In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
It has now been one year since our beloved brother, Tuan Faizal Raffaideen, returned to his Creator. Time may have passed, but he has not been forgotten. We continue to remember him in our prayers and make sincere du’a that Allah (SWT) forgives all his shortcomings, grants him the highest ranks in Jannatul Firdaus, expands and illuminates his grave, and grants patience and strength to his family and loved ones.
As we pause to remember our brother on the anniversary of his passing, we are reminded not only of him, but also of the remarkable unity, compassion and brotherhood that emerged within our community during one of the most challenging times we have faced.
Many of you will remember that the Janaza prayers and burial of our late brother were finally completed on Friday, 15 August 2025, at the Muslim burial section – Smithfield Memorial Park after Jumu’ah. It was a long and emotionally challenging journey, filled with many unforeseen obstacles. Yet throughout every stage, we witnessed the mercy and help of Allah (SWT). What initially seemed overwhelming was made possible through the unity of our community, the dedication of countless volunteers, and the guidance and blessings of Almighty Allah.
The SLMASA team, together with the SLM Janaza Committee and many other community members, worked tirelessly from locating the deceased, completing the necessary medical and legal requirements, coordinating fundraising efforts, liaising with his son and close family members in Sri Lanka, and overcoming many unexpected challenges, until we were finally able to fulfil the blessed obligation of giving our brother a dignified Islamic burial.
One year later, SLMASA once again extends its heartfelt gratitude to every single person who stood with us during that difficult period. Whether you contributed financially, volunteered your time and effort, assisted behind the scenes, or simply kept our brother and everyone involved in your du’as, your support made a meaningful difference. May Allah (SWT) accept your sincere intentions, reward you abundantly, and place it all on your scale of good deeds.
Brother Tuan’s passing also left us with important lessons that remain just as relevant today as they were a year ago.
In our busy daily lives, we often become occupied with work, family and worldly responsibilities, forgetting how fragile life truly is. His passing reminded us of the importance of staying closely connected to our community. Here in Adelaide, our brothers and sisters from the community are our extended family, especially for those whose loved ones are thousands of kilometres away in Sri Lanka.
Let us continue to strengthen these bonds. Keep in touch with one another. Visit one another. Check in on those who may be living alone or becoming isolated. If you notice someone withdrawing from the community for any reason, take the initiative to reach out with kindness and support. Looking after one another is not merely a social responsibility, it is an Islamic duty and an obligation upon us as one Ummah.
Above all, this incident reminds us of the timeless words of Allah (SWT): “Every soul shall taste death.” None of us knows when our own time will come. Death does not wait for old age, good health or convenient circumstances. Therefore, we must constantly prepare ourselves for the inevitable meeting with our Creator through sincere worship, righteous deeds, and by ensuring that practical arrangements are also in place for our families.
This is why the SLM Janaza Fund continues to play such an important role within our community. It exists to ease the burden on families during one of the most difficult moments of their lives and to ensure that our deceased brothers and sisters receive the dignified Islamic funeral they deserve.
If you have not yet joined the Janaza Fund, we encourage you to take this opportunity to do so. You are only a phone call away from becoming a member, or you may speak to any member of SLMASA, who will gladly guide you through the process, In Sha Allah.
As community leaders, we believe it is our responsibility to continue reminding ourselves and others of the lessons learned from Brother Tuan’s passing. May we never allow these reminders to fade with time. Instead, let us honour his memory by strengthening our unity, caring for one another, preparing for the hereafter, and remaining steadfast upon our faith.
May Allah (SWT) forgive our beloved brother Tuan Faizal Raffaideen, accept all his good deeds, grant him the highest place in Jannatul Firdaus, and reunite him with his loved ones in the everlasting gardens of Paradise.
May Allah forgive us all, protect our community, strengthen our brotherhood, and grant us all a good ending. Ameen.
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