Innah lillahi wa innah ilayhi raji’un
A beloved alumnus, Fahim Khalil (BA Islamic Studies, Class of 2023) has returned to his Lord. May the Almighty grant Fahim jannat Al-Firdaus and his loved ones the strength to bear this profound loss.
The following obituary has been drafted by his classmates.
The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord.” – The Holy Prophet, peace be upon him
The Cambridge Muslim College community grieves the loss of one of our most beloved students, Fahim Khalil. After an arduous battle with multiple stage 4 cancers, Fahim has returned to his Lord.
Once a decorated and talented engineer, he forswore his exceptional professional life after a life changing encounter with the Holy Quran. So bedazzled was he by the Quran that he gave up his career to pursue studying the Sacred Tradition.
It was at this juncture in his life that Fahim encountered the Cambridge Muslim College. His interview was passionate, standing tall among the dozens of talented interviewees. One trait of his, above all else, stood out: sheer determination.
Fahim made enormous sacrifices out of his unparalleled determination. He moved cities, from Liverpool to Cambridge. He continued to earn and provide for his family through working tirelessly on evenings and weekends. His eldest daughter had learning difficulties, and his wife gave birth to their third child during his studies at the Cambridge Muslim College.
His mountainous duties were such that he’d sometimes be drowsy in class, overcome by fatigue. But he was the singular student that the Ulama of CMC would ever allow to briefly nod off in class, because they were witness to the depth of his passion and determination. Somehow, he remained one of the most engaged and committed students. His teachers unanimously loved his enthusiasm and passion.
Despite the pensive struggles that he endured, Fahim was the beating heart of joy for his class and the wider community. His effuverscent charm and loving personality made him the most popular student among his peers. Wherever Fahim was, hearty laughter soon followed. Although Fahim was by some margin the eldest in the class, his presence was a spring blossom.
Alongside Fahim’s levity and vibrant personality, he epitomised the virtue of ithar – selflessness – for his class mates. Fahim was ever the team player, always supporting his classmates, sharing notes, recordings and essays.
He truly believed in the power of keeping people together through beautiful conduct. This seeped through every facet of his personality. He was famously well-dressed, sporting twead blazers, crisply ironed shirts and corduroy trousers.
But what really earned Fahim the love and respect of his colleagues was his depth of love and respect for those around him. Fahim was a big brother, mentor and father figure to his entire class, always sharing his wisdom, and famously encouraging the younger members of the class to pursue marriage.
As the Cambridge Muslim College community bids farewell to him, we recall in his character a demonstration of the beauty that the Sacred Tradition produces among humans.
His fruit as a scholar and a student of the Sacred Tradition was not meant to be voluminous books and articles. It was always to be his character. As those books of Islam decorate the shelves of our library, the memory of Fahim Khalil decorates the shelves of our heart.
In honour of his memory and his exemplary character, the Cambridge Muslim College has named the Unity House Lecture Room the Fahim Khalil Suite. We wish for the future students and scholars of the Cambridge Muslim College to recall the example of this great man.
We thank the Almighty for the gift of Fahim’s presence, and the religion which birthed such a beautiful soul.
Al-Fatiha
Fahim is survived by his wife and three young children, please consider donating in support of his family here.