Video: 18-Year-Old Died in his Sleep - Mohamed Hoblos (English)

The Clear Evidence

Brother Muhammad Yakub Genel was once featured on OnePath Network’s Living Muslim show two years ago speaking about the virtues of Ramadan, he passed away in his sleep at the young age of 18.

His death comes as a shocking reminder that death doesn’t discriminate. It does not come for a certain age group, a certain class of people, it isn’t even restricted to the sick; it simply comes unannounced and it has been guaranteed for all of humanity.

As Allah ﷻ states in the Quran:

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ

“Every soul will taste death”

In this reminder, brother Mohamad Hoblos, not only reflects on Genel’s appearance on the Living Muslim show but also on his first memories of meeting with him a few years ago at a Mosque Fundraiser.

We ask Allah to have mercy on our young brother Muhammad Yakub Genel and enter him into the Highest stations of Paradise. Ameen.

Quran 3:185
Transcription in English

A dear brother of ours, Muhammed Yakub Genel, has passed away at the age of 18. You may remember him from when he appeared on the show with us a few years ago.

“How does it feel to connect to Allah, Yakub?”

"It's an unexplainable love where you feel this connection. When you ask for something, you don't guarantee you're going to get it, but 90% of the time, you think it's going to be accepted in your dua."

At just 18 years old, Yakub was in perfect health—no worries, no cares, his entire life ahead of him. Yet, he went to sleep one night and never woke up. I remember meeting him for the first time when he was around 12 years old. It was at a fundraising dinner, and I saw him sitting at the table when he pledged $5,000 that night. I looked at him, slightly amused, and asked, "Where did you get $5,000 from?" He looked at me with so much heart and unwavering iman in his eyes and said, "You don't worry about where I got my $5,000 from." He pledged it, and he paid it.

I received the news of his passing while I was in Mina tents during Hajj. The bitter feeling that overtook me was overwhelming—not just sadness, but a deep realization of the fleeting nature of this world. No matter how much we enjoy something, the reality of death always lingers. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Increase much the remembrance of death, for verily it is the destroyer of all desires."

There are no guarantees in life. Allah has not guaranteed anything to anyone except for one certainty—death. Regardless of race, religion, age, or health, death is the one promise given to every soul. Allah says, "Every soul shall taste death." No matter where you are—hidden in the darkest hole, the lowest valley, or the highest mountain peak—death will find you. And it will come as a shock, unannounced.

Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه once said, "People are asleep, and when they die, they wake up." We think we are living because we chase our dreams, whims, and ambitions. But in truth, we are asleep. And when we finally wake up, it will be too late—there is no coming back.

What are we really chasing? It’s not as if we don’t know that death is inevitable. Yet, we live under this illusion, this fantasy that we have all the time in the world. We paint a picture in our minds—a perfect life plan where we will grow up, become successful, drive beautiful cars, live in luxurious homes, marry the perfect spouse, and raise wonderful children. And somewhere at the very end of this grand journey, we allow for death—but only as a noble, controlled ending.

But Allah does not work according to our plans. He is the One who plans, the One who decides, the One who calls, and the One who commands.

Continue Reading: Video: 18-Year-Old Died in his Sleep - Mohamed Hoblos (English)