Ina lillahi wa Ina ilayhi ra'jioon. To Allah do we belong and to him do we return.
There are humans who tread this earth as if floating, their footsteps don’t echo and their voices do not reverberate, and they make no noise at all, and yet in their presence, hearts come alive.
Rehaan Mohamed Ali was this human. He helped wherever he could and this was done with a humility that gave you the sense that you were helping him, rather than receiving help from him.
On Wednesday 16 June 2021, Rehaan, a husband and Son, a brother and cousin, friend and mentor; went into cardiac arrest through Covid related complications and tragically departed from this world on 6th Thul Qa'ada 1442 AH at the age of 37.
This news was more disturbing to his mother, wife Malika and siblings as they had just 4 and a half months prior, lost his father, who similarly had COVID related complications. May Allah Almighty grant them a lofty abode in Jannah, insha Allah Ameen.
Despite this distressing news, we take comfort in the belief as muslims that the death as a result of a plague awards the deceased the honour of a death as a shaheed. This is quoted in authentic ahadith. The martyr will not be tested or punished in the grave, nor feel fear on the Day of Judgment and for them is paradise.
Rehaan was a CA(SA) and worked as a Senior Audit Manager at the Auditor General SA.
On Monday 21 June, a virtual memorial was held in his honour at the AGSA. Many friends and family members were also in attendance.
The entire memorial was a tearjerker for those who knew and loved Rehaan, the emotions that his passing invoked told a beautiful tale as colleagues shared their experiences with him.
His close friend and colleague, Zaid Motala had some wonderful words that we cannot but share: “my friend, I hope you are reunited with your father, I hope you are finally having the rest you always planned to have but never got around to because you were always doing something for someone else…..in our religion we are taught that a person who dies of a plague attains the status of a martyr, and I can’t think of a person more deserving of this status.’
Rehaan is deep in the hearts of his family members, not only in his household, but extended family as well. He shared close relations with all his cousins, with whom he shared close brotherly relations and who are visibly affected, he loved them dearly and they have since said that his loss has filled their hearts with emptiness because the void will never be filled; and sorrow because life will never be the same without him.
As a family we are still grieving this great loss and may we be so fortunate as to reunite with him in Jannah. Insha Allah Ameen
From those who loved him dearly.
