Moments

The last moments of my Shaykh, Hazrat Dr. Ismail Memon r Dr. Kamran Karatela

Ibn Umar k says, once ten of us including myself, visited Rasulullah a , when a man from the Ansar stood up and said, “O Rasulullah a , who is the wisest and most prudent of men?”

Rasulullah a replied, “The wisest of men are those who remember death more than everyone else, and who are occupied in preparing for the Akhirah more than everyone else. It is such people, indeed, who win distinction in this world and who will be raised to positions of honor in the Akhirah.”

The entire life of my beloved Shaykh Hazrat Dr. Ismail Memon was a perfect picture of the above hadith. He remained occupied in preparing for his Akhirah until the last moment of his life.

Few years back I narrated a dream to him where I saw that his soul had departed and he had met his Lord, leaving us crying. In reply, he had said, “ May Allah hasten this meeting.”

The words sent shivers down my spine. This is a sign of a true believer who not only is ready but is truly yearning to meet his Lord. It is said in a hadith that death is a gift for a believer. Anecdotes of the final moments our pious ancestors are a great source of inspiration that evelate our iman. We were privileged to have known Hazrat who was a reflection of our illustrious predecessors. And his final moments were no less inspiring than his life on this earth. I swear, since seeing your face, the whole world is fraud and fantasy. The garden is bewildered as to what is leaf or blossom. The distracted birds can’t distinguish the birdseed from the snare. A house of love with no limits, a presence more beautiful than venus or the moon, a beauty whose image fills the mirror of the heart.1

Sha’ban, 1443/May, 2022

It was 15 th of Sha’ban when Hazrat fell ill. Just before Maghrib, he had severe rigors and was semi-unconscious. The sight was frightening and our hearts sank. The gestures he made indicated as if he was departing from us. I asked him if we can take him to the hospital, but he did not reply.

Mufti Husain, his youngest son, and I decided to take him to the hospital should his condition remain the same. After a few moments, the rigors stopped and he seemed more alert. We asked him again if we could take him to the hospi - tal and he nodded affirmatively. We helped him with wudhu and he prayed Maghrib. He then wanted to rest and went to bed. I sat down beside him on the bed. He suddenly opened his eyes and said that it was his will that he does not want to go to the hospital and then stated his will about his burial. My heart plunged. By Isha time, his condition became more stable. I started treatment at home and with the assistance of my beloved friend Dr. Mohammed Saad and his mother, Dr. Sultan, we were able to treat him at home. Allhamdullilah, his condition improved day by day.

Subhanallah! Even in this state, he was concerend about Ramadan and started to make preparation for i’tikaf.

Ramadan 1443/May, 2022

As Ramadan approached, his zeal and enthusiasm increased, and on 29 th Shaban, he moved to his mu’takaf at Darul Uloom. As usual, people from far off places came to spend the entire month with him, and he attended to their needs, despite his frailty. Throughout the month, his condition kept fluctuating and he continued to receive active medical treatment. Allhamdullilah, he was able to complete the month long i’tikaf.

Post-Ramadan

After Ramadan, his condition gradually started to improve .He rested at home for a few weeks and subsequently he was stable enough to resume his routine of going to the madressa between Asr and Maghrib where people would gather in his room for dhikr. However, in the fall his condition deteriorated again and he stayed at home. He would still meet people with the same love and affection and answered their queries. However, physically he was getting weaker and weaker.Despite all that, he never missed a single salat with ja - ma’t even once. He would talk about his Shaykh Hazrat Maulana Zakariya and other elders often. This was the only thing that would perk him up.

Weeks prior to his demise

In the weeks preceeding his demise, I was concerned about his declining health and would request improving his nutrition. One day before going to bed he asked me, “ How old am I? “

I said, “ Based on the Islamic calendar you are 90.” He then said, “ Our elders like Hazrat Maulana

Gangohi, Hazrat Maulana Inam al-Hassan and Hazrat Shaykh were much younger when they passed away. How long am I going to live? Let me go. I want that I should meet Allah as soon as possible.” I said, “ But we still need you.” He smiled and said, “I know you do not want me to go but I want to go to Allah.” It was very evident he was ready to go.

Thursday night 12 Rajab, 1444/Feb. 2023

That week his condition deteriorated further. He prayed Maghrib on Thursday, the start of 12 th Rajab, after which he went to bed and as usual woke up for dinner and had dinner with his family.

Maulana Mansoor, his older son, and I then helped him with wudu for Isha. He did miswak, rinsed his mouth, and nose and then had a blank stare. He was sitting on the chair, neither moving nor talking. I asked him to lie down in bed but he gestured that he wanted to finish his wudu. We helped him complete his wudu and assisted him in getting him to his room. He could barely walk. He was leaning on the shoulders of myself and Maulana Mansur. We wanted him to rest in bed for a bit but he pointed to the chair and wanted to pray Isha.

Subhanallah! The hadith state that Rasullullah s fainted each time he sat to perform wudu for Isha on the Thursday prior to his demise. It is also mentioned that he was unable to walk on his own and was leaning on the shoulders of Sayyiduna Abbas g and Sayyiduna Ali g while going for salat.

Hazrat was able to complete the Isha salat and asked about Jumu‘a if he can go for prayers. I told him that we should pray at home. He then walked on his own to his bed and slept. A sense of uneasiness ensued and I told Mufti Husain who was staying with him to call me immediately if his condition worsens.

Friday Morning , 12 Rajab 1444/ Feb 3, 2023

Hazrat woke up a couple of times during the night as usual to use the bath room. At one occasion, he asked Mufti Husain as to when to recite Surah Kahf. That was perhaps his last conversation, pointing towards the signficance of reciting Surah Kahf on the day of Jumua and in the current days of fitna. He then woke up for Fajr and walked himself to the bathroom where he made complete wudu. Even with so much weakness, he never missed even a single mustahab in wudu. He then prayed Fajr. We talked about a few alterations in his medications and then he went to bed to sleep at around 6:30 am. He woke at about at around 7:30 to use the bathroom. According to Mufti Mahmood, his grandson who used to stay with him everyday from Fajr to Zuhr, he walked to the bathroom without assistance. He then woke up again little after 8 am and while sitting on his chair, fell unconcious. Mufti Mahmood immediately called Mufti Husain and both of them helped him in the bed and I received the call which I had always dreaded. When I arrived he was unconscious and breathing heavily. While I examined him, he opened his eyes. I asked him how he was feeling, but he did not reply and closed his eyes again. It appeared as if he was sleeping as usual. However, I could see he was having apenic spells and his breathing got slower and slower until he took his last breath at 8:51 am and departed from this world. Innó lillóhe wa innó illayhi róji ‘ ñn.

Indeed, as per the narration of Tamim Dari g regarding the death of the Awliya of Allah, Allah would have said to the angel of death, “Go to my friend, (Dr. Ismail Memon) and bring forth his soul. I have tired him both in joy and in sorrow and found him as I liked him to be. Bring his soul to Me so he may be free from the pains of this world.”

(As for an obedient man, it will be said to him,) O content soul, come back to your Lord, well-pleased, well-pleasing. So, enter among My (special) servants, and enter My Paradise (87:27-30).