What makes his story even more inspiring was the way he led his life and the manner in which his life ended. The brothers said that on their way to Fayyum, Ferdous was reciting Surah al-Kahf—something we are encouraged to do every Friday:

Abu Sa`id A-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Whoever reads surat Al-Kahf on the night of Friday, will have a light that will stretch between him and the Ancient House (i.e., the Ka`bah).” (Authenticated by Al-Albani)

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said:“Whoever reads surat Al-Kahf on the day of Friday, will have a light that will shine for him from one Friday to the next.” (Al-Hakim)

Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying: “Whoever reads surat Al-Kahf on the day of Jumu`ah (Friday), a light will shine for him from beneath his feet to the clouds of the sky, which will shine for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will be forgiven (his sins) between the two Fridays.” (As-Siyuti)

Imam Al-Mannawi says:

“It is recommended to read surat Al-Kahf during the day or night of Jumu`ah, as Imam Ash-Shafi`i (may Allah have mercy on him) stated.” (Fayd al-Qadir, 6/199)

He loved the Quran tremendously and it showed through his constant relationship with it. After hearing the news of his death, I called my Arabic teacher and told him “Ustadh, do you remember Ferdous, the brother who I lived with for a few days in the other apartment?”

He could not recall at first but then replied, “Oh you mean that brother who was constantly reciting the Quran?”

I told myself, “Subhan Allah, look at what he is being remembered for. He is being identified with the book of Allah! Can there be anything more special than that?” I ask myself, and all of you, what will we be remembered for?

“The best amongst you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it.” (Bukhari)

“Such a person as recites the Quran and masters it, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven). And such a person as falters when he recites the Quran and finds recitation difficult for him, will have a double reward.” (Bukhari)

“He who introduces some good practice in Islam, which is followed after him (by people), will be rewarded like those who followed it, without their rewards being diminished in any respect.” (Muslim)

His funeral was attended by hundreds of people—mostly students, teachers, and scholars. People who even met him for an hour attested to his beautiful conduct and polite speech and therefore could not miss his janazah. I did not see so many people attend a funeral for such a young man like that ever before. It is related in the Sunnah to make three rows for the funeral prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Whoever dies and three rows of Muslims pray for him (the funeral prayer), then he will be guaranteed (Paradise or forgiveness)” (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi).

He was buried in Cairo and unfortunately his parents could not even attend the funeral due to some difficult circumstances that they were in.

On one occasion, Ferdous was reciting Quran and his teacher happened to record him with his cellphone. Ferdous was reciting the end of Surah al-Jumu’ah:

{Say, “The death you run away from will come to meet you and your will be returned to the One who knows the unseen as well as the seen: He will tell you everything you have done.} (Al-Humu`ah 62:8)

Upon the mention of death, Ferdous began to cry and could not continue his recitation smoothly. It seemed as if he knew that his life was coming to an end in the near future, subhan Allah!

Ferdous was a student seeking knowledge in the path of Allah, and he died in that path—insha Allah making him a martyr (Shaheed). His life ended by him drowning—one of the categories of people who are considered to be Shaheed, are those who drown.

In a report jointly reported by Imam al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned five types of martyrs:

“One who dies in a plague, one who dies of abdominal ailments, one who dies of drowning, one who dies under a collapsed building, and one who dies as a martyr in jihad.“

The day in which he passed away was a Friday—the greatest day of the week:

“The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. It is the day Adam was created. It is the day when Adam entered the Heavenly Gardens and the day when he was expelled from it. The Day of Resurrection will not take place ion any day other than Friday.” (Muslim)

These are all signs of a positive ending, and we pray to Allah to accept him among the martyrs and to grant him the highest levels of paradise.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A person is raised up in the Hereafter in the state he has passed away.”

Ferdous was truly an exemplary young man who lived in this world with a purpose, inspiring people wherever he went.

I leave you with the following quote, “Aspire to inspire before you expire.”

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