In the name of Allah the Most Merciful the Ever Merciful

24 Rabi al-Awwal 1437 / 5^th January 2016

 

The family of the Respected Professor Rev Gerrie Lubbe

Greetings

 

Inna lillahi ma akhadha wa lillahi ma a‘ta wa kullun ‘indahu

bi-ajalin musamman fal tasbir wal tahtasib”

“To God belongs what He takes and to Him belongs what He gives. There is a set time by Him for everything. So do exercise patience and expect a reward (from Allah).”

 

On behalf of the Dockrat family our heartfelt condolences are with you and your family on this sad occasion. Yet there is comfort in knowing that the deceased has reached closer to his final destination: “Death is but a bridge uniting the lover to his beloved.” Death does not signal the end, it is only the start of a fresh and more eternal phase of life.

 

Surely, to Allah belongs everything. Our life, wealth and families are wonderful gifts from Him loaned to us, so that we may derive benefit therefrom for a fixed period of time. Thus, gratitude becomes binding upon us when He gives, and patience obligatory when He takes away. Let this occasion be a means for you and your family of attaining great rewards by exercising the desired patience. Whatever is to happen, will happen.

 

My dear Professor Gerrie’s loss in not only your loss or mine. It is the loss of the nation and humanity at large. It is seldom that people of such integrity and virtue walk the earth. He epitomised for me what a good teacher should be. He was a good academic who truly understood and lived a life that promoted understanding and justice. The invaluable lessons he thought will be etched in my memory forever.

 

His office had a copy of the Qur’an on display and on his retirement he gifted me a frame containing the entire Qur’an. This frame has pride of place in my lounge and is an enduring reminder of the gift of a compassionate Christian pastor. This same Qur’an reminds us that nothing of this world endures. Wa mal hayatud dunya illa mata‘ al-gharur.” (3:185) [And this worldly life is nothing but deception]. It is good deeds and impressions we leave behind that immortalise us. Gerrie’s legacy endures as my friend. If a friend is a second self, then I feel blessed to have had a good, wise friend and I celebrate his life.

 

My parents, Ebrahim and Jamila Dockrat and my wife Aamena, join me in passing our heartfelt condolences to Mrs Jeanetta Lubbe, the children and the extended family. We pray that you be blessed with every goodness. Ameen.

 

Wassalam

Ashraf Dockrat

White Ant

By Clarette Lubbe

 

One ant decided he ain’t gonna follow

He’d rather take the road less trodden

He’d rather chisel at Wall of Separation

He knew he was only an ant but he knew he was embraced by Grace

The ant saw the window of freedom of thought way up high

He thought that if he continued to walk in the Light which embraces all,

Others might start to notice the window of freedom too

The ant met others who were chiselling at Wall of Separation too

The ant continued to climb many walls

And enjoyed sunshine entering through the window of freedom

Later as an Oupa ant he took great delight

In seeing the grandants walking proudly in Grace

Also believing that they too could climb mountains

And feel the light of freedom

When it was Time, the ant asked Grace to lead him home

To be with the Light

The ant was at peace

Because he was embraced by Grace

Dear friends

 

As you may be aware, Gerrie has been battling multiple myloma for some time.  At the beginning of December, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour and underwent radiation therapy in a bid to shrink the tumour.  He was in and out of hospital throughout December.  He spent Christmas with his family, but was readmitted to Flora Clinic on 26 December as his condition deteriorated.  On 30 December, at his request, he was brought home to spend his last days in his own home with Jeanette (who is recovering from surgery and is facing her own fight with cancer as she starts chemo at the end of January), his children and grandchildren.  A number of the friends and  members of the Via Christi Community were also able to visit and reminisce with him.

Gerrie passed away during the early morning of 2 January.  He had an opportunity to say his final goodbyes to his family, and his passing was peaceful and painless.

Thank you for the role you played in my dad’s life.  You enriched his life as much as he enriched yours

All messages and emails received will be posted on this site.

Should you wish to contribute anything to this site, please email you letter/blog to gerrie@lubbe.co.za. We will endeavour to post the contribution as soon as possible.