In Memory of Sister Mary Ali

بِسْــــــــــــــــــــــمِ اﷲِارَّحْمَنِ ارَّحِيم

right. a few things have happening lately, and alhamdulillah for keeping me occupied.

1. Kelas arab
2. Global Leadership Outreach Programme by AKEPT
3. Last session of group discussion at Loyola
4. Babysit Daniel & Daania
5. Breaking News

saje nak share perumpaan yang mawlana Muniruzzaman bg masa kelas arab,

• imagine kita sewa bilik hotel. dunia macam tu lah...
• bila kita keluar dari bilik hotel tu, kita tinggalkan barang2 kita. kita tak bawak bersama.
• kita selalu pulang ke hotel semula...dan barang2 selalu terjaga
• suati hari, kita akan balik jugak ke rumah asal kita. kita tak dok kat hotel selama2nya..

macam itulah hidup.

• hotel tu umpana jasad kita. kita pergi dan balik dari jasad bila kita tidur. 
• barang2 tu umpana segala deria dan pancaindera kita. bila kita keluar tinggalkan barang2 dihotel, itulah saat, barang2 tu rehat, tak diusik, tak diguna. mati sekejap, tak bertuan. sebagaimana ruh diangkat dan jasad dibiarkan kaku buat seketika
• Allah angkat roh kita sekejap. Then, the roh will always return to the rightful body. it never gets confused. for a moment there, we're dead. we've been dead so many times..
• suatu hari, ruh kita akan pergi meninggalkan jasad selama2nya untuk ke rumah asalnya.

We are not what our jasad is. That's why when someone dies, although the jasad is there, we say that she's gone. she's not with us. she is no more. however much we long for the soul to return, there will only be the jasad that stays with us and deteriorate before our eyes.

"Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die [He takes] during their sleep. Then He keeps those for which He has decreed death and releases the others for a specified term. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought." 39:42

speaking of which, i would like to express my condolences to the Ali family. The first time I met Sister Mary Ali was when I attended the Quranic night classes at Iqra's office. For that 7-8 week course, I've been sitting if not close, next to Mary Ali. During her presence, many people would greet her and ask her how she's doing. They especially asked that during her absence. She was one of my classmates that I often talked to. I got along well with the other family members too. Subhanallah. 3 generations of Ali family went to the class. her son, daughter in law, grandchildren, who were a couple of years younger than me.
rasa terkilan sedikit sbb in of of our convos, saya offer nak masak bubur ayam utk dia. malaysian style, of course. but the following week of class on thursday, i couldn't attend sbb ke penn state. and to my surprise that was the last session of the course. pantas masa berlalu. dah 8 minggu. I never met her again. I've been wondering how she was doing once in a while.

lesson to be learnt, express your love better. don't wonder. just call.

after she passed away, only then i realized how great of a person she was to the Muslim community in Chicago. In the morning, before the breaking news, I said to myself.."Alhamdulillah. I'm so lucky to be here. The Muslim community in Chicago is an example of outstanding role model for other communities. The janaza of a muslim bro who passed away 2 months ago, was accompanied 800 people who went to MCC for the prayer and the burial site regardless of whether they knew him or not. How blessed was he..."

Al-Fatihah. Moga Allah mencucuri rahmat dan barakah keatas ruh Sister Mary Ali dan tempatkan beliau bersama para shuhada', tabiin dan sahabah disyurga tertinggiMu. amin ya rabb.

In Memory of Sister Mary Ali Greetings! Mary Ali honored with MWA Inpiring Woman Award, 2009 Peace be on you, To God We Belong and To Him We Will Return   Today was a sad day for the entire community.  The loss of Sister Mary Ali has touched all our hearts.       MWA sends their deepest condolences to the family, friends and students of Sister Mary Ali.   At the 2009 MWA Celebration of the Muslim Woman, our members were so proud to honor Sister Mary Ali with the MWA Inspiring Woman's Award.  She truly was a shining role model to all.      "There are some people you meet and know immediately that they will change your life.  Mary Auntie was one of them. She put her heart and soul in the MCC Youth Camp every summer where she has been shaping girls into strong Muslim Women for decades. She touched the heart of every girl with her inspiring stories, humble actions and kind words. But most of all with her sincerity in every aspect of life. The noor that radiated from her just made you want to remain in her company in an attempt to just have some of her grace, wisdom and strength rub off on you.  Camp means leaving your life behind, but with Mary Auntie there it never felt that way.  She was our mother, teacher and friend. She will always be loved and remembered as we strive to fulfill the dreams she taught us to have,"  MWA's Tehreem Husain's words ring true for so many.  Mary Ali was Director of Institute of Islamic Information and Education and Secretary of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. Mary Ali worked in partnership with her husband presenting Islam to thousands of Americans. She  volunteered her time to the Muslim Community Center (MCC) and its youth. She served as a member of the women's committee and on the Board of Directors. Additionally, she was the youth group coordinator for the annual MCC Youth Camp since the mid-1980s.  Through her involvement in activities with women and the youth, she has proven to be a positive role model for girls and women for the past 30 years. Her legacy will live on through the lives she's changed. May God bless Sister Mary Ali with the Highest heaven. Ameen. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Funeral Prayer Information: The funeral prayer will be held at 12:30pm at Muslim Community Center, 4380 N. Elston Avenue, Chicago, on Wednesday, Decemebr 7th, 2011.  The burial is at approximately 1:45pm at Arlington Cemetery 401 E. Lake St, Elmhurst, IL.