Innā li-llāhi wa-ʾinna ʾilayhi rājiʿūna
Verse 2:156 of the Quran, “Verily we belong to Allah (God), and verily to Him do we return.”
Kenneth Frizzell Diggs Jr (aka) Jawara Abdullah. Born October 11, 1968 at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC; deceased June 27, 2020 at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, MD, following a diagnosis and brief illness from interstitial lung disease.
Jawara, as he was affectionately known by me and my family, or Kenny, as he was known by his extended family and friends, was a larger than life figure in all the lives of those who were privileged to have known him. He commanded any room he walked in and was always so full of life, love and humor for those he met. He completed his education in Maryland public schools and successfully earned his General Education Diploma (GED). He held several jobs in his lifetime that included assisting with managing a family cleaning franchise, a landscaping helper, a construction laborer, and a housekeeper at Montgomery General Hospital.
He was a Muslim who tried to live the best version of his life, imparting his religious knowledge to all those he would meet. He was very proud of his religion and what he learned since the age of 4, when I, his mother, reverted to Islam over 47 years ago. He was the oldest of both his maternal and paternal siblings who all revered him as their big brother. This title was one he did not take lightly, standing ready to defend their honor against friend or foe.
He is survived by me, his mother (Umi), Dr Muriel Baskerville (aka) Samira Abdullah and his father, Kenneth F Diggs Sr (Pops); his two sons, Kenneth F Diggs III and Kamren Fazil Diggs, his maternal siblings Asmaa, Najwa, Asiya, Umar, Daeemah, and Jomari (preceded in death by his brother Muhammed); his paternal siblings Delores, Delonta, and Derek; his devoted life partner and mother of Kamren, Shirkeja M Snowden; his former wife and mother of Kenneth III, Lisa Hayes; and a host of other family and dear friends, way too numerous to name in this brief synopsis of his life. You all held a very special place in his big heart. You will always remain in mine for the outpouring of love and support imparted at this time of my bereavement. Words cannot truly express my gratitude.
According to what is written in the Quran, “Every soul shall taste death, and only on the Day of Judgment will you be paid your full recompense.”
The Quran also urges mankind: “And die not except in a state of Islam, because “Truly, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam”.
“He (Allah) who created death and life, so that He may test you as to which of you is better in deeds. And He is the All-Mighty, the Most-Forgiving”;
“Certainly, they see it (resurrection) as distant, but We see it as near”.
Pray that Allah expand Jawara’s grave, allow his illness to be an expiation of his major and minor sins, forgive him and have mercy upon him, allow him to experience the sweet smell of Jannah (Paradise) until the Day of Resurrection, and on the Day of Judgement, grant him entrance into Jannah where we will be reunited in Eternal Life. Ameen.
I pray Allah’s (God’s) blessings upon you.
With my Warmest Regards,
Umi
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