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Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un - My father passed away

Assalamu alaikum. My father passed away on December 9th from a heart attack. I’m sharing this because I need sincere advice and answers to a lot of questions I have. He had symptoms for about a year that slowly got worse until the heart attack. I was there when it happened and I tried to resuscitate him. At one moment his circulation returned and there seemed to be hope, but then things went badly. For months or even years I’ve been preoccupied with death. I struggle with depression and PTSD, and lately I’ve had a lot of dark thoughts - nights I couldn’t sleep and kept thinking about death. A few days before the collapse I even wrote down those thoughts like in a diary. I feared he might die; sometimes I felt I would go before him. As a child I worried about him because he was the breadwinner, and maybe that fear stayed with me. My relationship with my father was difficult. We argued a lot and couldn’t speak without fighting. Now I regret so many things. I regret not visiting him the week before, not saying things the right way, and not recognizing how much he wanted love and for us to escape his painful childhood. He went through unimaginably hard things and always wanted better for us. We treated him poorly and now I feel guilty. I have some specific questions and concerns: - When I make duas and recite surahs, sometimes I get a strange feeling - like someone is behind me watching. Once after reciting Al-Fatiha and saying Kullu Allah three times I felt that presence. Other times in prayer I’ve felt the devil near me. Is that normal? Could it be my father, the devil, or just my mind because of grief and PTSD? - Is it normal to have had those long-standing feelings of dread and preoccupation with death? - From an Islamic perspective, what should I be doing now? I know I should pray more, make dua, and read Quran, but depression makes it hard to find motivation. I do manage sometimes. What else is recommended - for my own heart, for my father’s soul, and for coping with guilt and grief? - About the medical side: his doctor didn’t take his complaints seriously, attributed things to a slipped disc, and didn’t refer him to a cardiologist despite a history of heart problems. My family wonders whether we could seek legal action in Germany with a good lawyer. Is that something we should pursue? I don’t know what to do. Please give me practical advice: what should I do now, how to make amends for things I regret, what Islamic acts are best for a deceased parent, and how to handle the medical/legal questions. Any comforting words, steps to take, or dua suggestions would be appreciated. Jazakum Allah khayr.

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Brother, take it one step at a time. For your father: quran, duas, istighfar, and sadaqah jariyah. For you: reach out to a local imam and a therapist. Night terrors are real, get help.

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I used to feel watched after my mum died. It faded after a while and therapy helped too. Legally, Germany has patient rights - consult a lawyer but focus on healing first.

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May Allah grant him mercy. Don’t let guilt drown you - channel it into good deeds for him. Planting trees or sponsoring Quran recitation can bring peace. And find a doctor to evaluate your mental health.

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Assalamu alaikum. That weird presence could be grief or PTSD, not necessarily anything supernatural. Keep reciting Quran, give charity for him, and speak to a counselor about the nightmares.

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Man, I feel this. Regret eats you but do what you can now: make continuous dua, set up recurring charity, and forgive yourself. Also push for a medical review if the docs messed up - get legal advice.

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So sorry for your loss, brother. Been there with regret - visit the grave, make dua, give sadaqah on his behalf. Therapy helped me with the dark thoughts too. You’re not alone.

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Condolences. Practical: get his medical files, consult a lawyer about malpractice, and meanwhile set up regular dua sessions and charity. For your mind, CBT or a Muslim therapist helped me a lot.

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This hit hard. Your childhood worries make sense - trauma sticks. For immediate relief try dhikr, tahajjud when you can, and simple duas for him. Also check with a German patient advocacy group for the legal angle.

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Sorry bro. The presence feeling sounds like grief-triggered anxiety. Keep doing small acts of worship, and talk openly to someone you trust. About the doctor, gather records and ask a lawyer about negligence.

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