Before a Prayer, Let me Remember You

Early this morning, I received the news that Hafiz Osman passed away. I had heard that he was not well, and had also heard ten days ago that he was getting better. It was a moment to reflect on a friend of a long time ago.

Hafiz Osman, as he had come to be known, was my companion in madressa. He earned the title for he had truly memorized the Qur’an with accuracy and precision.  He led the Tarawih preachers year after year in our hometown. I had lost touch with him, but I heard him recite the Qu’ran a few times in recent times. I was impressed how well he knew the Qur’an. We had all aspired to know the Qur’an well, and he seemed to have reached this esteemed goal.

I knew him better a long time ago when we were the students of Molsaab (Molvie Saheb) Adamjee. We started memorizing the Qur’an together. We spent hours together in the local school, in the mosque and at our teacher’s home. I do not think we counted the hours and days, but it was a lot of time of friendship, mischief and commitment rolled into one indescribable whole.

At some point, we were expected to be at the madrasah well before Fajr prayer. I would wake him up in the early hours of the morning. Walking in darkness across our “yard,” my knocking on the door would wake up the whole family. I cannot remember who woke me up. I would wait in the kitchen while he got ready. We did this regularly, but for how long I do not remember. 

During this time, I also remember going to school together in Laudium. Then, we would be memorizing the Qur’an in the Kombie at great speed. I always thought this was the cause of my poor eyesight. But Hafiz Osman had 20/20 vision - and it seems that he kept in that way.

ًWhile I went to University, he journeyed to Karachi. He stayed for a while and then returned. He spent some more time on the Qur’an, spending a few years making dor (revision). Over time, he developed the proficiency for which he is rightly remembered. He was never given the title of Mawlana, but he had studied the Qur’an in a less formal way. On the few occasions that I asked him about a verse here or there, he always impressed me with the depth and breadth of tafsir 

He remained a quiet pillar in the community of hifz. He led Salah regularly, and Ramadan in Brits without Hafiz Osman was not imaginable. I hardly think that the community of Brits would be the same after his passing. 

I obviously have not done full justice to him. But I want to share these few words before I join in prayer for him, his family and his friends.