إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ
“We belong to Allah, and we shall return to Him” (Al-Baqarah: 156)
This is a tribute I presented on the Khatam to commemorate the passing of Haji Mohammed Sarwar. The beloved Messenger (peace be upon him) encouraged us to “pay tribute to your dead” (Tirmidhi).
Sarwar Sahib was a husband, a father, and a family man whose passing has left a deep void in our hearts and in our community. When someone beloved departs, it creates a silence that speaks louder than words. In our fast-moving world, we rarely pause to confront the certainty of death. But moments like this force us to look inward, to reckon with the inevitable, and to find solace not in denial, but in remembrance.
His early life
Sarwar sahib came to England in 1963, a young man with little but determination and faith. He worked in the cotton mills, and he worked on the buses. He took on whatever honest work he could find. No job was beneath him. He also operated an Asian clothing store on Berridge Road for many years. There were no complaints, only determination. He began his life in the UK in Huddersfield, later moving to Doncaster, and then in 1983 to Nottingham.
In 1970, Mohammed Sarwar married the loving daughter of a close family, our sister Zebeadah. Together, they built a marriage that lasted 55 beautiful years. Their bond was unique, rooted in love, patience, faith, and unwavering support. Through every high and low, they stood beside one another. They gave each other strength when it was needed most. They were partners in the truest sense.
Together, he and Zebeadah built a home grounded in strong values. From that home came their beloved children: Nadeem, Tahira, Raheem, and Siara. He set high expectations for his children and gave them the best education. He supported two families, his family here and his family back in Pakistan. Every sacrifice he made was for others.
A life of sacrifice and service
Charity was a core pillar of his life. He supported mosques in Nottingham and in Pakistan quietly and sincerely. He always put others before himself. And then there were his grandchildren, whom he loved dearly. They brought him immense joy and pride. His life’s struggles were so that future generations could live with ease. There is comfort in that. A man who spent his life serving others, who built his life on sacrifice, faith, family, and charity, was called back during these sacred days.
At the janazah
Grief poured in from all corners of Nottingham and beyond. The gathering of mourners, the quiet tears, the hands raised in du‘a, all bore witness to a man whose life touched many. His gentle presence – now gone – lingers in our memories like a fading light at dusk. Allah says in the Quran: “Every soul shall taste death. And only on the Day of Judgment will you be paid your full recompense. Whoever is spared from the Fire and admitted into Paradise has truly succeeded” (Ale-Imran: 185).
Al-Hajj Mohammed Sarwar lived a full and fruitful life, Masha’Allah. His investments weren’t in fleeting glories or worldly recognition, but in his family, sacrifice, and service. These are the legacies that endure. His children and grandchildren. The countless lives he supported quietly. These are the living testimonies of a life well-lived. The Prophet ﷺ said: “When a person dies, all his deeds come to an end except three: a continuous charity, knowledge from which benefit is derived, or a righteous child who prays for him” (Muslim).
A sombre time for reflection
The passing of a beloved is a mirror that forces us to see our own mortality, the uncertainty of our last breath, and the unspoken farewells we may leave behind. We gather not only to honour the deceased, but to remind ourselves of what truly matters. Allah reminds us: “Know that the life of this world is amusement and diversion and adornment…” (Al-Hadid: 20).
When we bury a loved one, we bury a part of ourselves, our memories, our shared joys, our losses. But what remains is love, which even death cannot erase. I saw people embrace each other, pray together, shed tears and I realised: this is the reward of living a life of meaning. Let us carry his memory not as a burden, but as a guiding light. His humility, sincerity, and generosity were his true wealth and that wealth does not perish with death.
Let us end with hope. When the janazah of Sa’ad ibn Mu‘adh (RA) was lifted, his mother wept loudly. The Prophet ﷺ turned to her and said: “Dear mother of Sa’ad, your tears should stop now, the Throne of the Compassionate Lord shook at the death of Sa’ad…” (Tabarani). We pray that Al-Hajj Mohammed Sarwar is received in similar honour. May Allah illuminate his grave, forgive his shortcomings, and raise his ranks among the righteous.
He lived with humility.
He led with quiet strength.
He gave without expecting.
He loved without condition.
May Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah.
May his grave be filled with light.
And may we honour him by living the values he taught us.
Ameen.
