Ustadh Usama Canon: The Passing of a Tested Servant of Allah
Asalamu Alaikum,
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un – إِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
To God, we belong and to Him, we return.
It is with a heavy heart that I announce that a very special soul has returned back to Our Lord today.
My elder brother, beloved friend, and mentor Shaykh Usama Canon has left this temporal world.
Words can’t do justice right now on how I feel. My Brother Usama was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), back in 2017 and has graciously and patiently endured the illness, without ever murmuring a moment of complaint to Our Maker.
My brother impacted so many lives for the better and can I ask you all to pray for his beloved family during this difficult period.
The anniversary of the day he entered into Islam, also marks the day on which Shaykh Usama returned to Our Lord.
May Allah Almighty allow him to enter the garden without any reckoning and expiate all his sins and forgive him.
Even till the end, despite the many health challenges he was facing on a daily basis, his concern was always to assist others and share his big heart with as many people as possible.
I can personally attest to this and it is a humbling lesson for us all to reflect upon and implement in our lives.
Al Fatiha
– Sidi Waseem Mahmood, Managing Director at SeekersGuidance
He was a man who inspired many. A rare example of somebody who sacrificed his life to be in the service of others. Before he was suddenly diagnosed with ALS in 2017 he was known as an inspirational, eloquent, well-dressed person who was able to translate Islam, not from Arabic into English, but from the tradition into relevance today.
– Adam Kelwick
Dua
May Allah has mercy on him, forgive him, elevate his ranks, and reward him beyond measure.
May Allah grant Sidi Usama the Highest of Paradise, accept and multiply the reward of his devotion, service, and good deeds, and overlook all else.
May Allah grant his family, friends, and loved one’s strength, steadfastness, and true trust in Him in this trying difficulty. Allah Most High says, “Verily, Allah is with the patient.”
“ And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, Who, when distress strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the truly guided.” [Qur’an, 2.155-157]
Qur’anic Reflections: Divine Tests and the Great Virtue of Steadfast Patience
Al Fatiha
– Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, Executive Director, SeekersGuidance
