Earlier today, Nabeel Qureishi posted on Facebook that he had advanced stomach cancer. This is quite unfortunate news. To the Muslim community, I simply ask that you pray for his healing and guidance, he has an opportunity to come closer to the truth and we need to support him during this time.

To Nabeel,

I know that being diagnosed with an illness with a grim prognosis, turns your life upside down. It might take a few days, a few weeks, or in my case, a few years to come to understand what you’ve been diagnosed with and what treatment options you have. Whatever plans you had for the future are most certainly inconceivable now, and I know that the urgency and immediacy of all these changes to your life can be overwhelming and most certainly physiologically draining.

I know that you must be suffering from a great deal of pain and sickness. On an array of medications that turns daily life into one big blur, where you find yourself having to seclude yourself from a public lifestyle. The weight of this on your new family must be excruciating and seeing them suffer because you’re suffering must be mentally tortuous.

He knows, Nabeel. Trust in the plan of God. At one point in your life you had a transition that led you to live a drastically different lifestyle and to take a path you had never imagined. Sadly, you are now facing a much more difficult transition with a very uncertain end. Pray to God during this trying time and seek His rahma (mercy), seek His rizq (provision/ sustenance), and most importantly seek His salam (peace). You’ve been through a difficult and life changing transition before, with God all things are possible, so hold on tight to the rope of God, rely on Him, trust in His plan and seek Him with ikhlas (sincerity) through sabr (patience).

And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent. – Qur’an 65:2-3.

Your Brother from Adam (peace be upon him),
Br. Ijaz Ahmad.

Note to Muslims: Try to lift Nabeel up during this time, don’t mock him as some have done with respect to the passing of Shaykh Deedat. Rise above the negativity and pray for his healing and guidance.

and Allah knows best.