****Assalamu Alaikum,****
****On behalf of the Virginia Tech Muslim Students Association we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all of the MSAs and Muslims that have contacted us here in Blacksburg, VA in the midst of this tragedy. Alhumdulillah we have a national Muslim community that is supportive of each other, like you all have been to us these past few days. Unfortunately we lost a brother from our MSA here in Blacksburg. His name is Br. Waleed Shaalan and he was a graduate student here at Virginia Tech. Waleed left behind his wife of three years, Amira, and his one-year-old son, Khaled. With the help of MSA National, we have set up a fund to support his family during these difficult times. The link in which individuals and MSAs all over the US and Canada can donate is below. Please keep the brother (may Allah have mercy upon his soul), his family, and all of us here at Virginia Tech in your duas. ********Jazakumu Allahu Khairan for all of your duas and support.****
****Wa'alaikumu Assalam waRahmatu Allah,****
****Virginia Tech MSA President**
**Please donate to support the family of Br. Waleed Shaalan
Narration by a student in the classroom with Waleed:
The student mentions that Waleed saved his life and wants to convey this to Waleed’s family. Apparently, the murderer came into Norris 206 and shot Dr. Loganathan and a number of students injuring Waleed. Waleed was sitting in the front row where he always sat. Everyone jumped to the floor after hearing the gun shots including the person narrating the story. The murderer then left Norris 206 to go to another classroom. The student that narrates the story was not shot but pretended to be dead and lay on the ground beside Waleed who at that time was only injured. The murderer then re-entered the classroom and was checking for alive victims. He had approached the person narrating the story who mentions that his heart was pounding out of fear. Waleed at that instant made a movement to distract the murderer’s attention and was shot for the second time. At that time Waleed died and the murderer left the narrator to search for other victims.
Ina Lillahi wa ina Ilayhi rajeoon. We ask Allah to forgive Waleed all his sins and grant him paradise.
******"Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, Who say, when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return":- They are those on whom (Descend) blessings from Allah, and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance.******** [Quran 2:155-157]**
Re: Waleed Shaalan: Victim of Virginia Tech Tragedy
Please explain how he's a martyr.
OK... the famous bandwagon of critics has arrived...
That was merely a 'dua' .. do you know what dua is?
He was killed by a non-muslim, which is one of the requirements of martyrdom...
secondly, only ALLAH is the judge... remember that famous phrase thrown in these forums a million times...?
Everyone else: Please pray for the person that may he get the status of a martyr... Aameen
Re: Waleed Shaalan: Victim of Virginia Tech Tragedy
OK... the famous bandwagon of critics has arrived...
Abay Babu Ji! Kiya haal hein? I was asking a question. Never knew getting killed made you a martyr. Was he in some religious fist fight with the murderer? How dare I refute your reputation without refute.
What does make sense though is dying in the pursuit of Education. I doubt he died for being a student and I'm still not convinced it makes him a martyr. Thanks anyway Fraud Saab Ji.
Anyway for whatever reason he died, my prayers are with his family. Even if he's not a martyr.
Re: Waleed Shaalan: Victim of Virginia Tech Tragedy
In Islam, any Muslim who meets an untimely death such from a snakebite, fire, accident e.t.c. is classified as a martyr…
But as with everything, there are stages to being a martyr, the highest one being someone who fought for other Muslims and laid down his life in the service of Allah :swt: especially if he drowned…
The lowest one, if memory serves me correct is one who died by a snakebite…
Wallahoalam…
