The Night My Grandmother Prepared for Jannah

Assalamu Alaikum. My paternal grandmother lived a long, meaningful life. Even in her last days she was aware of everything going on with her grandchildren. She always cared and wanted each of us to live rightly. Before she passed, she slowly grew weaker. One day she asked one of her sons to call his sister who lived in another city. My uncle phoned her and she came straight away. Seeing her mother seemed a bit better, she returned home because her children had important exams. Two days later my grandmother’s condition suddenly worsened. Her sugar fell, her blood pressure dropped, and we realized anything could happen at any moment. A doctor came and after checking her he said simply, “Pray for her.” Then something remarkable occurred. Suddenly the things that were wrong became normal. She opened her eyes and called everyone close. She told her sons to call their daughters, especially the one in the other city. We said that she would only be able to arrive by the next night because of the long journey and no tickets. Calmly she said, “If she truly wants to meet her mother, she must arrive before Fajr. After Fajr, I will be gone.” We all looked at each other shocked. She then gave instructions: “Do not cry after I am gone. Prepare a feast instead. When people come for my funeral, treat every guest with honor.” We kept in touch with my aunt; she said fog had delayed the trains. She used to reach quickly, but this time she said, “I cannot come before tomorrow night.” Slowly uncles, aunts, and cousins gathered. Deep down we knew what she had said about leaving after Fajr, but no one wanted to say it aloud. Late at night the house did not feel like a place of impending death. It felt joyful like a wedding house. Children ran between rooms while elders called them to the terrace. After Isha my grandmother gave more instructions. She asked someone to open the almirah and gave gold jewelry to a woman who had cared for her lovingly and selflessly until the end. Then she asked for a small box from the almirah. Inside was some sacred dust from Jannatul Baqi she had brought during Hajj/Umrah in her youth out of love for Madinah. She wanted that dust placed in her grave, with larger pieces near her head and smaller near her feet, though I don’t remember the exact order. She said, “Start doing dhikr, and call all my daughters-in-law.” When they came she spoke to each and said, “If I ever hurt you, I ask your forgiveness. And if any of you ever hurt me, I forgive you all.” Then she lay down and began reciting the Qur’an. After a while she stopped and moved her hands as if eating. My cousin asked softly, “Dadi, are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?” She answered calmly, “I have completed my rizq of this world. Now I am eating the food of Jannah. My Allah is feeding me.” It felt as if a veil to the unseen was opening for her. Around 1:00 AM she told us, “Don’t sit here. Don’t exhaust yourselves. Go sleep. You will be busy after Fajr.” Around 4:30 AM she woke, prayed Tahajjud, continued with dhikr and dua, then prayed Fajr. We stood around her. She looked toward the door and said, “Move aside. Let them come in.” Then she recited the Kalima: لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ - “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” With those words she left this world, her face peaceful and radiant. It felt like the Angel of Death came gently and honored her. This reminded me of the Hadith about how angels descend for the righteous at death, and the soul is brought out gently to Allah’s forgiveness and pleasure. That was the blessed passing she was granted. In my next post I will share how my maternal grandmother passed. For those wondering if my aunt made it in time - she did not; she arrived after Dadi had already passed.