Dedicated to the Memory of the three slain Muslim students, Deah Shaddy Barakat, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha. Read Part 1.
What do you want others to remember about you after your death? Do you want it to be a short-termed memory or a long-term one in a form of a legacy you leave behind?
I want my legacy to be that of spreading Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) noblest manners. Like kindness, generosity, caring nature, calmness, no roughness in speaking, etc. Allah Almighty says in the Noble Quran:
{And verily, you [O Muhammad] are on an exalted standard of character.} (Al-Qalam 68:4)
`Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said,
“I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say, ‘Indeed the believer by his good morals reaches the ranks of those who spend the night in prayer and observes fasting during the day.” (Musnad Ahmad, 23219)
Ibn ‘Abbas reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was the most generous person. He used to become even more generous in Ramadan.
And Abu Dharr said that when he heard about the coming of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) he said to his brother, ‘Go to this valley and hear his words.’ He returned and said to him, ‘I saw him commanding people about the noblest morals and manners.’ (Al-Bukhari)
I want when people remember me they remember how I always tried to maintain the best of morals and spread that legacy to them to follow in that path.
My experience
When I was a teenager Allah blessed me with finding his path to become a religious Muslimah. I wanted to affect those around me by showing them how there is no conflict between becoming religious and still a loving, caring person in harmony with mankind.
I recall a nice incident that happened to me in Sweden, where I was born and raised, that I pray to Allah would be a proof of my legacy. Once, I met a sister at a masjid there who ma shaa Allah was very humble and very well Islamically dressed. When she saw me her face lit and she came towards me and said: “Asslamu Alaikum sister” I returned her Salaam but I was telling myself subhan Allah this sister looks like she knows me well but I don’t know her; or at least so I thought!
She answered: “Oh, it looks like you don’t recognize me I don’t blame you I have changed a lot Alhamdulilaah. Remember some time ago when you were looking for the address of your friend and you couldn’t find anyone to ask expect two teenagers that were dressed like typical teenagers and you asked them for her address? Well, I’m one of them!”
Subhan Allah, Ma shaa Allah is that really you?! No wonder I didn’t recognize you!
Let me tell you then how I got religious. You inspired me.
“Me?” I exclaimed. Really, I was feeling very moved and humbled.
“Yes,” she replied. “The way you spoke with us in a refined Swedish accent and in a humble manner thanking us and not being judgmental of how we looked, really inspired me to think ‘here comes this fully Islamically dressed sister with Hijab and Abaya speaking perfect Swedish which would have made her fit perfectly among Native Swedes but still she chooses to keep her Islamic identity and moreover treat others with such good manners instead of bashing them as Kafir (disbelievers) or non-practicing Muslims like me as Fasiq.
This is what I thought back then would happen if I became religious. But, you made me believe otherwise, and here I am today with the grace of Allah and then your inspiration, a practicing Muslimah that loves her religion.”
Glory be to Allah how my body trembled and was overjoyed when I heard this from her and every time I recall this story.
Alhamdulilaah for the bounty of Allah. May Allah make us the bearers of His Holy Book, the Quran.
Ameen.