Condolences to the Vanderhalls

To Allah we be belong to Him is our return.

My deepest and heart-felt condolences go out to my brother Basil Vanderhall and his entire family at the passing of sister Yasmin Vanderhall, his loyal, God-fearing wife and soul mate for 17 wonderful years. Sister Yasmin was a devoted wife and mother who loved her family and was one of the finest examples of a believing women. She and her husband were pillars of the Islamic Center of Maryland in Gaithersburg (ICM), Md, and her contribution to the development of the Muslim community will be sorely missed, but not forgotten.

Sister Yasmin fought a valiant struggle with cancer for a number of years, and faced her test with complete faith and confidence in Allah, putting her trust solely in Him. This family is very close to me as brother Basil coaches my son in football and their two sons, Abdul-Baree, 11, and Baqir 14, are his closet friends. 

She passed yesterday surrounded by roughly 40 family and friends, all making du’a for her until the very moment she passed into the hands of the angel. Her Janazah (funeral) was held the same day immediately following Salatul Jumah at ICM, and in strict adherence to the Sunnah, she requested that only the brothers follow her casket to the grave-site. May Allah make her questioning easy, forgive her all her sins, and grant her paradise. Amin.