By now, the world has heard of the passing of Michael Jackson, and I’m sure many my age who remember the glory years of the Jackson Five and the extravagant 80s will feel some sense of loss - it’s like we grew up with these people. Jackson’s life mirrored our own in many ways, with its highs and lows, but it is with some sense of contentment that he was widely acknowledged to have embraced Islam before his demise.

Death, dear friends, is a constant companion and neither wealth nor fame will stave off its arrival for Allah says “And Allah will never grant reprieve to any soul when its appointed time has come, and Allah is aware of all that you do.” [Quraan 63: 11] and Say: Verily, the death from which you flee will surely meet you, then you will be sent back to (Allah), the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen, and He will tell you what you used to do.
[Quraan 62: 8].

We humbly implore you to use this vivid reminder to reflect and consider your standing before Allah. The Prophet said: "Take benefit of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free-time before your preoccupation, and your life before your death."[al-Hakim, al-Baihaqi].