At 12 am on 3rd August, i was wishing Dija a happy 17th birthday, and at exactly 1 am, we were carrying the body of Kiran mami's mother to the ambulance.
She had died suddenly after her routine Dialysis, probably when she had to vommit and it got stuck in her lungs, thereafter having a heart attack. Really sad. She was already very ill and Hassan uncle was taking utmost care as her devoted husband. It is not possible to even imagine what a loss it would be for him, when the closest person suddenly leaves you to live all by yourself. As Allah wills. He is the greatest Planner.
May Hassan uncle and his daughters, grand kids and close relatives find consolation in Allah's will.
(2:30 am 3rd Aug)
A brief account of the funeral
We were busy all day at home with the paint walaas in the kitchen and above, therefore, went a bit late to mamoos place. At close to 5, I arrived there with abbu and the body was about to be taken to the ambulance outside. I rushed in and helped with it. Once settled in, the small caravan moved to A block mosque where the body was kept in the ambulance while everyone went in to pray. Uncle was very feeble and was being helped constantly by someone, especially while walking.
After the prayers, everyone settled outside in the lawn for the funeral prayers. Haqqani Sahib outlined the recitation for this prayer and made the necessary instructions. The body was placed directly infront of the congregation since bowing down is not requried. And thats how the prayers were led.
After the announcement of Quls by Faheem mamoo, everyone settled in their cars and proceeded to the Model Town G block graveyard. Hassan Uncle preferred to sit in the ambulance along with his departed wife. This was the last journey he would ever make in her presence.
At the graveyard, the chosen spot was already caved in the ground and lined with brickwork and plaster, what we would normally call a 'pakki kabar' from inside. This is the first one I have seen like this. A 'chittai' was laid on the bottom of the grave on which the body would be placed, as is the custom. The body was finally lifted with great care as Faheem mamoo held the head-side part of the cloth and I held the feet-side. A cloth was strung around the waist and so it was lowered into the ground with Afsheen khala's husband doing the final job of untying the shroud and throwing 'itar' on it, turning the head to face Qibla and anointing the cemented sides of the walls by rose water.
Five concrete slabs were placed side by side on top of the opening and mortar was applied roughly to close the gaps. Now everyone joined hands to throw 'mitti' on the slabs for the final phase of the burial. Hassan uncle was also helped to the site by someone who threw in a couple of handfuls as well. The two 'gorkans' piled up the mud as mound by pressing the lose clay together. Rose water was then thrown over to cover the grave and help it settle down. Finally, loads of rose garlands were strewn all over the grave and no single inch of space was left. Rose petals did the final kick. Some guy also stuck the glinting 'agarbattees' all over the grave after burning them. Their aroma filled my senses with images of Lahori graveyards and dramas including such scenes.
As the burial drew to an end, a maulvi sahib was called on and he recited the first 'ruku' of Surah Baqrah while standing at the head of the grave and the last ruku of the same surah while standing at the foot. Some other duas and suras were also recited and then he called everyone to recite Surah Ikhlas thrice with Surah Fatihah. Finally, everyone raised their hands for a dua for the deceased. May Allah give her a place in heaven and bless her soul for an eternity. May Allah also give patience and courage to Hassan uncle to bear this terrible loss that will inevitably come to everyone at some time.
Thus, came to an end the journey of a human being.
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Viewpoint: I dont much believe in rose garlands and rose water and the use of itar and building cemented graves and sticking agarbattees in the grave. I definitely dont want all this happening with my or my parents graves. A simple clay grave without any rose petals or musky smells would do the job equally well.
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