Death of Br. Sohaib Sultan

—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—

NEW YORK, NY (April 17, 2021) – It is with profound sadness that the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) learns about the death of Br Sohaib Sultan. He passed peacefully on Friday the 4th day in the Blessed Month of Ramadhan after battling rare cancer. He left behind his father Dr. Talat Sultan, his mother, his sister his wife, and his child, and the whole ICNA family.

ICNA extends its deepest sympathy to Dr. Sultan and the entire family during this time. Our prayers and thoughts are with them. No doubt, the death of Br. Sohaib would have a profound and long-lasting impact on his family, relatives, friends and the community.

Beyond this sorrow, we believe that everyone who enters this world must also exit as Allah SWT says: Every soul will have a taste of death. At the same time, we also believe that it is only with the decree of Allah SWT that one lives or dies as He SWT is The Muh’yee (Giver of life) and Mumeet (Causer of death). Thus, there is no such thing as an untimely death.

As death comes to a family member or a dear one, we are required to have patience and trust in Allah SWT and proclaim: “Innaa lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (Verily to Allaah we belong and unto Him is our return).

True Believers are given high honor when calamity befalls as they remain steadfast. Rasoolullah (SAS) said: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affair is all good, and this applies to no one except the believer. If something good happens to him, he gives thanks and that is good for him, and if something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good for him.”

Losing a child, the rewards are great. Al-Tirmidhi narrated that Abu Sinaan said: I buried my son Sinaan and Abu Talhah al-Khoolaani was sitting at the graveside. When I wanted to go out he took my hand and said: “Shall I not give you some glad tidings, O Abu Sinaan?” I said, “Yes.”

He said, “Al-Dahhaak ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn ‘Arzab narrated to me from Abu Moosa al-Ash’ari that the Messenger of Allaah (SAS) said: “When a person’s child dies, Allaah says to His angels, ‘You have taken the child of My slave.’ They say, ‘Yes.’ He says, ‘You have taken the apple of his eye.’ They say, ‘Yes.’ He says, ‘What did My slave say?’ They say, ‘He praised you and said “Innaa lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (Verily to Allaah we belong and unto Him is our return).’ Allaah says, ‘Build for My slave a house in Paradise and call it the house of praise.’” (Classed as hasan)

We ask Allah SWT to accept all the good work of Br. Sohaib and grant him His Mercy and Forgiveness. May Allah SWT forgive him for all his shortcomings and grant him Jannatul Firdous.

We ask Allah SWT to grant patience to the entire family of Br. Sohaib.