I slept in a graveyard!

Today, Saturday 5th June, I visited my father's grave in Woodgrange Park Cemetery, Forest Gate. This is an old graveyard that used to be occupied by Christians, but now only available for Muslims. It's run by a Jewish man!

Many people have been buried here well before the Gardens of Peace was built. 

My father (Rahimahullah) passed away on 13th January 2005. I had only 16 years of my life with him, becoming an orphan, Alhamdulillah. I have fond memories of places he'd take me and my siblings, things he would say and do for us. He migrated to UK back in the 1960s. 

He was always engaged in Qur'an and Zikr MashaAllah Allahumma Baarik Aameen. He loved getting Zikr beads (Tasbih), taking them apart and using different beads to make different patterns. He was my greatest inspiration for Hajj which he performed in 1996.

There are times in my life that I feel mentally drained. Alhamdulillah being around family helps, worshipping Allah most definitely helps. I also find comfort being at my father's grave. 

Today I felt so much at ease and peace next to my dad's grave. There must have been a couple of others in the graveyard. His grave is located at the far end of the graveyard where many people don't come, some houses over look that section. Sadly there are some unkempt graves here too. A 15 year old girl is buried nearby who died a few months after my father did. 

I laid out my prayer mat and sat by my father's grave, reciting Surahs. Some unique grass had grown here. The plant we put on his grave has gone big. 

Slowly my eyes were closing. The sun was gazing down upon me. 

I fell asleep! I had dreams. 

I woke up to a rustling of leaves. It was just a cat. 

My father told me that whenever I go to the graveyard to always make Dua for all the inhabitants too. He told me once that he won't be upset if I didn't visit his grave, but to make sure to pray for him. 

When I was younger I would be scared to come to the graveyard. But Alhamdulillah not anymore. I pray Allah gives me and you ease in our own graves, Aameen.