Little Abdul 'Aziz

Across the sky bridge, in the building next to us in the hospital where we have our doctor’s visits, was a little boy laying in the intensive care unit for about a week. Abu Yousuf and I came across his father once while roaming on the 3rd floor, in the food court, while waiting for Yousuf to be released from the operating room after a spinal tap.

The family had not been here long from Saudi Arabia, and from a town which shared memories with Abu Yousuf and his father. A wonderful coincidence that he knew them but not so pleasant to be reunited under such circumstances. They shared something else in common with us, a boy, a son suffering from leukemia as well. Not much needs to be said. There is always an unspoken communication of sympathy advertised in our smiles, handshakes and glances, among the same victims. A mutual understanding and pain from experience, provides support like none other can.

A very generous man and family striving for, what many of us take for granted in our children: health. After a bone marrow transplant and many many sleepless nights in a country, a place far from home, little Abdul Aziz passed away in his sleep. A thirteen year old boy, struggling from the same vicious disease. A home that was stabilized to last a few years during treatment suddenly got turned upside down and rushed to be emptied. The family, of little Abdul Aziz, was making way to get back home for his burial. While under a plethora of grievances, this family had to focus on shifting their life back home, within just 24 hours. While movers came to pack away a fully furnished home, younger siblings cried while watching their deceased brother’s items being hauled away. Feeling misplaced in a world, unsure how to experience now with one member missing, they had to carry on.

During their short stay, in America, and only being reunited with Abu Yousuf once or twice, Abdul Aziz’s family made a very generous donation to help improve our new masjid in Clear Lake, and also dedicated many of his belongings to the community and Muslims in need, in the Houston area. So let us all make du’a (prayers) for a special family to facilitate strength through this experience, higher levels in Jannah (heaven) by enduring such a test, and patience through remembrance of Allah.

This family of this special little boy, Abdul Aziz, is extraordinary for all us. A reminder of and when we say, “Inna lilaahi wa inna ilyahi raaji’oon” (Verily, to Allah we belong and to Him we return).