'Inspired countless minds': Community mourns S'porean student who died after Yemen trip
The 20-year-old student is believed to have fallen ill after attending a Dowrah programme in Tarim.
Halimatussa'diyyah Rahmatullah, a 20-year-old Singaporean student at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif University in Cairo, Egypt, died on Sept 13, prompting an outpouring of grief from the community.
According to Berita Harian, she died at As-Salam International Hospital in Cairo after returning from the annual Dowrah programme in Tarim, a city in Yemen's Hadhramaut Valley.
Her funeral was held the following day, with prayers at the Hussein Mosque before she was laid to rest in a cemetery in Egypt.
Her family has requested privacy and declined to comment further.
Student fell ill after trip
Berita Harian reported that Halimatussa'diyyah fell ill toward the end of the 40-day programme, well known as a spiritual journey for students seeking guidance from religious figures such as Habib 'Umar Hafiz.
Her condition worsened after she returned to Egypt. During her hospitalisation, a family acquaintance initiated a fundraising effort through WhatsApp to help ease the family's financial burden.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) said in a Facebook post on Sept 14 that it had been in close contact with the family. Student liaison officers in Cairo and the Singaporean Embassy were also providing support and assistance.
On Sept 14, the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (Pergas) announced on Facebook that a special funeral prayer would be held for Halimah on Sept 15 at Kassim Mosque on Changi Road.
Organisations express gratitude
Halimah, a first-year student pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Usuluddin (fundamental principles and core beliefs of Islam) at Al-Azhar University, was described as someone who was unwavering in her commitment to others.
She previously taught at Our Little Ummah SG, a programme that introduces children to English and Arabic in a bilingual setting.
In an Instagram tribute, the group wrote: "Your dedication and passion as a teacher at Our Little Ummah inspired countless young minds, and your kindness left an indelible mark on our community. Your service to nurturing the next generation will forever be cherished."
Ustazah Nadia Hanim Abdul Rahman, director of Al Wafa' learning centre, also expressed her condolences on Facebook, describing Halimah as a person with a passion for serving the community.
"I still remember asking Halimah about her aspirations. With quiet conviction, she spoke of her passion in seeking knowledge and wanting to serve the community," she wrote.
"I told her then that I was rooting for her and her batch and that I hoped we would meet again after graduation."