Why was she so special?

• She used to recite Surat al-Baqarah and sometimes Surat al-An’am daily.
• She prayed Qiyam-ul-Layl nearly every night and made it her habit to pray over 100 rak’at a day.
• She was utterly selfless, taking care of any and all needs of those around her, especially the students that would come to visit.
• She cooked food for a 50-person gathering every week, and more elaborate feasts (for 150 or more people) regularly. She insisted on cooking herself rather than ordering out.
• She would prepare bags of sweets and give out to the poor neighborhood kids on the ‘Eids.
• She would organize ‘Eid parties for the foreign students and special programs for their children.
• She was “an excellent housewife and a great cook.”
• She did all this while she was five months pregnant and had three small children to take care of.
• In addition to her home and family obligations, she also worked as an English teacher for grades 1-3.
• She was also constantly improving herself through reading and training.
• She did all of this on her own ambition, with no complaints, and only thinking of helping others.

All I can say is “Wow.” I keep thinking, “When did she sleep? Wasn’t she tired? How did she do all that? I can’t keep it together with just me and my husband and our apartment and my job/school!” I’m so far from there that I don’t know where to begin. Alhamdullillah that Allah has allowed me to know such an inspiring person. Insha’Allah it will help me to become more like her. Let’s please make du’a for her (she deserves it!) and her family insha’Allah , and let us try to follow her excellent example!

Wassalam,
Callista