Junaid Jamshed, one of Pakistan’s greatest singers and years ago. I’ve seen very few virtuous people like him. Let pop icons, recently passed away in a tragic airplane me tell you an old incident; I don’t quite remember where accident. As a pop icon, Junaid led a lifestyle that was in I was sitting but the television was on and the volume complete antithesis to what an Islamic lifestyle should be. was on mute. It was then that I saw a young man Deep inside him though he had wonderful hidden quali- dancing. I thought to myself, “How will this young man ties waiting for the right time to surface. ever get guidance to Allah? Allah is Almighty but who will help him in this corrupt environment, who will be His career as a singer in Pakistan had turned Junaid into able to reach him and guide him towards Allah?’ It a pop idol. During the 1980s and 1990s he filled stadiu- was a thought and it went away. ms with crowds of over 100,000 people. Although he was rich and famous, Junaid felt something lacking. In In 1997, I was in Karachi’s Ijtema (Islamic gathering) fact, he was at the height of his career when he started when a man came up to me and said that Pakistan’s fa- feeling as if his life held no purpose. mous singer Junaid Jamshed would like to meet me. I said, “Okay, bring him in.” When he came inside it In 1997, Junaid felt the need to make a significant was the same young man I had seen on television. I change in his life and began to abandon his career was in shock and yet also very happy so I asked his as a pop musician. He became focused on the name and he replied, “Junaid Jamshed.” I asked propagation of Islam (Tabligh) and charity. him what he does for a living and he said, “I His work as a singer continued, but with work with music.” I asked him, “Do you nasheed instead of pop. play or sing?” Junaid replied, “I sing.” Perhaps you heard of “Dil Dil Pakistan.” Millions of people around the world, who I replied, “I’ve seen it written on walls” had been fans of his before, were inspir- and so he said, “I sang that song.” ed by his change and followed his example. Junaid’s encouragement was After that we spoke a little and he said, instrumental in some of Pakistan’s most- “What you talk about makes me feel as well known international cricket players; it if someone is curing my wounds. A man helped them find the Islamic faith they “Your Past always dreams about glamour and luxu- had abandoned along their way to success. ry all his life. It’s all physically available Never to me now, but yet there is darkness and Sadly, on December 7, 2016, Junaid and emptiness in my heart. I feel as if I have his wife were killed in a plane crash on Defines no goal, a ship that has no destination. their return from a dawah trip (promotion Why is this so?” of Islam). Your I don’t remember in detail but I do Junaid’s life and death taught us some les- Future” remember telling him to take this as sons that we can all try and put into an example if your knee is injured. If practice. An important lesson we can Junaid Jamshed you were to apply medicine on the learn is that money can not and does not opposite knee, there’s no point in apply- bring us happiness or contentment. (1964-2016) ing the cure since where it hurts the Although celebrities display an outward medicine can’t reach it. You’re applying appearance of pleasure, they feel at a loss medicine to a place where there is no with themselves and with those around them. True pain. The pain is in your soul and you are trying to please peace and contentment comes from inside our souls. The your body with music and worldly things. These things all desire in living this life is from the certainty that what- reach your body but has no connection with your soul. ever we do in this life is a test from Allah(SWT). When The day you please your soul, you will also find peace. we know what our purpose is and of the reward of the Hereafter, we feel a sense of fulfillment and happiness that no amount of money in the world can buy. Allah (SWT) is the True Guide of all human beings. Junaid’s close friend, Maulana Tariq Jamil, eulogized these sentiments shortly after his passing. “My brothers, friends and dear ones. I’m in an extreme situation of grief. My great friend is no longer with us today. Death is guaranteed. Living is a deception and dying is a reality. Life is a bubble of illusion and death is the bitter truth. But when suddenly someone close to you dies, it feels as if your soul is no longer there, as if your whole world suddenly shook. May Allah (SWT) give us the strength to bear the pain. Junaid was an incredible person. Our friendship began 20 .