HE IS HOME
On the evening of March 19th, our dearest YASAR DAVID BARAKZAI left class and got on his bike as he decided to make his way back home to continue studying for his midterms before heading to visit his older sisters in San Francisco for Spring Break. Just as he was making his way out of school, a car quickly struck his last breath out of him. He was pronounced dead at the scene with strangers gathered around him placing blankets on him and providing prayers. Yasar did not make it back home that night in this dunya, but he was graciously invited to his permanent home with Allah SWT in paradise. Yasar went home.
YASAR: A KIND SOUL
Yasar's life was a testament to his strength and his contentment with the blessings and trials that he was dealt with. Labeling him as a kind soul is an understatement. Carrying himself as an amazing storyteller, hungry for real and raw human connections, he left his mark on every single person he came across. Yasar was someone who cared about people and was always seeking self-improvement. He was a beautiful and sweet soul--always concerned for the well-being of others and their happiness, and always willing to help.
Wise beyond his age with always something hilarious to say is the Yasar we all got to see. Beyond his goofiness and charismatic smile though, was a poetic soul majority of us weren't privileged enough to see. The night of his tragic accident, he had a backpack strapped to his back that carried his perfectly organized schedule, a notebook filled with beautifully written notes, a pen that barely survived the impact, and a journal from his English class. The first page of his journal carried an assignment where he had five minutes to freely write about intolerance and tolerance. This is what he wrote:
I show this to you because no matter how many adjectives we use to describe Yasar, there are not enough words in the dictionary beside his own that will beautifully reveal the man he was. His writing confesses an ounce of his kind heart. This is the side of Yasar many of us didn't get to see. With aspiration in wanting to finish school and becoming the man his parents could depend on, to wanting to learn how to fly planes and travel to places unknown, this is the side we weren't privileged to see.
If there's one thing his mother did know however, it was that Yasar was good. So good that he carried the intention to someday build water wells for places that need it most..
Continuing His Legacy
“When a person dies, his deeds come to an end, except for three: ongoing charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), knowledge that is benefited from, and a righteous child who prays for him.”
— The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Help us honor Yasar's legacy by building two water wells as an ongoing charity in his name in Rwanda and Afghanistan. While his life came to an abrupt end, it was a life lived with purpose. His family and friends believe the best tribute to his life is to help others. Please give in Yasar's name so we can bring clean water to those who need it most.
May Allah (SWT) have mercy on Yasar Jaan and grant him the company of the messengers and the righteous in the highest level of Jannah. Ameen.