The Souls of Paradise 

Trigger Warning: this article may be triggering to you if you have recently experienced a major loss or trauma in your life. 

Your tears fall down your cheeks and your heart seems to have been broken one too many times; in fact, you lost count. You feel as though your life may be over. You have come from a land of war, destruction, and injustice, and you are still here questioning your destiny. The pain and the agony have now become your normal and you wonder if your family is alive. If they are physically alive, is there any life left in them? I am here to tell you that even though your suffering seems infinite; you will survive. The recent natural disaster in Syria and Turkey has broken our hearts. Your brothers and sisters in humanity are here for you. There are many people and organizations that have traveled to Syria to offer their help. Many communities have collected money, organized food drives, and bake sales where they sent the proceeds to Syria. Millions of dollars have been sent to Syria from countries around the world. We all cry and feel with you. As it seems that your life is over and you are feeling defeated, please know someone is praying for you. Someone is praying for every child under the rubble. Someone is crying in their prayer, sending their Duas to you and your family. You are not forgotten; God knows you are not forgotten. 

This article is for the people of Syria and Turkey who have lost their loved ones. It is for you whose home is now rubble with bodies below it. This is for you, for your people, and for your country.  Please understand that being in pain and feeling hurt and sad is very normal. Allow yourself to grieve, take your time to mourn and give your heart all the space it needs to either heal or come to terms with your loss. I know it’s a daily struggle coming to terms with what has happened but no one really knows where the  Kheir (wisdom/goodness) is. Whenever we experience something very traumatic and difficult, we need to remember that there is wisdom - that might be unbeknown to us at this moment - and that these events don’t happen TO us but they rather happen FOR us.  

I also want you to sit back and think for a moment about the destination of your lost ones. Close your eyes and imagine green pastures, all types of beautiful flowers blooming in every direction. Imagine rivers flowing peacefully; their sound is a constant lullaby to the soul. Imagine the smell of musk all around you and in everything you touch. As you sit there, you only feel comfort, joy, and total peace with the people you love and the people you dream of, sitting right next to you. Imagine you are in a home that brings you joy, comfort, and the most possible happiness that a person can attain. The ground you step on is made of musk and the tents you see are made of pearls. Sit back and dream of heaven, because if you lost your child and if you lost your parent, that is where they are. Heaven is where all your brothers and sisters who have died due to this earthquake are at. They are enjoying their new life and they are happier than they have ever been. We sure may miss our children’s presence, but until we reunite with them, it may offer us some patience to know that they are at heaven’s door leaving it open for us. We may miss our parents, but until we see them again, it may give us some relief to know that they are amongst their loved ones and their faces are luminating as they enjoy the beauties of paradise. We may feel sad and hurt and we may even feel that the pain is endless but The Most Merciful is here to take care of us.  

As I scrolled through videos and videos of the victims of the earthquake on social media, I found myself reflecting often. I reflected and marveled at the story of the newborn that was under her house for many days and survived it all. I smiled when I heard the story of the child that was warm with a full tummy when rescued; she said she had been fed and warmed up while waiting to be saved. I was amazed and in complete utter shock when I heard that a child said he spent his time playing with someone dressed in white who kept him company until he was rescued. God has planned for all of this, he planned for the young and the old. God has planned who will live and who will survive and if someone is meant to die, they will die whether from the earthquake or from another reason. Our time here ends and your loved one may have preceded you and they want you to know they are okay. They want you to know they are martyrs and God has taken care of them.  Did you know that a person that dies from their home falling down on them is a martyr in the eyes of God? The body that is now damaged is just a physical body; its soul is possibly being welcomed by Angels and prophets. The Prophet (PBUH) and his family may very well be greeting the soul with open arms welcoming them to Paradise. Your loved ones will not miss you because they will be with you in Paradise as described in the Hadith: “You are with who you love.” Imagine that once your loved one is in Paradise, they will be with the people they love most. Even the people that they would have loved if they had lived to meet them–the people in their future. 

It is okay to be sad after the loss of our loved ones. It is natural and we must allow ourselves to process the sadness; we must grieve. Throughout this process, it may be helpful to remember that the Angels are carrying the souls of our loved ones and making their way to the uppermost point of Paradise. The angels boast of the beautiful scent they smell as they exit the earth; it is the smell of your deceased loved ones. My advice to you is the advice of Imam Omar Suleiman; do not move on after the loss of your loved one; move forward with them. Remember them often because remembering them will remind you of the final destination we are all headed to. Your righteous acts on behalf of your deceased loved one, and your remembrance of God is one way they can stay alive in your heart. Inna Lillalhi Wa Inna Illyahi Rajioon; To God belongs that which He has taken, and that which He has given. 

If you feel that you need to talk to someone urgently because you fear for your life, please dial 988. Someone will respond to you immediately. 

Here are links to organizations that are providing aid to the family of the victims in the recent Earthquakes:https://www.nyc.gov/site/helpnownyc/index.page

02/01/2023