Ustazah dies during du'a recital competition

She was just seconds away from completing her recital of her du'a (supplication) at a Du'a Yasin Memorisation competition when she suddenly collapsed and died.

Halimah Ramli, reportedly in her 50s, was the second last contestant out of 18 participants of the event that was held at Surau Al-Hikma in Kampung Kemboja in Changlun, Kedah last Saturday.

According to the surau's vice chairman, Abdullah Ishak, she collapsed around 12.15pm last Saturday.

"It happened so suddenly... at the tail end of her du'a, she just fainted, she fell backwards from a standing position," he said.

A video of the incident went viral on the social media that same day.

Halimah was pronounced dead at the Jitra Hospital. She was buried that same night in Jitra.

Apparently, before the incident, Halimah had asked a friend to record her recital, so that she can later show it to her children.

A member of the surau, Halimatun Saadiah Saad, said she was told of Halimah's request by another ustazah who was present at the event.

Halimatun Saadiah said during her lifetime, Halimah was highly respected as an experienced religious teacher.

Despite not completing her recital, Halimah was pronounced as the winner of the competition. Her recital was deemed the most melodious.