The Martyrs of Essex

The Lewisham Islamic Centre is deeply saddened to hear about the deaths of Shally Rahman and Samiha Rahman on an Essex beach this week. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Rahman family after this terrible and tragic loss.

Reports suggest that Shally and her daughter Samiha drowned while trying to save a 7 year old boy in difficulty when the tide came in quickly on the sandbank. The boy remains in critical condition in hospital and we hope for his speedy and full recovery.

We are unclear whether the boy in question was known to Shally and Samiha. What is beyond doubt, however, is their selfless and extraordinary courage in putting their own lives on the line to save an innocent child – a sacrifice for which they paid the ultimate price. In that moment, they embodied the very best of humanity: people who, without hesitation, chose compassion over self-preservation. They truly were the very best of us.

While nothing can diminish the profound tragedy of their loss, we hope that the enduring memory of their final act of courage will offer some measure of comfort to their family. Islam not only considers them martyrs, but saviours of all of humanity by sheer virtue of this final, solitary act. We ask Allah, the Almighty, to encompass them in His forgiveness, shower them with His unfathomable mercy, and accept them into the highest and most exalted ranks of Paradise. Ameen.

“And never think of those who have been killed in the way of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision.” [Qur’an 3:169]

“…And whoever saves one life, it is as if he had saved all of mankind.” [Qur’an 5:32]

“The martyrs are five: the one who dies of the plague, the one who dies of an internal disease, the one who drowns, the one who dies because of a falling building, and the martyr in the cause of Allah.” [Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]