Wednesday, November 11, 2015, we received word that Allah, Glorious and Exalted is He, summoned His beloved slave back to His Divine Presence. Sidi passed away at approximately 2:30 pm Pacific Time from this worldly life into the next world due to complications from the stroke he had two weeks ago. In his last days, he was the picture of peace, and his spiritual presence was still intensely perceived by visitors and students from around the country.

There was a service in California for Sidi and then his body was transported back to Jerusalem for burial.  Here are account from both events.

Sidi’s Funeral

As Salaamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh, beloveds,

We want to give everyone a summary of Sidi’s funeral proceedings from Friday November 13, along with a few pictures, for those that were not able to be there.  It was a very lovely event.  The day was sunny and warm with approximately 100 beloveds from around the country.  We acknowledge all those that traveled from afar for making the effort to be there.  It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces. We all gathered at the Masjid Abu Bakr as-Saddiq in Hayward, California.  It is a beautiful mosque with caring Afghani beloveds who made us feel comfortable there. 

Sidi’s sons gathered for the washing of the body around 9am.  The mosque imam who does the washing was there.  I understand it was a very holy time together and the imam found Sidi’s body to be extremely pure.  It was a very very special event for them.
Around noon people gathered in the mosque for a talk in Farsi followed by the Jumu’ah khutbah (in Arabic) and prayer.  The mosque was very full, with easily 3–400 people combined (in the mosque and adjoining women’s prayer area).

After the Jumu’ah was over and the sunnah prayers completed, almost all the men and women gathered in front of the mosque for the Janazah (funeral) Prayer.  Sidi’s coffin was on a special roller cart on the front step and all the people standing behind it faced the front entrance of the mosque.  The Imam led everyone in the Janazah prayer, after which beloveds lifted the coffin into the hearse.  Dates were passed out and beloveds were invited to eat a date and say the Fatiha for Sidi.

As soon as the paperwork is completed, Sidi’s body will be flown back with the family to Jerusalem.  The grave site is already prepared next to Sidi’s wife (the mother of his 6 children) at the cemetery on the Mount of Olives.

After the hearse left, the beloveds gathered in the mosque for dhikr chanting in Arabic led by Rida, Sidi’s son.  That was followed by some beautiful dua’s for Sidi that concluded the event.  Several of the men went over to greet the women who were standing in the women’s section (the curtain had been drawn back for the post Jumu’ah proceedings as you can see in the pictures).  Fortunately, Sidi’s daughter A’isha was there and also greeted the women and shared some personal comments with them as well.  It was a very beautiful ending to the funeral.

Everyone then gathered outside the mosque to say their goodbyes to each other.   It was a very blessed day – everything went smoothly, including the the traffic, which was amazingly light for a Friday morning!  One distant traveler’s plane even arrived 30 minutes early, so everyone who intended to made it safely and easily to the funeral.

We thank Allah that we were given the opportunity to be guided by Sidi and be with him in the physical all these years.  May we continue to receive his guidance on the inner planes and be the true carriers of his message, the message of One God, conveying peace, love, mercy, justice and freedom for all.’Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’uun
Surely we belong to Him, and to Him we shall return. [Q 2:156]O Allah, we pray that you deal gently with your slave, Sidi Muhammad, and grant peace, and ease and rest for his soul, in proximity to You.  Amin.

This next portion is from Sidi’s funeral in Jerusalem.

Bismillah ar Rahman ir Rahim

‘Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’uun
Surely we belong to Him, and to Him we shall return. [Q 2:156]

Rest in Peace, beloved Sidi.

From Salih Kent:

As-salaamu alaykum wa rahmatu’llahi wa barakatuh. 

There are a number of prayers and practices you can do for people who has died. Go to Prayers and Practices for the Dying and the Dead for more information.