Week 4 – Day 4 Post Surgery Blog

In the Hands of Ash-Shāfi: A New Year, A New Mercy

Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘Alamin. On this sacred and luminous day—the first of Muharram 1447, marking the beginning of our Islamic New Year—I’m humbled and overjoyed to share that I am finally home. I was discharged last night from Erasmus MC, and my heart is overflowing with gratitude.

First and foremost, I praise my Lord, Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, for His endless mercy, tenderness, and generosity. Though the week brought trials, it was His light that lit my way, His love that carried me, and His nearness that steadied my steps. I stand as a proud Muslim, a servant of the One who has no partner, no equal, no flaw. The Most High. The Most Merciful. The Most Beloved.

Last Friday, I underwent surgery to remove an ovary and a large cyst. Initially, my recovery was calm, but by Sunday, things shifted. I became weak and disoriented. My blood pressure dropped, as did my temperature. My beloved husband quickly raised the alarm, and the nurses and doctors acted swiftly. Internal bleeding was suspected. I remained serene, surrendered to Allah’s will, and whispered my du’as. A CT scan confirmed the bleeding, and I was taken in for a second emergency surgery. Interestingly, the bleeding wasn’t even at the surgical site. It was on the upper right side, where tissue had thickened. Alhamdulillah, they were able to stop it.

Two rounds of anesthesia in two days are no small feat. My body is healing, slowly but surely. And through it all, I am patient. I see this not as a setback but as an invitation to deepen my relationship with Allah. If my faith stood at 80% before, now it feels whole. May I live, speak, walk, and serve only in ways that please Him.

Six months ago, I enrolled in an Islamic Studies course with my radiant teacher, Samia Mubarak from Quranic Ocean. We explored Juz 29 of the Noble Qur’an—a section filled with lessons about faith’s trials, the promise of Jannah, and a divine toolkit for mankind. The Qur’an is our guide. It is a healing—mercy for the believers and light for those who seek. That foundation became my refuge. Then came the journey itself—soul-nourishing months in Spain, Ramadan nights glowing with dhikr in Fuengirola, the warmth of sisterhood, the voice of the imam stirring hearts, the stillness of the last ten nights in the masjid. All of it was divine preparation.

So I happily found a metabolic functional oncologist, whose care and insight led me to a remarkable cancer treatment center in Germany. Things were going well, Alhamdulillah, until the discomfort around the cyst became unbearable. After careful consideration, the team recommended I return to the Netherlands for its removal. Upon my arrival, my local gynecologist acted swiftly and managed to secure a surgical slot due to a last-minute schedule change that very same week. Coincidence? No—Subhan Allah. He was guiding every step, every delay, every detour. After all, He is Al-Haadi, the One who lovingly guides.

This week, my gynecologist told me, “If we hadn’t done the surgery, we wouldn’t have found the other problem.” I smiled and said, “That’s no surprise to me. Nothing is coincidence. Every step is exactly as Allah has written.”

As believers, we don’t measure success the way the world does. There is no failed outcome in divine decree. What happens to us happens for us, even when the wisdom takes time to unfold. I hold tightly to the hope of Jannah—the reunion, the peace, the eternal light after this temporary life.

And today, on this first day of Muharram, I wish each of you a New Year filled with gentleness, sincerity, and sacred striving. May Allah accept every du’a whispered in the dark, every pure intention, every unseen act of goodness.

I also want to give deep thanks to the gynecology team at Erasmus MC. You cared for me not just with skill, but with heartfelt grace. To each nurse, every surgeon, every hand and voice that comforted me—Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

To my family, sisters in Islam and friends who carried me in your du’as, your messages, your radiant energy, thank you. You were part of my healing.

And to the loves in my life—my husband, Faried, and our sons—you have been my shelter through every storm. Your devotion, your strength, your presence, and your constant care were nothing short of divine mercy in human form. My heart overflows with love and gratitude for you all even when one of you could not be with me. May Allah bless you with the highest in this life and the next.

So I close this chapter with the reminder that has carried me all along:

Hayya ‘ala al-Falah… Come to success. (Part of the Adhan/Call to Prayer that is amplified 5 times a day to call one to prayer).
Not the fleeting success of this world, but the success that lives in prayer, in surrender, and in gratitude.

With peace in my heart and praise on my tongue,
Haseeba