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“The example of believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.” Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Open Letter: Request of Salat al-Ghaib, Janaza Prayer in Absentia for Sister Shuhada Sadaqat (Sinéad O’Connor)

Assalamu Alaikum wr wb,

We write to you during a time of shared loss and sorrow. Our Sister in faith, Shuhada Sadaqat, known as Sinéad O’Connor, a beacon of truth and exemplar of Islam’s beautiful guidance, has returned to her Creator. Her conversion to Islam bore witness to the transcendent power of faith, reaching across cultural divides, tearing down walls of misunderstanding and prejudice.

We kindly request you to join us in honouring Sister Shuhada Sinéad’s memory by performing the Janazah prayer in Absentia (Salat al-Ghaib).

Date: Tuesday 8th of August 2023
Time: As close to 11:00am (Irish Standard Time) as possible

This will be concurrent with a private Janaza prayer in Ireland, where she resided and embraced Islam, led by myself as her appointed religious and spiritual guide.

The spirit of unity within the Ummah is a powerful force; by collectively performing Salat al-Ghaib, we can express our respect, love, and solidarity for our departed sister, mirroring the values she tirelessly championed. We urge you to circulate this appeal widely, using your community networks, social media platforms, and the reach of your mosques to transcend borders and differences.

Sister Shuhada’s journey underlined that embracing Islam is not merely a change of name or attire, but a quest for personal truth, acceptance of one’s imperfections, and submission to the Divine. This path, filled with both petals and thorns, is one we must tread with empathy and humility.

Let us pause, reflect, and carry forth her legacy in how we embrace, support, and accommodate both new and longstanding members of our faith, particularly in the face of modern challenges like mental health struggles, loss, and societal pressures. We must remember that success and pain are two sides of the same coin, and our duty is not to shy away but to stand firm, facing these trials with the resilience our faith instils in us.

May God envelope our sister Shuhada in his Loving Mercy, forgive her shortcomings and grant her a place in the highest of heavens. May He comfort her loved ones in this difficult time, and guide us all to live lives reflecting the true essence of Islam. Ameen.

Wassalaam,

Umar Al-Qadri

Chief Imam, Islamic Centre of Ireland
Chairman, Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council

Request of Janazah Prayer PDF document