In Memory of Brother Ossama Elshamy (Yarhamahu Allah) – a Youth who spent his time wisely.

Charming and caring are the two adjectives that come into my mind whenever I think about my respected brother Osama Elshamy.  

Osama Elshamy, Huda TV’s most loved and most experienced TV anchor, lived a life of giving and sharing- love and joy. Viewers, co workers, friends and families could not believe their ears when they heard that he passed away. It was such a heavy blow that I had to listen to the news over and over again to really comprehend what I was hearing. The shock of the news caused great distress and it took me a long time to really come to terms with the death of my beloved brother.

Like the rest of you, I too thought he was forever a permanent happy fixture in our lives, a fatherly figure who would guide us through our difficult journeys always and always. Brother Ossama held my hand and introduced me to Huda TV and he gave me the encouragement and strength to become the presenter that I am today. It was through his support and wise words that I was able to develop and progress as a professional TV Anchor.  

His journey in trying to please Allah (swt) is a long but inspiring story that took lots of twists and turns. He was very worried about his family and wanted to give them the best Islamic education he could. He would constantly talk about his children and he wanted them to be good role models in this testing world.

He would mention this Prophetic teaching much:-

Abu Huraira (RadhiAllahu ‘anhu) reported: Allah’s Messenger ﷺ as saying: When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious son, who prays for him (for the deceased). [Sahih Muslim – Book 13 – Hadith 4005]

And hence focused greatly in trying to educate and discipline his children in line with the Quran and Sunnah as much as he could.

Brother Osama presented many programmes at Huda TV and even presented his own programmes of which the one that stands out most to me is ‘Together to paradise’.  Why? Because one of our favourite subjects that we would discuss prior to programmes or even in between programmes was Paradise.

I conclude with a verse from surah al Imran verse 169:-


These very few words do not do justice to the richness of the character of Brother Osama ElShamy but I hope they reach the hearts of the readers and encourage you to make a special prayer for him.

I ask the Lord of this Universe, the Creator of all things, the Most Merciful to grant my teacher, brother and role model the highest place in Paradise. I ask Allah to grant him Al-Firdous. I ask Allah to forgive him for his shortcomings and to cover or even substitute his mistakes for good deeds. I ask Allah to re connect us in a place better than this dunya.

And I would like to make a special prayer for his family, for his wife, children and extended family. I ask Allah the owner of our hearts to give them all steadfastness and to shower them all with His mercy and patience.

AMEEEN.

Junaid Dar

Huda TV Presenter
Bachelor in Islamic Law (Shariah Islamia)–Al Azhar University
Masters in Engineering - University College London