Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn. Indeed, to Allāh we belong, and to Him we are returning.
The Grand Mufti of Australia Sheikh Abdel Aziem Al-Afifi, passed on to meet his Lord today (Wednesday 11th July 2018) before dawn in Northern Hospital, Epping in Melbourne.
Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) declares,
Wherever you are, death will overtake you, even if you be in lofty towers.[1]
Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception. [2]
Death is a certainty of life, indeed life itself is teleological; man shall die and be questioned. It is in this sense that Allāh informs humans by way of counsel and encouragement that it is only the believers who are successful, those who avoid the fire and secure admittance into paradise. When a believer dies it is a time of great tragedy and loss for the community, but those who submit to the will of Allāh pay heed to what has been revealed,
And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient; those who when afflicted with calamity, say: from Allāh do we come, and to Him we shall return.” [3]
Shaykh Haitham al-Haddad on receipt of the news said:
“I would like to extend our community’s sincerest condolences upon the passing of the Grand Mufti of Australia, Sheikh Abdel Aziem al-Afifi, to his family, community and Muslims of Australia at large.”
In a letter to mourn the death of the Grand Mufti, the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) stated:
“Sheikh Abdel Aziem Al-Afifi has dedicated himself to serving the Australian Muslim Community for over 20 years, being one of the founding members of ANIC, serving two terms as the President and most recently being elected the Mufti of Australia in March 2018.
Sheikh Abdel Aziem Al-Afifi had widely been recognised and respected by the Australian Muslim community and wider Australian society.”
We beseech Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) to expand his grave, shower His infinite mercy upon him, to forgive his sins and grant his family patience. We also ask Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) to make this difficult time an expiation of sins and the raising of rank in the sight of our Lord.
The Janazah Salah will take place at:
Date: Thursday 12th July (TOMORROW)
Time: 12.30pm (after Dhuhr Salah)
Address: Al-Taqwa Masjid: 201 Sayers Road, Truganina, VIC, 3029
Thereafter, the burial will take place at:
Fawkner Cemetery 3pm
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Source: www.islam21c.com
Notes:
[1] 4:78
[2] 3:185
[3] 2:155-156
