Inspirational Men in Recovery – RIP Shakur Binhassan- Extraordinary Father and a Loving Husband

It is with the great sorrow that we learn about the death of Shakur Binhassan, husband of Naseem Nahid. We extend our condolences to his loved ones. May his soul rest in eternal peace and may almighty give his loved ones the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss. Amen.

Feeling the security and constancy of love from a spouse is a rich blessing. Such love nurtures and sustains faith in God. Such love is a source of strength and casts out fear. Such love is the desire of every human soul.

Married for 21 years but then he went to Heaven to be with Our Merciful Rabb and His blessed Angels

Dear Readers,

Just few months back,  I met Naseem Nahid In London for media interview. Naseem Nahid is a mother, a singer, a fashion designer and lover of all things beautiful.  We discussed Eating Disorders, and Naseem  talked about body dysmorphia and offered her mentoring services to those who suffer from low self-esteem and negative body image . She could relate to the feelings of having a low self-worth and body image issues.

Please click on the link below to read the blog post/ interview.

Sufi Singer Interview

So many of us feel compelled to pursue our dreams but can’t seem to get past the compulsion. We feel that our hearts are filled with wishes and dreams, but our mind is paralyzed with uncertainty. Nasim said it was her husband who believed in her, encouraged her  to dream and pushed her to achieve her dream. After the birth of her last child,  Nasim had to deal with post-pregnancy weight and slight depression. It was her husband who became her post pregnancy motivation and introduced her to a new lifestyle, where you exercise for healthy body and healthy mind.

 

Naseem Nahid is a fourth generation of American Revert Muslims. Her father was an imam, poet and linguist and her husband’s family also reverted to Islam after their migration to States.

She married Shakur Binhassan when was just 18.  It was a match made in heaven. Fusion of unique cultures, colors and values.

To give yourself totally to another person, as you do in marriage, is the most trusting step one takes in any human relationship. As a young, shy, starry eyed bride, she followed her husband across the States while he completed his University Degree.

They were a young couple and within the first few years of their marriage, they went on to adopt a baby girl and then God blessed them with three children of their own.

Sometimes Parents need to sacrifice something of themselves to be able to raise responsible children and create a happy environment. They left America for Indonesia in 1999 to raise their family. They home schooled their children . According to Naseem her  husband was a gifted teacher and very academically oriented who wanted the best for their children.

Shakur Binhassan  believed in his wife and her talents and taught her to reach for the stars and start living. If it wasn’t for him, Nasim would have remained content with being a house wife living in the suburbs of Washington DC. When Naseem was 13, she used to play percussion in her father’s band Dust and would do  a little bit of backing vocals. It was in 1999 in Indonesia, that she and her siblings decided to form a Sufi Band named Debu  (meaning dust in Indonesian).

 

Shakur Binhassan encouraged her to be an active member of the family band and to explore her love for poetry and music.

Debu started from 2001 and the group went on from there to travel the world.

One of the great purposes of true love is to help each other. It takes faith and humility to put your wife’s interests above your own and very rarely we come across such men. True love blooms when you care more about another person than you care about yourself. It was because of this love and support that Naseem traveled across the globe with the band and tried her hand at fashion designing and ran her own boutique, fashion line for several years.

So today I pay tribute to a great man,  who was a great son, a great husband, and a great father. You were my Friend’s only Love, Her Knight in Shining Armour and her Best Best Friend. You were a man who migrated from the land of opportunities to Indonesia so His Children could be raised in a more humbling Islamic environment.  You taught my friend not to give into body dysmorphia and to strive for healthy body and mind. You took my friend for walks, to the gym. You understood what many fail to understand that post-pregnancy women do find it hard to lose weight. A woman can achieve almost anything if she has someone at her side who truly loves her, who eases the burden and lightens the load. You gave my friend that motivation and exercised with her shoulder to shoulder.  Your time was short on this earth and you lived it to serve your family, your faith, always taking the time to give to anyone who needed anything.   Rest in Peace Dear Brother. I was putting together a list of inspirational people for people who are in recovery.  You are an Inspiration.

 

 

 

 

To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.Thomas Campbell

To my Friend and Her Family: May Allah and His blessed Angels send comfort in the days of storm. May the prayers of those you love be with you to give you strength to face the loss. Ameen

Good Byes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation. Rumi