Reflections between life and death

It's often said that if you want to know the purest form of something, look at its extreme. I've recently lost my second grandfather in five years. Reflecting on these moments, I realize they have been the saddest in my life. I'm usually good at regulating my emotions, but this loss overwhelmed me, freezing everything except the flashbacks and tears.

Another moment my emotional regulator went into overdrive was a couple of years ago. I sat on a stool in the delivery room, watching the doctor bring our child into the world. The instant I saw her, my regulator failed—tear-city, smile ear-to-ear. The only thought in my mind was, "Alhamdulillah for this beautiful gift."

Looking back, I've felt the extremes of sadness at the death of a loved one and the extremes of joy at the birth of a child. At both ends of the spectrum, I found clarity and truth.

Alhamdulillah in any case, and I can't even start to imagine how our brothers and sisters in Gaza feel, losing friends and family every day under the fascist Israeli government.

May Allah bring us ease and grant paradise to us, our families, martyrs, and all Muslims living and dead. 🤲