the paradise be your final abode and all those who were inspired by this post positively(Amin).Muhammad Bukar Nigeria.
Habiba
November 15, 2013 at 2:32 AM
bint! I know you! (kind of) :)
I was babybiba and zabeha_pork (yes, two immature screen names but could you blame me? I was in high school then :) )
Habibi
October 17, 2013 at 1:56 PM
i dont think you can claim to be her number 1 fan. There was a huge following on what abezsays cause abezavecrat…:P
Abez
October 18, 2013 at 2:08 AM
LOL! Abezavecrat was such a long (and silly!) old time ago, SubhanAllah. Nice to see you guys again. :)
SajidH
October 16, 2013 at 11:48 PM
Lots of duas for you and love for your family. Your tip about setting a date of death is amazing, I never thought of like that. It’s a very useful tip to get my affairs in order and not to be over zealous and extend matters beyond my control. Once again, lots of prayers for a miracle for your speedy recovery so we can keep reading your work lifelong. But really you should not lose faith in miracles for yourself and your son. Keep believing.
Nowrin
October 17, 2013 at 2:17 AM
AssalamuAlaikum dear sister. Lots of dua for you and your family. Thank you for the reminder and tips. Im gonna print it out bcoz it tells my story. I had a nervous breakdown during my last pregnancy. Alhamdulillah, Allah SWT gave me a chance to come back to Him through some physical and mental challanges. As I was reading your article, it felt like as if I was reading my own story. Amazing! You will be in my prayers, in sha Allah. Once again, thank you, sister.
Bariah
October 17, 2013 at 2:51 AM
Zeba, I love you and get you. It’s surreal that you should always mirror something of my own life. Only in our story it’s not me but my husband who is coming out but isn’t :-) and I have been so crappy about dealing with all if it. JazakiAllah khayran my dear for this khayr that you have written. I pray I see you one day with our khaleds and hf’s if not here then in jannah (although both would be nice :-))
-love, strandedmom
Abez
October 18, 2013 at 8:06 AM
If I had a Canadian doppleganger, I’m pretty sure it’d be you. Or maybe I’m your American doppleganger- in any case it amazes me how often our lives parallel each other. I pray Allah grants your HF complete shifa, and your Khaled complete recovery from Autism and your entire lil family much love, Iman, and happiness in this life and the next. :)
You know, Dubai really isn’t so far away. ;)
Umm Hanifa
October 17, 2013 at 5:38 AM
Assalamu alaikum,
This sentence is something I have come to realise in the last 2-3 years:
“he talked about trusting Allāh to look after my children after I died, since He was their Rabb after all”.
I am healthy but not getting younger and my severely learning disabled son has now entered his twenties. He is becoming a strong man while I am feeling my decline. He is totally dependent on me and I used to say “I make du’a for him to die before me”. I now put my trust in Allah as He won’t abandon my son if He chooses to take me before him. The plan is there but we are too worried with the “What if?”
May Allah cure you (I read last week that a blind Sudanese lady got cure of her blindness of seven years right after making du’a in masjid an-nawawi. She went in the mosque blind and she came out seeing, subhanallah!)
Abez
October 18, 2013 at 8:12 AM
Trusting Allah to care for our learning disabled “children” is something that I know if tough for other mothers too. We’re blessed to be Muslim though, because we know Allah loves our kids seventy times more than we do. :)
I have one friend though, whose challenges with autism parenting unfortunately pushed her away from faith rather than towards it. I asked her if she believed in God, and she said no, but if she were ever to pray, it would only be to ask God to kill her and her son in a car accident at the same time. :(
Mrs Gull Khan
October 17, 2013 at 5:52 AM
I am 100 % Pakistani, but family came from other places. I am going through something similar but at the moment after years of suffering the Doctors have decided what is wrong and mostly my husband who is a Neurologist. I am actually now taking Humira a very well advertised drug. My Children, Thank Allah are older. I do feel sick of having to say whenever anyone asks how are you feeling, that I am not well. In case sometimes I just say better to give them Hope. I feel for you and your story was so familiar it is almost my story. I have an open Face Book page, Muslims for America. If you search it is the first page that comes up. You can leave me a message there. I will reply back. My Husband is an excellent Neurologist and was trained by some famous Neurologists in London. A place called Queen Square which is legendary with Neuro people for Brain Diseases. You can ask your Neurologist about it. Anyway my point was sometimes my husband comes up with things other Dr’s don not. If you will let me know what the diagnosis is and what city you are in, I would at least like to have my husband give a second opinion if there is anyone else you should see.
In the meantime I pray Allah helps you. I understand about the Children and how you do not want them to be left motherless. I want you to know Children do grow up cause I have a couple of Friends whose mother passed away while they were young.They have grown up fine. I think if your Mother can help in supervising, then they will receive the same guidance that you received. I hope you will use the new technology like video and DVD to leave your Children messages in case something happens to you. So they can see them and know what you were thinking and what your expectations for them were. Maybe some they could see as young Children and some to see when they are older. It is always better to be prepared and still my hope is for a Miracle with all this STEM CELL THERAPY and you will be fine.
There is so much research happening right now, that can hopefully prolong your life.
Sometimes I get very upset and say why me ? There is no answer. I go through anger, pity, then to hell with it all.
Honestly if it makes your mother feel happy that you go with her to a Church or pray to Jesus, do it, we Muslims recognize Jesus PBUH as a Prophet and beloved of Allah. We Muslims are allowed to Pray in a Church. Who knows where and when a Prayer get accepted.
I hope you will give me a chance to get a second opinion. My Prayers and Best Wishes. Hang in there. Miracles can happen. Mrs Seeme Hasan
Siraaj
October 17, 2013 at 1:15 PM
Salaam alaykum Mrs Khan,
However, we don’t pray to Jesus :) The Qur’an explicitly states that Allah (SWT) will question Jesus and ask him if he told the people to pray to him and he will reply he did no such thing. Our worship is for Allah (SWT) alone =)
Bilal
October 17, 2013 at 6:02 AM
that is the greatest piece of writing i can remember reading. your story is truly eye opening, and heart wavering. May Allah increase your faith further, grant you acceptance of your deeds, duas and patience, and bring your mother to islam. May Allah grant us all patience even 1/20th of what he has granted you. ameen
Umm Dawood
October 17, 2013 at 6:14 AM
May Allah reward you for telling your story, it goes to show the simple power in the belief in Allah: how that has transformed you and hopefully transform me and others is the only thing we need to look out for in this life.
Amel
October 17, 2013 at 7:19 AM
As-salamu Alaykum,
Thank you for sharing your story. Although this is a minor point in the article, I was wondering if you have the EEG confused with another test or if there is another type of EEG I have not heard of. I have seen many EEGs performed on a close family member, and they are painless. Basically they just attach electrodes to your scalp so they can measure electrical activity in the brain. It is the standard diagnostic test for epilepsy and some other neurological conditions. No tasers are used, and the test does not produce electric shock in the person being tested. Perhaps your doctor is using an EEG to measure the outcome of a test that does involve tasers? Would love to know more and hope you do not feel that I am nit-picking. I would just hate for someone who needs an EEG to fear the procedure.
Abez
October 18, 2013 at 6:31 AM
AssalamuAlaikum Amel- You know, I’m a little confused too now that I’ve done some googling, but the Dr’s here have definitely been calling the nerve conduction test an EEG. I’m going to need to ask why, InshaAllah.
Even if an EEG is jump-off-your-chair-painful, I hope that I deter people from seeking medical treatment. Much of what happens in a modern hospital isn’t all that pleasant, but having viable options for treatment and recovery are a blessing from Allah that we shouldn’t boycott out of fear alone. :)
Abez
October 18, 2013 at 9:45 PM
I hope that I DONT deter people- sorry!
Umm Iman
October 17, 2013 at 8:13 AM
As someone touched by cancer, I felt every single one of your words as if you spoke from my heart….. sub7anAllah that part you mentioned RE: post fear really struck a chord with me, I’ve never been able to pin point that phase as well as you so eloquently expressed. Jkhair sis, and I ask Allah SWT , Lord of the Mighty thrown, to grant you full shifa, Ameen
Tamim
October 17, 2013 at 9:46 AM
May Allah guide you and your family through all the struggles in this world and make the path to Jannah easier for all of us.
Fritz
October 17, 2013 at 9:57 AM
I dont know if this is amazing co-incidence or not but I managed to diagnose a young girl in her late teens with POTS and who (amazingly) also has a diagnosis of Ehlers Danlos syndrome.
It was quite funny – she brought in photos of her being able to hyperextend her joints into all kinds of extreme positions and wondered if it could be related to her POTS.
Thankfully her POTS is beautifully controlled with ivabradine and she will have no long term consequences from this. Her EDS is an unclear variant, but whilst it should not affect her life expentancy there is a probability she is going to run into joint problems in future. (I had wondered about directing her to your article…)
Please do seek proper specialist advice as these are both “cindarella” conditions. Sometimes the guys in the Gulf however well intentioned just do not have the cardiology or rheumatology expertise to deal with these conditions. You said you are British by birth so there are plenty of excellent centres in the NHS with good experience of EDS and POTS.
Salam
POTSgrrl
October 17, 2013 at 6:14 PM
Dear Fritz and Abez,
Fritz, it sounds like you are a doctor, so I applaud you for knowing about POTS and EDS. Not enough of your peers know about these conditions.
It is not unusual to have POTS and EDS together. Mayo Clinic estimates that POTS is impacting 1 out of every 100 teenagers before adulthood, and estimates are that it impacts about 500,000 to 1 Million in the US (making it more common than Multiple Sclerosis and on par with Parkinson’s, two more well known neurological conditions). If these numbers were similar in other nations, and I believe they are since POTS had been documented in people of all races from every continent, a conservative estimate would be 11 Million POTS patients worldwide.
Over the years, several research studies have documented a high incidence of EDS in the POTS population. Two different studies from different universities being presented this month at the American Autonomic Society conference in Hawaii indicate that 29% of POTS patients have EDS. Screening for POTS and EDS should be standard protocol for anyone presenting with symptoms of orthostatic intolerance.
Abez, you write so beautifully. I just want to clarify so that your readers do not become confused, POTS is not a fatal condition. Some forms of EDS put individuals at a risk of premature death (such as Vascular EDS).
I am not a doctor, but from your description of symptoms, I would encourage you to see a second opinion from an autonomic neurologist. I know they are hard to find, but well worth the visit if you can find a good one. I’m not sure where you live, but in the UK Prof. Mathias is an autonomic neurologist who is supposed to be good at this stuff. Prof. Graham Hughes (the rheumatologist who discovered anti-phospholipid antibodies in the 1980s) also has experience diagnosing POTS, treating it and finding treatable underlying causes (including Anti-Phospholipd Syndrome).
Weakness, shaking, twitching eyes – that’s more than the typical small fiber autonomic neuropathy seen in POTS. Some POTS patients, including me, have an underlying neurological condition that causes the POTS, and it is often autoimmune. In my case, it’s Sjogren’s causing a progressive autonomic neuropathy causing POTS. Having EDS may make you more prone to autoimmunity according to an abstract published by Dr. Francomano, one of the world’s leading EDS researchers. Adding another diagnosis to the pile is not fun, but depending on what that diagnosis is, you may be able to find a treatment that improves or slows down your neurological symptoms. I know several POTS/EDS/Autoimmune Disease patients who are doing better once their autoimmune disease is being directly treated. My doctors can’t decide if I have EDS or not – some say yes, others say no. I have had super flexy joints since childhood and I am 35, so who knows.
Dysautonomia International is a non-profit that I run with other POTS patients, families and the leading POTS researchers. I would encourage you to visit our website and see the resources we can offer POTS patients. http://www.dysautonomiainternational.org
Best wishes to you both.
Abez
October 18, 2013 at 6:51 AM
Walaikum Assalam Fritz- you are correct- and I had to fly to the US in order get a diagnosis. I have a great neurologist at the Rush University Hospital that’s doing his best to help me manage long-distance. I just very excitedly started googling ivabradine btw, and it turns out we call it Procoralan over here, and I’m already on it. :) It’s been far, far better than any of the beta & calcium channel blockers I took prior, with no side-effects so far. The best thing about it is that it’s a funny channel Blocker. Seriously. There’s something in the heart called a funny channel.
POTSgrrl: I love you so much right now- I’ve been trying to figure out how all my weird muscle twitches and spasms and random jabs of electricity are tied into POTS-ED, and so far without luck. I also have chronically dry mouth & eyes. I’m definitely going to look into Sjogren’s. And hey, I have a handful of diagnoses already, the more the merrier? :p
Thank you for also being the voice of advocacy here and sharing some important info about POTS and ED. Yes, Alhamdulillah, they are not fatal in and of themselves- it’s the complications that can get dangerous. My EDS seems to affect my lungs moreso than anything- I get diagnosed with bronchitis on an annual basis, and am still recovering from my last infection TWO MONTHS LATER.
At the end of the day though, all of mankind fits into one of two categories:
– Those who are dying and know it
– Those who are dying and don’t know it
We’re all moving closer to death, whether it’s through the path of health or illness, consciousness or forgetfulness. My goal in writing this wasn’t to make people feel sorry to me, but to point out their own terminal condition- also known as Life. :)
Fritz
October 18, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Yes; as it is “life” is a sexually transmitted condition with 100% mortality!
Rizwan
October 17, 2013 at 11:56 AM
JazakAllah Khair for this beautiful post. May Allah swt give you more strength, taqwa and level of imaan.Ameen! It is wake up call for all of us who are living this worldly life in denial. We all have to go eventually one day but it’s an important reminder for all of us to have full faith and be in the state of imaan when we leave this world. You are always in our prayers. May Allah swt give you health and shiffa and keep your strong. Ameen!
A traveller
October 17, 2013 at 11:56 AM
I want to thank you incredibly for this article because it has touched me in a way beyond expected. You have definitely left a legacy and I only ask that you continue this legacy with your writing, because you most definitely have a skill (by the Grace of Allah swt) and it cannot be anything but our duty to utilise the skills that Allah has given us for His sake. That is something that this has helped me to realise. We may not all have physically life threatening illnesses but they sure do exist in our hearts, and they sure do cripple us.
I want to tell you something…I don’t know if this will mean anything to you, I’m no sheikh or anything but I’d like to think I’ve learnt a few things over the years. Everything you mentioned in your blog about trusting God, it applies to you wanting to convert your mother. It means understanding that there is a wisdom beyond everything, which we cannot always comprehend. It comes with understanding that somehow, in some way – everything will be okay. Everything IS okay – by the grace of God. There is a hadith by the Prophet which states “there are as many paths to God as there are human breaths”. (and that’s a hell of a lot of paths), and a path to God (although a different path to your own) is definitely better than no path. It may not be as efficient, but it’s definitely a path – one which we’re all on. If you think you can make some positive change to some person, then all you can ever do is share your story. Somebody once told me that it’s important to understand that life is a journey, not a destination (an overused phrase, but often overlooked).in the sense that, we are all on the path to God, a path which is infinite, and on a path which is infinite, can you ever truly progress? The only real progression comes with death – because it is to HIM we belong, and to HIM, we will return. In other words, we’re going back home. Whoever you are, you’re going back home. But every single one of us has our own journey. God is Most Merciful. But enough rambling, that’s my two cents…
Thank you for sharing your story….sometimes it’s all we have to do.
Madeeha Tariq
October 17, 2013 at 12:07 PM
such bravery… such courage…. amazing Legacy.. and an awesome source of sadaqa-e-jaariyah for You Sister Abez… inshaaAllah! as you urself have such firm belief in allahs plans, and His powers, I pray that may He the Glorified, ease your pain and suffering… may He enable you to enjoy the time you have with ur children… and thru ur effort, may we also come out of the fools paradise of considering ourselves as immortal… for truly, even if we dont realize, that is exactly what our lives cry out loud……… :'( Alhamdulilllah for getting to know a beautiful soul like you… hope to meet up with you some time… in this life, or the next… a big hug and duas for all your li’ll angels… n a big hug and MANY duas to the gem they have for their mom!
Hawa
October 17, 2013 at 1:08 PM
This post clicked open the lock around my heart. Jazakuallahu khairan sis and may Allah grant you the highest of Jannah’s you and your entire family. <3
Umm Rashid
October 17, 2013 at 1:26 PM
SubhanaAllah, indeed Allahs blessings come in surprising packages.I know first hand a lot of the feelings you expressed in your story.I am the mother of 5 children Alhumdulillah.When my youngest son was two months old I was diagnosed with cancer.My duas were much more sincere then at any other time in my life.I begged Allah for three years to nurture my son from his delicate and fragile age.Allah gave me more , much more than three years Alhumdulillah.Little did I know what was in store for me at the time.My son was to be diagnosed with Autsim.Allah has taught me how nothing in this life can last forever and that everything has flaws and disappointments.He has nurtured me in a gentle manner teaching me that the hereafter is what I should strive for.If paradise were on Earth we would not look to the hereafter with the same desire.I am thankful for the lessons that illness have taught me, and yes everyday I feel like my youth is slipping away.The body that was created for only a short period of time is starting to fail and I can feel the temporary ness of this life.Beinging shown these signs while still being able to seek forgiveness and nearness to Allah are indeed a great blessing Alhumdulillah.May Allah continue to bless you with insight into his wisdom,may He keep you firm and grateful and may He bless your mother with the gift of Islam,Ameen.In my story ,my Christian mother excepts Islam,Alhumdulillah.JazakAllah khair for sharing your story.
Abez
October 18, 2013 at 6:55 AM
AssalamuAlaikum Umm Rashid- from one special needs mother to another, my hugs and duas and love to you and your son. May Allah make it easy for you and grant you complete Shifa, may The Source of Peace grant you peace, and Allah grant you and your son the highest level of Jannah. Ameen
Nada
October 17, 2013 at 2:48 PM
Wow…just wow!.. May Allah reward you and grant you Jannat-ul-firdus. You are such an inspiration to me and a very brave sister to all of us…I dont know how many times I read your article and cried every time. It encourages me and instills fear in my heart to be God-fearing, and to seriously start repenting to Allah(SWT) because we dont know when our time will be up. May Allah make it easy for you, and your family. May Allah grant us such steadfastness in religion. You truly are blessed to understand and accept death as inevitable…you and me are all going to die eventually. But the blessed ones are who were aware of Allah(STW) and feared him, and loved Him and His Rasool(pbuh) while they were going thru life of this world! Love this part ” I’ve never been more tired, more weak, or less able to tie my own shoes, but I’ve never felt stronger, calmer, or happier to be Muslim. Alḥamdulillāh.”
SubhanAllah, Indeed He is all merciful and all Wise!
Mark
October 17, 2013 at 4:04 PM
I just have to say it is a very good written article, and valuable content in this article.
Saika
October 17, 2013 at 4:31 PM
SubhanAllah!! Such an amazing article..May Allah swt allow us all to return to Him in a beautiful way Ameen! Jazakallahkhair so much for writing this article & inspiring us all to bring change within ourselves..May Allah swt ease your pain & enter you into Jannah tul Firdous without account Ameen ❤️
Umm ibrahim
October 17, 2013 at 4:52 PM
subhaanAllah, masha Allah sister, you are amazing, n your writng expression is extremely effective. You have been blessed with a good attitude in your trials, AlHamdu Lillah, and are a part of my du’as from now on, in sha Allah.
Um Mariam
October 17, 2013 at 6:59 PM
I made du’a for you and your family from the bottom of my heart! The best place is to be with Allah (swt); and the best Carer of our trusts is Allah (swt)! Alhamdulilah…I was diagnosed with MS last year; have children and nothing helps by our belief…it’s the most reassuring hug :) Love you fiLaah…Jazakelaah khairan for sharing your experience in such heart touching way; it’s one of thebest things I’ve ever read :)
hopefull
October 17, 2013 at 8:17 PM
Asalamualikum sister abez
I pray to Almighty Allah to grant ur wishes and keep u safe n always blesss u with his kindness….when I read ur article … it seems its me, I used to hv great physical fitnes…never thought of dieing always thought I of future n progress in my profession n family…was not ready to die…i m married n have two lovable daughters n a boy aged 5, 3 n 1 who n deaply in love with me as do I …. one fine morning my aircraft crashed n I suffered multiple fractures in my back bone n my lower body was paralised…had n ops with implants in my back …n Allhamdullia by the grace of Almighty Allah subhanutalla n prayers of my parents I hv started walking…. can narrate u from how many difficulties I hv been through during my illness and during all this whn I was in a hopital i lost my wife n kids…. I still pray to Almighty Allah to grant my wife wisdom so tht she come back n live a life wih me…but now I think its Allah will….I ask for his mercy n pray for my forgiveness. …I hv still not lost hope …. but now have a firm belief that all this wealth, health , kids are just worldy things…..I just pray that Allah plz Grant all of us Bakshiss for Janataul Firdos….Ameen….plz pray for me n keep me in ur duas…
Abez
October 18, 2013 at 7:00 AM
Narrated Abu Musa, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
When a child of a servant of Allah dies, Allah inquires His angels: Have you taken into custody the soul of the child of My servant?
They answer: Yes.
Then He inquires: Have you taken into custody the soul of the flower of his heart?
They answer: Yes.
Then He inquires: Then what did My servant say?
They answer: He praised Thee and affirmed: To Allah we belong and to Him we shall and return.
Thereupon Allah says: Build for My servant a mansion in Paradise and name it `The House of Praise.’
Transmitted by Tirmidhi.
Brother, may you meet your wife and children in The House of Praise. Ameen.
Sister in Islam
October 17, 2013 at 9:37 PM
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu
Your article was just- SubhanAllah <3 It was an eye opener to me and I thank you SO much for writing it.
May Allah guide your kids and your future generations and make them of the ones who go to Jannah. May Allah let you attain Al-Firdaws without Hisab. May Allah let you accomplish whatever you wish to accomplish and anything that will increase your ranks before your time comes. And finally, O Allah let us meet in Al-Firdaws. Ameen.
Fatima
October 17, 2013 at 9:39 PM
Amazing article. Thank you for reminding us about the importance of dua and all three amazing ways Allah responds to our dua. SubhanAllah. I pray that Allah makes you physically stronger and maintains or even increases your level of iman, and that you continue to write for us for the sake of Allah!
Noorunnisa
October 17, 2013 at 10:02 PM
May Allah bless you sister – you have shamed and inspired me, ma shaa’Allah!
Sana
October 18, 2013 at 12:16 AM
Subhanallah im amazed that you are writing / typing when your hands are constantly shaking. Even with the difficulties you show us the drive that you have for this deen and truly the love of Allah. May Allah swt help us to learn from this article. I’m iA going to do the 6 month challenge. Lets see how it goes.
Jazakullah khair
Umm Sumayyah
Abez
October 18, 2013 at 7:01 AM
AssalamuAlaikum Sana- Alhamdulillah, my hand’s don’t shake 24/7. They do shake for days (once for three weeks) at a time, but the shaking comes and goes depending on what’s happening w/my brain & nerves.
And Alhamdulillah, I also have a voice to test dictation software, which I highly recommend for anyone who has difficulty with typing. :)
amatullah
October 18, 2013 at 12:22 AM
Assalamualaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh My Dear Sister Abez!
May AllahSWT the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth and the One Who is Able to cure every disease cure you and your little one!
JazakAllaahu Khair for the great reminder! SubhanAllah! Again JazakAllahu Khair!
I beg you to do Ruqyah. The Quran is the best cure! Please recite Surah al Fatihah in particular and you may want to ask Sheikh Yasir Qadhi about how to do Ruqyah.i.e., reciting the surah into water and drinking it.
Also please try to finish reciting surah Baqarah every few days. Maybe you can try completing every 7 days or whatever is convenient for you.
Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Recite Surah al-Baqarah: for to hold on to it is a barakah (blessing), to leave it is a regret’
[Muslim].
And please dont forget to take black seeds. I guess you must have come across the hadith about black seeds being a cure for every disease.
And yes please continue with duas.
With even a prick of a thorn our sins are shed by Allah’sSWT Mercy. Imagine inshAllah with all these difficult moments your sins are being forgiven and your level in Jannah inshAllah is getting higher and higher!
May AllahSWT grant you strength and fill your heart with hope and make everything easy for you and your family and gather you all together in His Jannah where it will be all smiles!
I feel positive that you will be cured inshAllah!
JazakAllahu Khair and may AllahSwt grant us all the ability to use all our blessings He has bestowed on us, especially the blessing of Islam, in the best way pleasing to Him!
X
October 18, 2013 at 3:53 AM
Amazing Article, iA may Allah make your condition easier and better and soon be cured :)
Just a question out of curiosity,since I am interested in Medicine – have you tried any forms Islamic medicine, for example as the above post mentioned Black Seeds? Maybe alternative medicine such as Traditional Chinese Medicines (herbs) might help?
heningsept
October 18, 2013 at 4:39 AM
beautiful reminder. jazakillah khairan for writing it down.
i pray for you and your family. i really wish your son & daughters will grow as great muslims and make the ummah proud. and i really wish your mother will accept islam.
salam from indonesia :)
shannon
October 18, 2013 at 7:14 AM
Salam sister,
As I read your post my heart ached, yet was so full for you. You have received something so precious with the hardships you face; an awareness of Allah and your own mortality that some study all their lives to achieve. I’m blessed to have read this for the perspective it holds, and the understanding it has imparted. I thank you so much for this gift, and ask Allah that you are given the strength to persevere, the highest station in Jannah, the protection off your family, the health of your children, and the blessings of a believing family. You will be in my dua daily inshAllah.
Whbet
October 18, 2013 at 7:53 AM
Asalaam Wa’alaykum sister,
Your article has made me realise how much I take dua’ for granted. This gift given to us all by the All Mighty through His mercy. JazakAllah khayr for this reminder. May this article be a source of continuous sadaqa for you and your family. May you and your family be rewarded for what you have endured, and May the Rahma of Al’Raheem cover you, and may you be blessed with at that is in your heart. It’s at times like these that I realise how ungrateful and ignorant I am to the inevitable. I love you for the sake of Allah, and I will InshaAllah remember you, your family, and all my brothers and sisters enduring such challenges in my dua’s.
Thanks
October 18, 2013 at 12:58 PM
What a gifted writer and wonderful human being you are. May Allah grant ease and the greatest of blessings to you and your family. This piece truly moved me
Ammara
October 18, 2013 at 1:08 PM
Asa dearest sister, May Allah ease your pain, accept your duas, grant you health and take away all your worries. Ameen.
anything,MA!! you are a very courageous woman, you have examplified what faith means. There is certainly loads for me to learn and exercise. Lots of duas for you ins. JazakAllah Khyer. ammara
Hilal Hilal
October 18, 2013 at 3:06 PM
May Allah reward you for that article, sister! He made me read it when I needed a reminder. InshaAllah I will read it from time to time and will show it to others too. See, you are already earning rewards inshaAllah :D May Allah give you ease and happiness in this life and the next. Ameen! I love you for the sake of Allah :) Selma
MomB
October 18, 2013 at 9:50 PM
What form of EDS do you have? I was diagnosed with type III a few years ago after suffering since I was a teenager with strange joint symptoms that couldn’t be identified by a handful each of orthopedists and rheumatologists. Most recently I destroyed my shoulder opening a jar and wrecked my back twice using a push broom. I have an amazing specialty physical therapist however al-Hamdu li-laah. Isometric exercises are brilliant and extremely helpful.
Abez
October 18, 2013 at 10:59 PM
Good ole fashioned Classical EDS as far as I know- a moderate balance of skin & joint with a healthy side of TMJ and TOS. :). I’ll ask my Physio about Isometric exercises, JazakAllahukheiran!
nadeem
October 18, 2013 at 11:52 PM
Can’t stop thinking about life & my petty issues which r so ginormous in my mind. You r a gifted writer. Thank you for sharing. Iltimas-e-Duas for you and your family
sadia
October 19, 2013 at 2:14 AM
Jazak Allah for writing this. I am a special needs mom of two children with Down’s Syndrome. When our son was born and diagnosed, I was in shock and didn’t understand why it happened to me. I soon realized that we as humans are completely helpless in front of Allah’s decisions for us. Within a year I was pregnant with my daughter also diagnosed with Down’s and that’s when I realized how some people might be tested more than others but that doesn’t mean Allah doesn’t love them. I am thankful for my children as they have made me a better human and a better Muslim alhamdullilah. I now know to be thankful for every healthy moment with my children and for every little blessing Allah has given me. I used to worry about their future thinking what will happen to them but I know Allah who takes care of us always will take care of them when I am gone.
Love and hugs for you from one special needs mom to another.
Abez
October 20, 2013 at 2:17 AM
Special mom hugs are especially good hugs. :) >>>> hugs <<<<<
Nazreen
October 19, 2013 at 8:04 AM
Assalamualaikum Sister Abez,
I don’t know where to begin, but I do wish I was near you to give you a hug. And to thank you profusely for this article. For you courage. And for the inspiration.
Masha Allah, I am in awe. Your trust in Allah is so deep and so unconditional. This article was the wake up call I needed. To just stop and rethink where I am heading and where I will be in hereafter if I continue.
All I have to say is I hope Allah eases your fight and that he makes it easy for you and your family to deal with this trial with complete faith in HIm. May Allah forgive your sins, and our sins and may he make us all among the people of Jannah.
I’d like to dedicate this poem to you:
Heart in Transit
I was
a wandering spirit
seeking joy
in shifting images
and lethal fumes
living dead
in smoky planes
chasing shadows
of every desire and
unspoken sin
over mountains
crossing oceans
picking bruises
shedding tears
shredding soul
racing satan
to the pit
Till
He found me
h a n g i n g
by a flimsy thread
and pulled me out
of moral death
dusting off
my tired soul
Blowing away
silent smoke
switching on the inner lights
Showering peace
long elusive
Reminding me
‘Verily, in the remembrance
of Allah
Do hearts find rest.’
Abez
October 20, 2013 at 12:29 AM
That was lovely, JazakAllahuKheiran :) May Allah always help you keep the lights on in your soul. :)
Tooba
October 19, 2013 at 9:11 AM
Words do no justice for what these words have done for me. Words will never do justice for what you have done by writing this. Just know, my dear sister, that one girl read this chronically ill, depressed and anxious. She looked at the scars on her skin and realised the light which reaches those who are sick…
Thank you. Thank you.
Abez
October 20, 2013 at 12:27 AM
The deeper the wounds, the greater the relief upon healing. The greater the pain, the greater the reward for bearing. Allah tests those that He loves. :)
Emila
October 21, 2013 at 6:35 PM
Abez,
Thank you for writing this article as a 19 yr old girl I have been sad about trivial issues like acne scars on my back and discoloration etc and not feeling beautiful. Although it is important to fix those things if possible and be the best me–I shouldn’t loose sight of the blessings Allah has given me. Really, it is not good to complain in your mind– but its better to be thankful. After reading this I forgot about all of those issues. I really need to work on trying to become a better Muslim and making sincere prayer. I am so thankful for my health now. I do above all else want to go to Jannah mainly because the lifestyle is just so fun and lavish ;) but also because no one can stand a milisecond in Jahannam. I am so so proud to call you my sister in Islam. Much love from your African sister! May Allah grant you Jannah without judgment for the trials you went through in dunya and may he forgive the past sins you have committed that worry you. Ameen I truly hope Allah accepts that dua from me on your behalf.
Umyusef
October 19, 2013 at 1:25 PM
Ma sha Allah, may Allah reward u sister for using yr talent in such a beneficial way, and may He accept it from u. SubhanAllah as to yr advice to set oneself a death date, that is a great start to getting a new perspective on life. Our messenger (pbuh) went further even, urging us to set our death date to be each night as we sleep: “anyone who expects to wake up in the morning is not a believer.” Allahumma ihdinassirat almustaqeem…
Ishfaq
October 19, 2013 at 4:05 PM
MashaAllah sister!
Allahu Akbar !
Allah swt is great… . Would u have written such a powerful piece of writing if you wasnt suffering as such?
However All credit goes to U because Allah gives the choice to human beings and if we make the correct choices then Allah makes further decisions easier… there r many people who guve up and make incorrect decisions… may Allah guide them… But you sister r making the correct ones Alhamdulillah.. May Allah bless u and ur family in this world and even more in the next – ameen.
With a tear in my eye i ask u to pray for me so that i make the correct decions in life also.. .
jzakAllah khair.
Abez
October 20, 2013 at 12:37 AM
I’m 99% sure that if I my life were easy now, I’d be doing the same thing as when it was easy before: gaming. Between Starcraft, Minecraft, Nethack and a handful of other games I wasted years of my life on the relentless pursuit of absolutely nothing. Astaghfirullah.
Amina M
October 19, 2013 at 4:45 PM
AssaloAlaikum zeba
May you celebrate many more Eidain with your family. Indeed Allah SWT is the best of Healer. He has already blessed you with unwavering faith and in exhaustible strength to be realistic, content and happy under all situations.
I remember the beautiful young girl I met at Isb airport in July 2004 carrying brownies for Bushra.
You are still young but now with a lot more hikmah that has made many to review the journey of their temporal world.
May you become a legacy in your life and meet all those in Jannah who were inspired by your thoughts, aameen
Abez
October 20, 2013 at 12:34 AM
Walaikum Assalam Amina- I swear there’s a hole in my brain- I remember Bushra, Brownies, and a very brief meeting in Islamabad airport, but I can’t remember your face! I am embarrassed but grateful that you remember me and appreciate the duas. :) If you ever need international airport brownies again, this time let’s do Dubai. :)
Hala B.
October 20, 2013 at 12:54 AM
Asalamu alaikum,
SubhanAllah, this was an amazingly inspirational piece. I am currently going through a very painful divorce, and am now on the brink of homelessness, but I am experiencing this calm you describe. I still feel like I’m drowning, but I’m not fighting it. I’m actually more afraid of the cal then what might happen, but I also welcome it as it is a sign of accepting Allah’s will. Alhamdulilah.
nina
October 22, 2013 at 11:54 PM
assalam o alaikum sis,
May ALLAH bless you and your family.Your story remind me of my life. I have faced almost a similar situation since i was born.i do not have the courage to share my sufferings but i still have scars on my body. but now ALHAMDO LILLA i am almost alright .i tried every doctor , every medicine, but nothing made me better. Then one day i lost my memory after long long illness. It was the time when i knew i will die soon. i sometimes used to pray longer just in a hope that i die while praying. At that point i decided to do RUQYAH just for a test and experiment to see how powerful my QURAN is. believe me ……it worked like a magic. whoever is reading this post please please dont wait a single second to try RUQYAH FOR HEALING even if u have no problems.it really works. now i m living a normal life and no body can even imagine what my past was. and a good thing is that i prepare more for death than for living. truly we sick people are blessed . my prayers are for every one.
Z
October 23, 2013 at 9:36 AM
Amazing Article! May Allah bless you and your family in this world and the next! JazakAllahu Khair.
Vanessa
October 23, 2013 at 2:19 PM
Masha allah. I read this article many days ago, and at the time I read it I have to admit I was not in a very good mood, I have been dealing with stressors that had me griping and grumbling.. It wasn’t until hours after I read our article that I was once again complaining about not having enough energy, and I stopped mid sentence as something you said struck me and humbled me… When you said you just wanted to able to raise your hands in dua, it is inspiring. Things we often take for granted and hate doing like cleaning our homes, we don’t realize that depending on our intentions it could most certainly be a good deed in the eyes of Allah.
You inspired me to write an article, and in shaa allah once it is published I can share it with you, and any benefit that any person who reads it, I pray that Allah will bless you immensely. I am so happy to see all of the comments and inspiration you have given for so many. I will make dua for you my sister, and for all others that they may have the strength to let go of the fear of death and still be thankful. You have put much in perspective for me, and I pray that I can be spiritually strong as you are, in shaa allah.
May Allah bless you and your family with ease and comfort in this life, and the best of things in the next.
Masumeh
October 24, 2013 at 1:20 AM
Salamu alaikum wa rahmatu’llahi wa barakatahu Sister Abez,
Wow! A close friend recommended your blog to me, and is it ever interesting. You are the first Muslim I have encountered with POTS. I have had POTS for a little over 11 years. We should really get together by phone. It’s not a potentially fatal disease, as it is not progressive. Actually, because it involves peripheral nerve damage rather than central nerve damage, you are likely to significantly recover, though it takes aproximately 4 1/2 years for peripheral nerves to heal. THe problem for most POTS sufferers is that, during the initial period of severest chronic fatigue, dizziness, and muscle atrophy, there is severe deconditioning. YOur doctors probably already explained this to you, but maybe not, since POTS only entered diagnostic manuals in 1996 and the majority of doctors do not really understand the syndrome. Deconditioning is an uphill battle, but as daunting and sometimes downright impossible as it seems, it’s our only real path to recovery. I have had a lot of ups and downs with my POTS and hypermobility joint syndrome…LOTS of hard days, lots of fainting, lots of dreams dashed. As you have already discovered, GOd compensates, in this world and we can look forward to His eternal promise in the hereafter. I applaud your articulate and expressive writing, detailing some poignant and important features of chronic illness. If you are experiencing progressive deterioration, however, you really ought to seek further medical evaluation because POTS is not progressive and it is not fatal (unless you pass out in a bath, while driving, on stairs, etc. then it can result in fatal trauma). That’s good and bad news, I know. Most POTS sufferers experience onset in their late teens or early twenties, so it’s a long, long road ahead and there are many foundational life experiences that can be thrown off course due to the disabling fatigue, recurrent fainting, and cognitive difficulties. There are soooo many small tricks that help sooo much. YOu should check out http://www.DINET.ORG for some of these tips, and also reliable information on how to differentiation between various forms of dysautonomia, those that are progressive and potentially fatal and those that are not, such as POTS and NCS. It’s a deep sea of complex information and skills to learn how to understand and live with POTS. I wish you well on your journey. If you want to get in touch in person, I offer you my veteran advice and experiences…and again, it’s terrible but somehow comforting to find another POTSer in the Muslim community.
Jazakee Allahu khairan for bringing this disorder into public light and for sharing your intimate spiritual process aloud, for all of us to benefit from.
Kind regards,
Masumeh
Abez
October 25, 2013 at 3:44 AM
AssalamuAlaikum Masumeh! How wonderful to find another Muslim with POTS! Hooray! I’ve yet to find a Muslim support group and so many people can be very negative about being sick- so JazakAllahuKheiran for posting here.
You may be right about POTS not being progressive, and thanks to POTSgrrrl’s comment above, I’ve begun the process of investigation for Sjogren’s, which is a progressive auto-immune that can cause POTS.
I’m really looking forward to getting in touch, JazakAllahuKheiran again. :)
-Abez
Yasmin
October 25, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Subhanallah.
I’ve seriously been feeling so sorry for myself because my ED is such that I cannot have children without literally risking my life. Allah even gave me a stepdaughter (whose mother passed away), and yet I’ve been having such a huge pity party for myself that somewhere along the way I forgot to count my blessings. :(
la ilaaha illa anta subhaanaka innee kuntu mina ath-thaalimeen.
Jazaakum Allahu Khairan for bringing me back to the reality of my situation. I really needed that, alhamdulillah.
BestonAb
October 25, 2013 at 9:00 PM
This is truly a great article. It’s a heartfelt exposé of ones spiritual ascendency over life’s physical mobility. And, It is genuine at all levels. The humour, humility and the unshaken believe in Allah of someone who’s dealing with a debilitating illness flows from the heart manifested by an innate personal realisation. I, as someone who is currently dealing with mysterious neurological issues (doctors yet to diagnose), I feel a close bond to this journey. I am amazed by how many us are so far apart in this world and lead different lives, but a life event of some sort trigger something within us to follow our hearts and arrive on the same path. Which is the path toward Allah. It’s truly a blessing when you experience that moment of clarity that I like to think of as knowledge and be allowed by Allah to think of your differently. I hope that all of us in this world, in our own ways can arrive on the path toward Allah and may Allah forgive us all and grant us Jenah.
Khadija
October 28, 2013 at 7:10 AM
May Allah preserve you and your family. Put your trust in Allah. Ironically, I never felt sorry for you while reading this. I felt your strength throughout and you are indeed an inspiration. I pray that Allah helps you to leave a great legacy for your children. You have inspired us all and taught us a lesson.
Fathima
October 28, 2013 at 12:43 PM
Assalamu Alaykum
<3 Your words made me ponder, weep, reflect. The time I waste, the blessings I take for granted, the minor irritations I blow up into full-scale trauma.
May Allah guide us all to the straight path, forgive our sins and grant us all Jannatul Firdause. Ameen <3
Jazakhallhu khairan
Norlaila Toulas
October 30, 2013 at 11:55 AM
Assalamu alaikum sister
Jazaki Allahu khairan for writing this. It’s been a while since I’ve actually read through an entire article like that, which goes to show how amazing your story and writing is. You are truly an inspiration to parents, and Muslims alike. Thank you so much for your reminders. You are now in my du’as and May Allah accept yours and mine. And unite us in the highest level of Jannah, and allow us to see His face. Ameen.
I love you for the sake of Allah.
Your sister in Islam
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samiyashehzad
November 10, 2013 at 6:04 AM
May Allah take all your worries away and you live healthily and long enough to see each one of your children, fly away successfully from your nesting motherhood. Lots of duas and prayers to you n family. Keep writing, it’s such wonderful catharsis :-)
Zahra Hassan
November 11, 2013 at 8:22 AM
Masha’Allah, Sister. An inspiring article. This shows that there are people who aren’t physically fit, but mentally strong whereas We people are physically fit, but mentally not prepared to face the challenges that life throw at us. Very thought-provoking and I learnt many lessons through you. May Allah bless you and reward you the highest degree in Jannah.
And Sister, Why don’t you join Ummaland which is a social networking site for Muslims where you can inspire many? I hope it will be a different environment for you where you will find peace and love within. If you are interested, you can join us and here’s the link: http://www.ummaland.com
Jazakallahu Khairun. May Allah shower his blessings upon you!
Mahroof Saeed
November 11, 2013 at 11:23 AM
According to The Qura’an history of prophets proves Duas were accepted&responded by AllahSWA.For eg.Ibrahim Alai’s dua for an heir, Zakariya Alai’s for an heir at the oldest age.Nothing to despair if your faith with righteous deeds is so strong. May Allah guide us all in the right path.Believe in the Words of Allah & get the guidance only from the Qur’aan &sunnah of prophet Muhammed SAL.
Nasreen Khan
November 11, 2013 at 1:59 PM
Assalaamu Alaikum Sister Abez!
What a beautifully expressed truly inspirational article. Makes one look through and through! May Allah SWT give you and your family the BEST in this duniya as well as in the Aakhirah. Ameen.
Muslimah
November 14, 2013 at 8:47 PM
An inspiring article that inspired the writing of this… May Allah bless you for all who benefits from both.
http://understandquran.com/seen-hands-can-dua.html
Hajirah
December 8, 2013 at 2:40 PM
This has been a humorous, heartbreaking, eye opening, God-inspired, amazingly spectacular, and beautifully splendid piece. My heart wept and laughed. And I pray that the hereafter is full of light, laughter and joy for you dear sis. You’ve left a legacy and taught a much needed lesson.
May Allah love you always, and may you be of the Muqarabeen; the most near to the Beloved.
Faith
December 8, 2013 at 7:31 PM
May Allah reward you in this world and the akhirah. Reading this as a mother I couldn’t help but weep. My heart and eyes weep but indeed sister as you have said – Allah promises us “inna ma’al usri yusra.”
I pray that ur children grow up to become amongst the righteous ones , living and dying upon the deen ‘at he bless them with health and the wisdom as they age to appreciate you as their mother, Wether ur soul is with them or with allah (swt) waiting to be united with them in Jannah ia.
May Allah guide your mother to His light.
Ameen Ameen Ameen.
Salaam Alaikum wa rahmatullah
Zila
December 8, 2013 at 9:18 PM
Subhanallah..thank you for this amazing sharing! You stirred so much emotions within me tru this article. A timely wake-up call!! May Allah grants you and family ease to go tru the journey ahead! Jazakallahu khair!
Hena Zuberi
December 9, 2013 at 6:33 PM
Assalam alaykum wa rahmatulah dear dear readers,
Ameen to your duas. I am going to do a shameless plug for my dear sister Abez. Pleeeeassse donate whatever you can to her organization AutismUAE to keep her legacy going. Here is the link to the campaign. http://www.gofundme.com/AutismUAE
You can read about her work in this post: http://muslimmatters.org/2013/12/09/three-good-reasons-shouldnt-give-money-abez/
JazakAllah Khayran fidharain
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Layla
December 10, 2013 at 9:31 PM
Mashallah what a great piece. Jazakhallah for sharing such an intimate part of your life. May Allah continue to make you grateful and give you sabr and sukoon.
You know we all live with some sort of illness – mental or physical – apparent or not – even to ourselves but subhanAllah indeed it is a mercy from Allah to recognize it for what it is and to understand it and reflect and turn to only Him for guidance and assurance of goodness of any sort.
May Allah guide us all and help us reflect.
Jazakhallah Khair sister, what an awesome and amazing reminder.
Hany
December 15, 2013 at 8:03 AM
“For me, I’m grateful for my illness because apparently I needed my body to start dying in order for my heart to start coming alive.”
Amazing. Truly inspiring article. insha’Allah you continue to grow in this state.
ukhthi
January 1, 2014 at 9:05 AM
AssalamuAlykum my dear sr.Abez,MashaAllah your insight is pretty amazing.May Allah reward you abundantly in both the worlds.ameen ..You are an inspiration to me.You are doing so much to the community & to your family.MashaAllah..Everyone worries about their children and about their future.As you have said we have to train them to be fearful of Allah and Allah is the one who protects them now & for ever..Shukr is one of the way to enter Jannah ..You are doing shukr so well mashaAllah sabr became a part of you.Alhamdulillah.We all know we are dying but we don’t know when and we don’t know in which state our souls are taken? May Allah unite us in jannah where there will be everlasting bliss .ameen.
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umm hasna
January 21, 2014 at 10:47 AM
Dearest abez, I love u for Allah.
Mr. Bukit Besi
August 10, 2014 at 8:09 AM
SubhanaAllah a beautiful and powerful article. May Allah swt make these trials a means for your entry in to Jannah. Ameen.
Charlotte
December 14, 2014 at 4:58 AM
Assalamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh SubhanAllah MashAllah! May Allah swt reward you for your post ameen. You made me laugh and then brought tears uncontrolably gushing down my face AllahuAkbar! May Allah grant you jannat ul firdous ameen i love you for the sake of Allah sis truly i do! I pray one day Allah we unite us in jannah and Allah will remind us of this time so i can thank you for your inspiration Alhamdulillah!
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Aafia
October 16, 2015 at 2:17 PM
A very touching article.
Trials are a means of atonement of sins.Allah repays us in every ways,either in duniya or in Akhirah.
May Allah grant us jannah without getting afflicted by harsh trials.
AYEINA
November 15, 2016 at 8:21 AM
The number of times I’ve read and shared this article is infinite by now! One of the articles I just can’t stop talking about! <3
SLS
October 13, 2017 at 3:25 PM
I have EDS and Dysautonomia. If it is of any comfort to you, most with both conditions have a normal life span. I am actually looked after by an EDS clinic in Baltimore. ?
A
July 11, 2024 at 3:14 PM
JazakAllahu khayrun for this much needed piece about POTS and illness in general. It moved me to tears. I am also suffering from POTS after contracting covid 18 months ago. It’s 2024 now and subanallah your words are still helping people, 11 years later. I made dua for you, your children and the Sheikh, like you asked. If you are still able to write InshaAllah please keep going as I think a lot more people are suffering from these type of conditions in recent years and you have such a gift MashaAllah. I pray that Allah swt has granted you full shifa (if that’s best for you) and continues to protect and reward you and your children. Ameen.