It is with heavy hearts we bid our last goodbye earlier today to Dr. Ann Paxton El-Moslimany. She was laid to rest at House of Mercy earlier today after breathing her last on Monday January 25, 2021.
Many who arrived in Seattle in the late 1980’s met Sister Ann when they visited the Ellis Island of the Puget Sound, what was better known as the Islamic School of Seattle.
If anyone wanted a role model Muslim woman who helped establish communities, Sister Ann would be an excellent example.
She was a pillar of the Muslim community in Greater Seattle who welcomed people of various ethnic and racial backgrounds, inspiring them with clear vision, unmatched devotion, and commitment to holistic education at the Islamic School of Seattle and beyond.
Just as Bibi Hajra nurtured Hazrath Ismail in Mecca, Sister Ann wanted every child to develop into an independent confident productive individual in the Greater Seattle.
Sister Ann and Brother Muhammad El Moslimany offered the Islamic School premises to various communities as new settlers oriented themselves in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
They kept the school running despite all kinds of hardships and challenges - sacrificing and devoting precious time day after day, week after week and years on end.
Just as a candle burns itself to illuminate its surroundings, El Moslimany’s shone a light and nurtured diverse community with love helping them find their course.
El Moslimany’s enabled numerous activities and events at the Islamic school during the Islamic calendar and/or as world events unfolded (e.g., new people joining workforce in the Puget Sound, the Bosnian crisis, refugees from Cham, Somalia, Iraq, etc.). These activities at the Islamic School, brought strangers together developing friendships resulting in formation of congregations in and around Seattle or on the Eastside.
Our congregation, IMAN Center of Kirkland, is an example of a group that came together through activities at the Islamic School of Seattle. We can never forget the critical role that the El Moslimanys played in the formation of our congregation now based in Kirkland.
Several at IMAN had the opportunity to work closely with El Moslimany to help with the Islamic School as well as on interfaith activities after 9/11. Br. Jawad met with the El Moslimany'ss once a month alongwith with Jewish, Christian and other Muslim brothers and sisters. We always emerged from those encounters, inspired by the clear vision, total commitment, dogged determination and resolve that Sister Ann and Brother Mohammad demonstrated time again.
Sister Ann was an educator who embodied the principles of Islam and never lost sight of holistic existence. She disdained rote learning. How you teach was always more important to her than what you teach. Integrated learning was what she was all about. She wanted to nurture lifelong learners.
She touched the lives of many and transformed them for the better forever for which we are all indebted.
إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ Verily, unto God do we belong and, verily, unto Him we shall return.
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ Every soul shall taste death
يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ .ارْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً .فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي .وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي. [To the righteous it will be said], "O reassured soul, Return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], And enter among My [righteous] servants And enter My Paradise.
Sister Ann is Survived by a daughter Samia Moslimany, sons Ramzi Moslimany, Rasheed Moslimany and wonderful grandchildren.
We convey heartfelt condolences to all dear ones. We pray that Marhuma's soul is among the chosen ones - Aameen.
Please remember Marhuma with salaat wahshat after Maghreb tonight.
It is a 2-rakaa' salaat similar to Fajr, as follows:
1st Rakaa': Recite Al-Fatiha, then Ayat-ul-Kursi
2nd Rakaa': Recite Al-Fatiha, then Suratul-Qadr 10 times
One can also offer Salaat-e-Hadiya-e-Mayyit, which is a 2 rakaa' salaat similar to Fajr. In the first rakaa' after Al-Fatiha, recite Suratul-Qadr and in the second rakaa' after Al-Fatiha, recite Suratul-Kawthar.
See http://www.duas.org/wahshat.htm for more details.