Connecting hearts one family and friend at a time.
I had a full life, a large family, active social life in Harlem, NY. And then in 2012, I moved to Northern California to marry the love of my life. But in the Summer of 2020, my beloved husband—Imam Antar Nadir Jannah—passed away in Sacramento, CA during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
My family and closest friends could not attend because they live on the East Coast. Travel restrictions and health concerns due to Covid-19 made it risky or impossible to attend Antar's expedient Muslim burial. So aside from a few close friends, my entire support base was not with me to physically pay their respects. However, I requested two of my closest friends to help organize a Zoom memorial service. We warmly embraced the ability of our family and friends to pay our respects and celebrate his life virtually.
Grieving is one of the most challenging processes anyone can go through. Losing a beloved family member or friend is heart-wrenching. We all need time to get our bearings, to even begin the healing process through grief. Virtual funeral services provided our family and friends the heartfelt experience and support that we needed to begin the grieving journey.
We recorded the services, and later that evening—while lying in bed—I rewatched the services and read and heard all the heartfelt stories, prayers, and condolences. They comforted my aching heart as a newly found widow.
The ease, connection, and comfort I felt from watching our family and friends’ hearts connect are why I created Hearts Connecting. I want to offer that same level of comfort to grieving families and friends during one of the most critical times in their lives.
In a time of grief and loss, we need connection, comfort, closure, and the chance to celebrate the lives of those who passed on. I offer to you what others gave to me.
Hearts Connecting
Tahirah Jannah Taalib-Din