The Humble I

Knowing, Doing, Becoming

lessons of grief from Ya’qub

May 21, 2026

Lessons for Grief from the Life of Jacob, peace be upon him

In perhaps its deepest look at sorrow, endurance and hope, the Qur’an tells us in the bittersweet story of the Prophet Jacob and his immense grief over the loss of Joseph; peace be upon them both: And he turned away from them saying: ‘How great is my grief for Joseph!’ And his eyes turned white… Continue reading

mental health & psychology, qur’an, tafsir, tadabbur

coping with grief and sorrow, grief, lessons of grief from Ya’qub, loss of a close friend, loss of a spouse, never giving up hope, relationship breakup

About Me

My name is Surkheel Sharif (aka Abu Aaliyah). Born and raised in London, England, I began my more formal, but gradual studies of the Islamic sciences around the late 1980s (just a few years after having quit my degree in Astrophysics). I also gained an MA in Islamic Studies from Birkbeck College, University of London, in 2009.

I’ve translated a few Islamic works from Arabic into English; one of them, a short text on Muslim spirituality, called The Exquisite Pearl (2000). I have also authored a few books, including: More Fish Please & the Earth’s Complaint (2011); Fussing Over the 15th of Sha’ban & the Golden Rule of Differing (2011); A Muslim’s Guide to Modernity (2025); and Salafism Reconsidered (forthcoming)

I am the founder and current Director of the Jawziyyah Institute (est. 1999): a non-profit organisation dedicated to cultivating an Islam true to its time-honoured tradition, relevant to its current context, and of benefit to wider society.

lessons of grief from Ya’qub

Lessons for Grief from the Life of Jacob, peace be upon him