Take a Lesson from This Death: A Story of Muhammad Habib

Take a Lesson from the Death of Muhammad Habib: Reflections on Life and Faith

Death is the ultimate lesson. Its beginning starts with the onset of life, but in our ignorance, we fail to take lessons from various aspects of life and the stages of our journey. Eventually, as we travel the course of life, we become the prey of death, and those left behind wonder if they have taken any lessons from it. Those who have passed away are beyond our reach, and we can never know if they found lessons in death.

The cycle of life and death has been ongoing since the beginning of creation, yet few people reflect on it to prepare for the Hereafter. We pray to the Lord of the worlds to grant us the ability to take lessons and advice at every step and continue preparing for the Hereafter. Ameen.

People usually speak of the death of remarkable individuals but remain silent about the death of ordinary people. However, death, regardless of who it belongs to, offers a universal lesson for everyone. Beyond this, some individuals, though they are part of the general public, become distinguished through their efforts. The story is of my dear brother, Muhammad Habib, may Allah have mercy on him, who left us unexpectedly on the morning of October 25, 2022, after Fajr, leaving many in grief. He was in the prime of his youth, recently married, and it is an immense sorrow to lose someone so young. His family—his parents, siblings, wife, and close friends—know the depth of this pain. May Allah forgive my dear brother, and grant patience to his family. Ameen.

Habib was of very gentle character and spoke with kindness, displaying the traits of a true believer. He had been in contact with me for many years, and whenever a problem arose, he would message me. If the matter was important, he would ask for permission to speak with me and then discuss it. Though he had a formal education, his passion and love for religion were profound, and this was evident in his tireless efforts for dawah. He would strive to establish connections with scholars and even considered himself an instrument for spreading their dawah. He created a group on YouTube and Facebook called “Ask Islamic Scholars,” where he would ask various scholars questions, compile their answers, and publish them artistically. He also collaborated with various young people at the grassroots level in dawah efforts.

He helped me greatly with dawah work, contributed to my YouTube channel, and created a Facebook page in my name to further spread my work. That page, as well as numerous other forums, became deprived of his services after his passing.

He had just gotten married a few months ago, and he consulted me about it many times, insisting that I attend, but due to unavoidable circumstances, I could not. He had also started a business and often asked me about its issues and Islamic principles. When I was returning from India and had a few hours of waiting time at Hyderabad Airport, Habib found out about it and, along with his close companion Sheikh Abdul Aziz (may Allah preserve him), came to meet me at the airport. They even planned to show me around Hyderabad. Alhamdulillah, this waiting period became an opportunity for me to see the city, thanks to my dear brother, Habib, and his companion Sheikh Abdul Aziz. I even had the opportunity to deliver some advising words after Maghrib in a mosque. May Allah reward them with the best of rewards.

Though he had received modern education, Habib’s love for Islam was so profound that he yearned to learn more and more about the religion. He found it difficult to succeed in business, as he said that once involved in business, it becomes hard to focus on religious work. I still have a voice recording in which he says, “People chase after money, but today or tomorrow, we all must die. One can survive on just a little money.”

He had started learning and teaching the Quran through the Quran Academy and later joined a college to teach children. After coming from college, he would teach them the Quran, and even after Isha, he would continue teaching some children. He aspired to gain the reward of the Prophet ﷺ’s Hadith: “The best among you are those who learn the Quran and teach it” (Sahih al-Bukhari). He sincerely sought this reward.

Not only this, but he also joined Sheikh Abu Yahya Noorpuri’s (may Allah preserve him) Virtual Islamic University and was pursuing a four-year Alim course. When he started his first semester, he informed me about it and asked me to pray for him, hoping to gain knowledge so that he could also serve the religion. His next goal was to enroll at the Islamic University of Madinah. Alhamdulillah, the university had begun offering online courses, allowing anyone from anywhere in the world to join. He was concerned about the requirement of two recommendations for admission, and I guided him on this, but I was unable to follow up due to my busy schedule, and before I could, he passed away.

Death is inevitable and a natural part of life, which no one can avoid, but sometimes external circumstances can lead to a person’s death. Reflecting on the issues that Habib expressed concern over in his final moments, I wonder if those very issues that troubled him might have played a role in his passing. What were those issues? Let me share them with you so that we may take heed.

Today, we see that members of our own community often label others as “deviant” or “external” and mock them. There are even videos made where people are called “deviants” or “non-mainstream” and their opinions dismissed. While no one is free from mistakes, and no one can claim to be without flaws, the way of correction must be appropriate. This behavior is causing great unrest, especially among the youth, and spreading division within the community.

This is the age of social media, and everyone has the means to speak and be heard. If someone, even without formal training, speaks or gives lectures, they cannot be stopped, and opposing them only expands their circle. The real focus of scholars should be on how to reach as many people as possible and connect with them, spreading the message of Islam on a large scale. Unfortunately, many prominent scholars are now more focused on their own egos and less engaged with the public. On the other hand, those who are in contact with the people may have a large following, but they do not hold the title of “scholar.”

Even the most basic member of the Ahl al-Hadith will base their speech on the Quran and Hadith, which is the ultimate truth. The question is, if someone has not studied under a formal teacher and has only book knowledge, they may still be doing dawah. Rather than distancing the people from them, we should take advantage of their efforts where they are effective, and reserve the more complex matters, like answering questions and resolving legal issues, for trained scholars.

In any case, this issue has been the cause of unrest for a long time, and it is the scholars who can resolve it because it is their words that are causing agitation. You may not believe it, but Habib was labeled a “follower of the Hanafi madhab” and a “deviant.” I have proof of this, and I was even told that they would make a video about me to mock me, but Habib responded by saying, “Honor and disgrace are in Allah’s hands.” His final Facebook post before his death was about this very issue. It is for these reasons that I write these last words, hoping the community might wake up.

I pray to Allah that He forgives my brother Habib for his human shortcomings and accepts his efforts in spreading the religion, making them a means of salvation for him in the Hereafter. Ameen.