Day 26: For loved ones departed

Guest blogger: Nazish KhaliqI met Nazish just a few months ago (thanks MaDiha!), but she has been a loyal reader of the blog since the beginning.  It almost seems like she's waiting for each post, within minutes she's hit 'like'.   I asked her if she'd be willing to share a dua. She said she felt honored. The honor is ours Nazish. Your love for your dad, your heartfelt words for those we miss dearly, and that beautiful photo, feel like a warm embrace. "A year after I got married and moved to the US from Pakistan, my dad was coming over to visit me. During my first year away from home, I had missed my family tremendously and was just ecstatic to be able to see my dad.  The first week of his stay was absolutely wonderful; we talked, laughed, went places, shopped and made plans for his next trip to VA. Things started to change in the second week. He wasn’t feeling well and on his first trip to the ER, we found out that he has last stage liver cancer. The doctors told us nothing could be done at that point and advised us to take him home; but home was so far away, on the other end of the globe. I tried my best to take him home but his battle with cancer turned out to be very short and fierce. He did not survive and went home in a casket. All of this happened within three weeks.It was during this period of loss and trial when I discovered the power of “Dua”. Nothing seemed to bring peace and comfort but Dua. I was reassured by this verse: “Of course I am near, I answer the prayer of every supplicant when he calls on Me..." ( 2:186). Since then, I pray for him each day, many times a day, before I pray for anything else. I pray for his soul to rest in peace, I pray for his forgiveness, I pray for him to be rewarded for all that he did and all that he taught us, I pray for my family’s reunion with him in Jannah.My dua is for those special ones who are not physically with us anymore but who continue to inspire us to do good deeds, who continue to brighten up our lives in so many ways."Day 26, Dua 26: For Dad, and for loved ones departed