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