On the early morning of August 21st 2023, my son Rilwan Quadri was transfigured into the light of God. I was graced with the immeasurable opportunity to watch him embraced by the pure light of GOD. Prior to that, we had a heart-to-heart conversation of release and forgiveness. He told me that he attended his funeral and wanted to take the time to thank everyone who dropped their daily lives to give a show of support. He thanked his uncles and aunties, cousins, siblings and friends for their swift action. The Islamic community for their commitment to brotherhood and their prayers of intercession. He thanked all who showed their emotional and financial support and wanted them to know that their contributions helped him make a successful transition into the heavens. My son is in a good and happy place. He is relieved to finally get to doing what he truly wants. He is surrounded by ancient relatives and emersed in the love of GOD.
I used to share a story that the Buddha gave about karma. Of a man whose son was murdered. The son was released from all cyclic existence and all karmic debt paid which released his soul to Nirvana. The father who makes a choice to forgive his son’s murderer does so for his own redemption and the murderer will atone for his own actions. For these reasons, both the son and father must thank the assailants for the opportunities for redemption.
In the Quran, Allah promises redemption to anyone who’s life was taken unjustly. In the bible, God allows the innocent to die because such death is only temporary. They will inherit eternal life with joy, peacefulness, and glory.
I thank the enemies.
For these reasons and more, I thank his assailants, and the defenders of the assailants. The law enforcements that refuse to demand justice. The ones who prosecuted the innocent. The social media for spreading false rumors. The systems and intuitions of racism and discrimination, I thank you. The ones to send messages to tell me “It serves me right”. The ones who turned a blind eye. The ones who cursed my son and told me that he would amount to nothing. I am truly grateful for you also aided in the transfiguration of my son.
….And Just so you know, heaven is filled with souls of all religions, race and ethnicities. So the biblical saying.. In my father’s house are many mansions.
Let us never forget that our goal is God.
My son’s transfiguration will only serve to deepen my resolve to do God’s will.
Now, all that is needful is to train our minds to overlook all little senseless aims, and to remember that our goal is God. His memory is hidden in our minds, obscured but by our pointless little goals which offer nothing, and do not exist. Shall we continue to allow God’s grace to shine in unawareness, while the toys and trinkets of the world are sought instead? God is our only goal, our only Love. We have no aim but to remember Him.
