By Abchiro Abdi
Living together in one community, I always admire how quickly we come together during difficult times. When a loved one passes away, committee members, friends, and neighbors give their time, energy, and resources without hesitation. It is a beautiful act of love, showing deep respect for the deceased and ensuring they receive an honorable final send-off.
I deeply respect every committee that works tirelessly to plan these burials. Today, I humbly share a gentle thought—not to criticize anyone’s efforts, but for us to reflect together as a community.
Have any of us stopped to ask: Is it really necessary for us to spend so much money on a single day?
We all agree that giving a dignified farewell is important, but a burial budget does not need to be huge to be respectful. In our Islamic tradition, burials are kept very simple, peaceful, and low-cost (usually under 5,000 shillings). This simplicity is not a lack of love; rather, it is a way to ensure that the community’s resources are saved to protect and uplift the family who remain behind.
Often, despite everyone’s best intentions, large funeral budgets leave the surviving family—the widow, widower, orphans, or aging parents—facing heavy debt and hardship right after the burial, just when their main provider is gone.
If our goal is to show the highest respect and love for the person who passed, what if we transfer that love to the living family they left behind?
Once a person’s journey in this world is complete, grand arrangements cannot benefit them. But if we want to make the departed proud and give them a legacy that truly lasts, imagine doing something unforgettable for their family. For instance, instead of spending huge sums on short-lived arrangements, what if that committee money was used to build or finish a shelter for the family?
Years from now, the children will look at that home and say with deep gratitude: “When our parent passed away, our community built this for us in their honor.”
Imagine if our collective generosity was directed toward:
* Building a safe shelter for the surviving family.
* Paying school fees for the orphans so their future remains bright.
* Creating a small support fund so the family can afford food and healthcare.
This is just a friendly, open suggestion for us to think about together. Let us continue honoring our departed with deep respect and small, dignified burial budgets, while channeling our main strength, love, and funds into building a secure future for the living. May God continue to bless our unity, guide our committees, and protect all our families!
