Obituary
Syeda Arefa Jamal (1954-2014)
Dr. Mozammel Haque
Mrs
Syeda Arefa Jamal, (popularly known Mrs. Jamal), wife of Dr. Mozammel Haque,
passed away on Thursday, 13th of November 2014 (Inna
Lillahe wa Inna Elayhe Razeyoun).
Syeda
Arefa Jamal was born in the Syed family of Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 1st
January 1954. She was the niece (sister’s daughter) of Professor Syed Ali
Ahsan, Professor Syed Ali Ashraf and Professor Syed Sajjad Husain.
Mrs.
Jamal was very intelligent, talented lady and was top in her educational
career. Mrs. Jamal was educated in Dhaka. She passed SSC examination in 1970 in
First Division; passed I.A. examination in 1972 in First Division (stood first
among the Girls in Dhaka Board) and graduated from the Dhaka University with
Honours in Political Science in 1975 in Second Class.
Teaching
Career
Mrs.
Jamal loved research and teaching. She was working in a research project under
Professor Dr. Rounaq Jahan, the then chairman of the Department of Political Science,
University of Dhaka while she was still a student.
Mrs.
Jamal was a talented lady. When she came
to Saudi Arabia and living in Makkah al-Mukarramah, her children used to go to
a Cambridge-standard English Primary School, Jannatul Atfal (Children’s
Paradise). The Principal of the School asked her to take classes. She started
teaching there.
Same
thing happened when Mrs. Jamal came to London with her husband in mid-80s. She
was a very active lady. At home, Mrs. Jamal started teaching Qur’an and Arabic
to small children of the locality. Many children of the locality learned Holy
Qur’an from her.
Career
at Bestway
Mrs
Jamal was General Manager of the Bestway Cash and Carry. She joined the Bestway
as Cash & Carry Assistant in 1991 and became the General Manager within 23
years after serving as Manager in Lewisham, Hackney and Barking branches. She
earned the reputation, honour and respect through her principle, dedication, lovely
behaviour, conduct and dealing with people of all walks of life.
After
her demise, Mr. Gray Paul, on behalf of Internal Communications of Bestway,
wrote the following letter on 20 November, 2014.
“It
is with deep regret that Bestway announces the passing of Mrs Syeda Jamal, a
much valued employee of the Bestway business.
Mrs
Jamal began her career at Bestway over 20 years ago as a depot assistant in
Croydon and worked in a number of branches throughout her career including
Lewisham, Claremont and Barking leaving an indelible mark on all those who had
the privilege of meeting her. Fittingly she returned to Croydon as general
manager last year before being diagnosed with cancer.
Much
loved by staff and customers alike, Mrs Jamal finally succumbed to her lengthy
battle on Thursday evening of last week.
Our
deepest condolences are with her family, friends and colleagues at this
difficult time.”
Letters
of appreciation and acknowledgement of Mrs. Jamal’s work as well as condolence
messages to her family are coming in which will be acknowledged with thanks in
due course.
Performed
Hajj in 1978
Mrs.
Jamal was a very religious lady. She first performed Hajj along with her
husband in 1978 and thereafter she performed Umrah several times during her
stay at Makkah al-Mukarramah for more than eight years. The last Umrah she
performed was in 2013 with her son.
Mrs
Jamal was happy with everyone
The life of Mrs.
Jamal is a symbol of interfaith. Among her friends, there were Muslims,
Christians, Hindus and Sikhs. She was happy with everyone. There is a saying:
“If everyone is happy with you, then surely you have made many compromises in
your life’ and if you are happy with everyone, then surely you have ignored
many faults of others.” From the friend circles of Mrs. Jamal, you can see the
practical demonstration of this saying, her compromises in life and her
ignorance of faults of others.
Pillar
of strength of her husband
There
is a saying, “Behind every successful man, there is always be a woman.” This is
cent percent true in case of Mrs. Jamal’s husband. Mrs. Jamal was not only
talented, intelligent and religious lady; she was the strength and pillar of
her husband. Whatever contributions and achievements her husband made it was
due to her single-handedly managing the house and children and at the same time
she was a working lady.
Mrs
Syeda Arefa Jamal, (popularly known Mrs. Jamal), wife of Dr. Mozammel Haque,
passed away on Thursday, 13th of November 2014 (Inna
Lillahe wa Inna Elayhe Razeyoun). Her Janaza was held at Croydon
Mosque on Friday, the 14th of November 2014 after Jumah prayer and she was laid
to rest on the same day after Asr prayer. Her admirers, friends and colleagues
came at the Croydon Mosque to attend the Janaza and show their last respect and
good bye.
Mrs.
Jamal left behind her husband Dr. MOZAMMEL HAQUE, one son, two daughters and
three grandchildren.
Last
Sunday, 16th of November, 2014 at the end of the period of sorrow,
there was DUA Khair where people came, assembled and made DUA and supplication for the
departed soul of Mrs. Jamal.
CONDOLENCE MESSAGES
I
received condolence messages from different parts of the world. Through this
write up I am acknowledging and thanking them all and I say Jazakallah
Khairan.
Condolence message from Saudi Arabia
I
received the following condolence message from His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Omar
Nasseef, former President, Jeddah-based King Abdulaziz University;
former Secretary General, Makkah-based World Muslim League; former Deputy
Chairman of Shoura Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and presently
Secretary General of the Cairo-based International Islamic Council of Dawah and
Relief (IICDR)
Dr. Abdullah Omar Nasseef's condolence message
Dr. Mozammel Haque
Assalamu
Alaikum
I
along with my family members would like to express our heartfelt condolence on
the passing away of your dear wife on 13th Nov. May Allah forgives her and give
her the highest place in Jannat al Ferdous Ameen. May Allah also give the
family the strength to bear the loss.
Dr.
Abdullah Omar Nasseef
Ismet A Kazim from Saudi Arabia
I
received following condolence message from Mr. Ismet Kazim, Board Member & Executive Director, Albanian Int'l
Invest & Development Co. "ALINTID", Tirana, Albania and also
Turkey & Balkans Regional Director, Int'l Islamic Relief Org. of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“My
dear brother Dr Mozammel,
It
was with great shock that I received the sad news of your wife passing away
from your sms message, may Allah the Almighty rest her in peace in Heaven and
extend patience to you and to all the members of the family, you are a strong
believer and that we are all going on the same way when our turn comes as we
are Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ileyhi Raji'un.
.
Look
after yourself and your health and see you soon inshallah..
Best
regards from us all
Ismet
A. Kazim”
Lord Ahmed's condolence message from New
York
Lord
Nazir Ahmed, Peer of House of Lords, British Parliament sent condolence message
from New York, United States of America on Friday, the 14th of November, 2014.
Inna
lillahe wa inna elaihi rajeyoon
I
am very sorry to hear this sad news. I am currently in New York until Monday
otherwise should have been at Janaza. Sorry sir.
May
Allah give you Sabr
Lord
Nazir Ahmed.
Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn
I
received condolence message from Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn, Peer of the House
of Lords, British Parliament:
“Dear
Dr. Mozammel Haque, I am very sorry to hear of your wife passing away. May Allah
(swt) give her peace and tranquility and fill her grave with noor. May Allah
(swt) give you Sabr zameel!”
Lord
Adam Patel
Baroness Pola Uddin
Condolence
message from Baroness Pola Uddin, Labour Member of the House of Lords on 13
November, 2014
Inna
Lillahe wa inna eleahe razeyun.
May Allah
Subhanahu wa Taala bless our sister Jannatul Ferdous InshaAllah.
Baroness
Manzila Uddin
Rushanara Ali MP's
condolence message
I
received the following condolence message from Labour MP for Bethnal Green
& Bow, Rushanara Ali, Shadow Minister (Education), on 17 November, 2014
Dear
Dr. Haque. I’m so saddened to hear about your wife. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. With
deepest sympathies.
Rushanara
M.P.
Abdulrahman
Al-Anezi from Saudi Embassy
I
received the following condolence message from Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Anezi,
Counsellor in Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the United Kingdom on 13th
of November 2014. Mr. Al-Anezi along with his wife and son not only visited my
wife at the hospital and hospice but also attended Janaza and went to the
cemetery to lay her rest in the grave.
“Inna
lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajioon. To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.
“May
Allah enhance your recompense and be generous in your calamity and forgive the
deceased and induce you with patience and multiply for us and for you
recompense through patience.
“To
Allah belongs what He Takes and to Him belongs what He gives. And there is a
set time by Him for everything. Do exercise patience and expect reward (from
Allah).”
AbdulrahmanAl-Anezi
Dr. Ahmad Al-Dubayan, Islamic Cultural Centre, London
I
received the following condolence message from Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan, Director
General of The London Central Mosque Trust Ltd & the Islamic Cultural
Centre, London:
“We
are all very sad at the passing away of Syeda Arefa Jamal on 13th
November 2014. Inna Lillahe wa Inna
Ilaihe rajeun. Our prayers are with her
husband, Dr. Mozammel Haque, her two daughters, son and three little grand
children. We pray to Allah subhana wa
Taala to grant her eternal peace in paradise.
Dr.
Ahmad Al-Dubayan”
Sir Iqbal Sacranie from Dubai
I
received condolence message from Sir Iqbal Sacranie, former Secretary General
of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), former chairman of the Muslim Aid and
presently Member of the International Advisory Panel at World Islamic Economic
Forum, United Kingdom, on 14 November 2014.
AA
extremely sorry to hear the sad demise of your dear wife. May Almighty grant
her the best of place in Jannatul Firdous. I have just arrived in Dubai from
South Africa. Will be back this week. Ws
Iqbal
Judge Khurshid Drabu, CBE
I
received condolence message from Judge Khurshid Drabu, on 13 November 2014.
Please
accept my deepest condolence. May Allah give you Sabr and May He bestow your
late wife a place in Jannat ul Firdous. Ameen.
Khurshid Drabu
Dr. Muhammad
Abdul Bari
I received
condolence message from Dr. Muhammad Abdul Bari, former Secretary General of
the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and present chairman of East London Mosque,
on 13 November2 014.
Inna
Lillahi wa innaa ilaihi rajiun
May
Allah bless her soul and give Jannatul Firdaws.
Muhammad
Abdul Bari
Mr. Farooq Murad
I
received condolence message from Mr. Farooq Murad, former Secretary General of
the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), former chairman of Muslim Aid and present
Director General of the Leicester-based The Islamic Foundation on 13
November 2014.
Inna
lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajioon.
I
am saddened to hear of this great personal loss Dr. Mozammal. May Allah swt
bless her with forgiveness shower His Rahma and grant her a high place. May
He give you all Sabr and acceptance of
the Qadr of Allah. Ws.
Farooq
Murad
Barrister Ahmad Thomson
I
received following condolence message from Barrister Ahmad Thomson, on 13
November 2014:
“Inna
lillahi wainnailayhi raji’un – we will recite Ya Sin for her in 20 minutes
InshaAllah.
Ahmad
Thomson.”
Mr. Muhammad Tariq Ghazi from Canada
I
received following condolence message from Mr. Muhammad Tariq Ghazi, former
Managing Editor, Jeddah-based Saudi Gazette, from Canada.
“My dear Dr Mozammel
Haque
I was saddened by
the news of the demise of your wife. I
pray Allah grant her high station in the Jannat al-Firdows and give you and
others she has left behind Sabr Jamil and Allah increase you Ajr for patiently
bearing this great loss. Ameen.
Muhammad Tariq Ghazi
East York, Canada”
Mr. Jawaid Anwar from Karachi
I
received condolence message from Mr. Jawaid Anwar, Managing Editor, Muslim
World Almanac, Karachi, Pakistan on 14 November 2014.
Azam
Allah Ajerkum. Very sad news. May Allah have mercy and SABAR to all family members. Praying for her
maghfrah.
Your
brother Jawaid Anwar
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