During an afternoon of handicrafts at the old people's centre, I was called by a carer to visit a resident who had died unexpectedly. I went into the deceased's room with a carer who comes from Afghanistan. We stood at her bedside in silence. I had the impression that my colleague was a little unsure. To take this away from him, I asked him about Muslim rituals in the face of death. We exchanged views on how we as Muslims and Christians think and act in the situation of dying and death. We had a lovely conversation about our religions, our faith and everything that unites us. There was a dense, peaceful and warm-hearted atmosphere in the room. At the end, I said a short prayer. In it, I said that we both believe in the mercy of God and so I entrusted the deceased resident to God's merciful love. I heard the young Afghan quietly say ‘Inshallah’ (God willing!). It touched me deeply to pray together at the bedside of the deceased, uniting religions.
