By Imam Murtadha Gusau
Sunday, January 18, 2026
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, may the blessings and peace be upon our beloved master Muhammad, the last of Prophets, on his family, and all his companions.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raaji’uun!
Allahu Akbar!!
Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return!!!
Ya Allah, forgive our father, Alhaji Ibrahim AbdulRahman Okene his sins, shortcomings and failings, and elevate his station among those who are guided. Send him along the path of those who came before, and forgive us and him, O Lord of the worlds. Enlarge for him his grave and shed light upon him in it.
“My people, the life of this world is a brief period of enjoyment whilst the Hereafter is the lasting home.” [Qur’an, 40:39]
“Hasbunallah Wa Ni’mal Wakil: Sufficient for us is Allah, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.”
Ya Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. Ya Allah, whom among us You keep alive, then let such a life be upon Islam, and whom among us You take unto Yourself, then let such a death be upon faith. Ya Allah, do not deprive us of his reward and do not let us stray after him.
Ya Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him and give him strength and pardon him. Be generous to him and cause his entrance to be wide and wash him with water and snow and hail. Cleanse him of his transgressions as white cloth is cleansed of stains. Give him an abode better than his home, and a family better than his family and a spouse better than his spouse. Take him into Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave and from the punishment of Hell-fire.
Ya Allah, surely our father, Alhaji Ibrahim AbdulRahman Okene is now under Your protection, and in the rope of Your security, so save him from the trial of the grave and from the punishment of the Fire. You fulfil promises and grant rights, so forgive him and have mercy on him. Surely You are Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Dear brothers and sisters! No doubt, losing a loved one is a profound test, but Islam offers immense comfort, encouraging patience with the promise of Jannah (Paradise).
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“Verily, patience is at the first stroke of a calamity.” [Bukhari]
True patience isn’t just waiting for pain to pass; it is choosing not to complain or question Allah’s decree when the shock is at its peak.
Consider your loved one a blessing entrusted to you by Allah. When He takes that blessing back, He is merely reclaiming His property. To weep is natural, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) wept for his son, but to wail or despair is to show discontentment with the Owner.
Allah Almighty says in a Hadith Qudsi that He has no reward other than Jannah for a believer who loses a beloved one and remains patient, hoping for Allah’s reward.
When a person dies, their deeds stop except for three: Ongoing charity/Sadaqah Jariyah, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for them. Your Du’a is their lifeline in the Barzakh.
Umm Sulaim (RA) showed remarkable restraint and faith upon the death of her child, delaying her expression of grief until she could inform her husband calmly. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) also encountered a woman weeping at a grave and advised her to fear Allah and be patient, teaching that true patience involves controlling emotional reactions. Despite his own sorrow, when his son Ibrahīm passed away, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) wept but affirmed that while the eyes shed tears and the heart grieves, Muslims should only say what pleases Allah.
When facing a broken heart, remembering Allah’s name Al-Jabbar, The Mender of Broken Hearts, can offer solace. Reciting Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’un signifies acceptance that your loved one belongs to Allah and has returned to Him. It’s important to remember that hardship is temporary and that Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.
Essential prayers for those who have passed include “Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. Allahummah ajurni fi musibati wakhluf li khairan minha”, which asks Allah for reward in calamity and a better compensation. Another important prayer is “Allahumma-ghfir lahu warhamhu, wa afihi, wa’afu anh…”, seeking forgiveness, mercy, strength, and pardon for the deceased.
May Allah grant patience to all the family of Alhaji Ibrahim Abdur-Rahman Okene, and all the family of Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene, and all the Wokili’s family, and the entire Muslim Ummah, who have lost loved ones, forgive the deceased, and reunite families in Jannatul Firdaus, ameen.
Respected brothers and sisters! Losing a loved one is a profound trial, but Islam teaches that the bond of love is not severed by death; it is continued through prayers and Du’a.
When a person dies, their deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for them. [Sahih Muslim]
Our Du’a is a gift that reaches them in their grave, a light in their darkness, and an elevation of their rank.
Mourning is natural, but our prayers for the deceased matter more than our tears. Instead of only grieving, convert that sorrow into heartfelt supplication. The angels say “Ameen” to every word of a sincere Du’a.
Saying “Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un” (Verily we belong to Allah, and verily to Him do we return) is a powerful reminder that their death was decreed by Allah. It brings sakinah and tranquility to the heart and reminds us that we, too, will return to Him.
There are several Du’as recommended for the deceased, including those asking for forgiveness, mercy, and elevated status. A specific Du’a is also mentioned for parents.
The Hadith illustrates the impact of a child’s sincere prayers in providing comfort and honour to the deceased in their grave.
Some Hadiths highlight the importance of immediate prayer after death and emphasise the role of a righteous child’s Du’a in elevating the deceased’s rank. It is also encouraged to maintain a good opinion of Allah and ask for mercy.
Acts such as ongoing charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), reciting Qur’an, and performing Hajj or Umrah on behalf of the deceased can benefit them in the hereafter.
May Allah Almighty envelope our loved ones in His mercy, forgive their shortcomings, and grant them the highest level of Jannah. Ameen.
Beloved brothers and sisters! Here are Du’as that we can read:
“Oh Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him and give him strength and pardon him. Be generous to him and cause his entrance to be wide and wash him with water and snow and hail. Cleanse him of his transgressions as white cloth is cleansed of stains.”
“Oh Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whom among us You keep alive, then let such a life be upon Islam, and whom among us You take unto Yourself, then let such a death be upon faith. O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward and do not let us stray after him.”
“O Allah, I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men.”
“O Allah, I am your slave, the son of your slave. My forelock is in Your Hand. Your judgment of me is inescapable. Your trial of me is just. I am invoking You by all the names that You call Yourself, that You have taught to anyone in Your creation, that You have mentioned in Your Book, or that You have kept unknown. Let the Qur’an be delight of my heart, the light of my chest, the remover of my sadness and the remover of my distress.”
May Allah The Most Merciful shower our loved ones with all His Forgiveness and Mercy, and elevate their status in Jannah, ameen.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Prayers, peace and mercy are upon our beloved master, Muhammad, the son of Abdullah (Peace be upon him), his family and Companions.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217.