Ali lived with his mum and dad
In a lovely little city
His house was small and cute
With a garden very pretty

Ali had lots of friends
He was a happy boy
His aunts and uncles lived nearby
His days were full of joy

Close by was the local mosque
Ali daily took great care
To make sure that he was on time
For every single prayer

His mum and dad cherished him

They loved their son to pieces
"Our love for you" they said to him
"Day by day increases"

Now, early one fine morning

They were just about to wake
When below their feet with such great force
The earth began to shake

The walls collapsed around them
The roof from high above
All came crashing down
Into their house of love

The house was turned to bits of stone
With the family deep inside
Ali was stuck and couldn't move,
However much he tried

Panic, terror, mayhem
Confusion all around
This soon gave way to quietness
You could hardly hear a sound

Ali lay trapped inside
The mounds of brick and rock
His legs and arms and body ached
He was in a state of shock

He was frightened and confused
He thought that he might die
He whispered words to Allah
And was just about to cry

But just then on his left-hand side
He heard a voice so mild
It was his father speaking
'Are you well, my child?'

"Abi, Abi, I'm alright,
But tell me.  What of you?"
"We are trapped" said Ali
What are we to do?"

"Trust in Allah" replied his dad
"He will save us from all trouble
If He Wills, folk will come

And take us from this rubble"

Ali moved his right arm
But he could not move the other
He then felt a hand nearby
and the fingers of his mother.

"Ummi Ummi, are you okay?"
She gave him no reply
But she squeezed his little palm so tight
This made Ali cry

He said to his father
"Abi, I think that mum is fine
I cannot see or hear her
But her hand is holding mine"

"Listen Ali – until help arrives,
Let's keep her awake
Let's keep talking out aloud
However long they take."

So that's what Ali did
Chatting to his mum and dad
He said how much he loved them
and spoke of good times they had had

"Abi, do you remember when we went
To AdventureLand

You fell off a camel
And went crashing to the sand"

"Ummi, thank you for your love
You kept me safe and clean

I had toys and games to play with
You were never, ever mean"

"Whenever I was sick
You tucked me into bed
You would give me food and drink
And gently stroke my head"

"Abi, you taught me how to fish
I was the Fishing King
I would catch the big ones
You never caught a thing!"

"But you always taught me well,
fishing, football, fixing stuff
You were always doing things with me
I could never get enough"

"Ummi, remember when you made for dad

bread with cheese and honey
The bees then chased him down the road
That was very funny"

Ali talked for ages
He remembered much
He couldn't see his parents
But he could feel his mother's touch

He talked, talked, and talked still more
But neither parent would reply
And his mother's hand grew weaker
As every minute ticked on by

Very soon her hand turned loose
and every fingertip
was soft, still and silent
She had lost her grip

"Abi, Abi, mum has let go!
She has let go of my hand
Abi, Abi, what shall I do?
I really do not understand"

"Abi, Abi can you hear me?"
Ali kept on saying
"Abi, let's increase our du'a now"
And he started praying

But his father still gave no reply
Silence all around
Ali knew he was now alone
And just waited to be found

Rescuers soon reached Ali

They found him battered but alive
His mum and dad were picked out too

But they had not survived

Ali moved into his uncle’s home

He struggled with his loss

“If only this didn’t happen?” he’d say

“It just makes me cross”

Ali’s uncle was so wise

He helped him with his grief

He said that it was Allah’s Will

“That is our firm Belief”

“Every penny that you earn

Your every single breath

Is in the Hands of Allah

He has control of life and death” 

“Your mother was so kind” he said,

“Your dad a loving man,

But Allah took them back to Him

Be content with Allah’s Plan”

Ali loved those words

It all seemed crystal clear

No more ifs or buts

Allah’s Help was ever near

Ali grew up in his uncle's house
Always happy, never sad
He always thanked Allah and prayed
For his beloved mum and dad

Ali never cried for them
He was young but very clever
He prayed that they be shuhadah
In Paradise forever