Calamity Will Touch Us All.
23 Jan
A few days ago I got a call from my father. I become a little kid when the caller ID shows Daddy Anwarullah. Being so far away from him makes me look forward to any chance I can get to speak to him. I get to hear how he’s been doing and since most of my extended family lives in Michigan as well, I get an update about family matters and how everyone is doing. But this time I wish my father had better news to share. He told me my uncle has been diagnosed with colon cancer. The moment I heard cancer it was as if my heart skipped a beat and the hair stood up on my arms. I could not believe it or process it. I had just spoken to my uncle a few days ago, how could this be?
I couldn’t sleep all night and couldn’t stop myself from crying. All I could do was think of him and the times we use to go to their house in Canton for sleepovers when we were kids. I kept remembering the times I would help him out at his leather store on the weekends. I kept remembering the times I would see him at Eid prayer in his crisp white thoub. That night I prayed and prayed for his recovery and hoped this was all a mistake.
Today I received another update. It seems the doctors are saying there is no treatment that can help him due to the way the cancer has spread, more tests to follow in the upcoming days. Allah is all Powerful, He has the power to do anything, we have to continue to pray and remain hopeful. I pray that Allah gives my uncle’s wife and five children the strength and patience to get through this time.
When something like this happens to a loved one it makes you reflect about many things in life. First and foremost, it makes you grateful for your health and reminds you to take advantage of your health before you fall sick. Are we using our healthy bodies for the worship of Allah? It also reminds you that every soul will taste death. What are we doing in this life to assure our spot in Jannah? And lastly, it reminds us to uphold the ties of kinship, to stay in touch with our loved ones. Do we keep in touch with our families (an email, a phone call etc.)?
May Allah remove all the cancer from my uncle’s body and return him to a healthy state as quickly as possible. Ameen.
as soon as this popped up on my FB i had to check what happened! May Allah give your uncle and his family the strength to endure this difficult time. i’m so sorry to hear about this =(
May Allah give your uncle al-shifa’ and patience in going through this illness and to his family and the ones that love him!
after reading the part ‘Are we using our healthy bodies for the worship of Allah?’, i was immersed in guilt and deep thought. may allah swt keep up on the straight path. may allah swt grant a speedy recovery for your uncle as he is al-qawee.
Assalamu alaykum, sister
May Allah give strength to your uncle and your whole family to face this tough time with patience and faith. La hawla wala quwwata illa billah.
“Seek help in patience and prayer; and truly it is hard save for the humble-minded, who know that they will have to meet their Lord, and that unto Him they are returning” (Qur’an 2:45-46)
This is an aya that always lightens my heart, so I am sharing it with you =)
Jazakumallah khair for your words of support and duas. Alhumdulilah after further tests, my uncle does not have colon cancer but rather prostate cancer which is treatable. It has unfortunately spread. He is currently getting treatment which consists of shots and medications that will help with the pain he is with. Please continue to keep him and his family in your duas, they are going through a touch time.