By Bilesanmi Abayomi
In a solemn gathering filled with prayers, reflection, and heartfelt emotions, the 8th-day Fidau prayers of Mrs. Fausat Ashabi Sadiku-Ojurayo Nee Williams were held at Oshogun, Alapere, area of Agboyi Ketu LCDA, Kosofe, Lagos. The community came together to bid farewell to the beloved 65-year-old, who tragically passed away after a fall while preparing for early Muslim prayers.
The Fidau prayer, held on Wednesday, is a significant event in Islamic traditions, regarded by many Muslims as mandatory and a part of the proper observance of Islamic rites. It is conducted eight days after a person’s passing and is attended by family members, relatives, friends, and colleagues of the deceased.
During the prayer session, attendees offered supplications for the departed soul and expressed their condolences to the grieving family she left behind. The Imam leading the prayer reminded the congregation about the inevitable nature of death, as Azrael, the angel of death, gives signs when the time is up for a person to depart from this world. These signs include changes in physical appearance, such as the transformation of head hair from black to gray and the weakening of the body’s systems, often necessitating the use of a walking stick.
The spiritual leader further emphasized the importance of being prepared for the appointed time, as life on earth is transient, and death is an unavoidable reality. He encouraged everyone present to reflect on their own mortality and strive to live a life of goodness and righteousness.
