There are moments when words simply fail us. This is one of those moments for Bermuda.

Our island is grieving following the tragic loss of the air ambulance carrying Bermudians Marilyn Lavonne Bean and her son, Sergio Wayne Lottimore, together with four Canadian crew members. The aircraft disappeared off Nantucket while making its way to Boston, and the search was later suspended after debris from the aircraft was located.

The image of a mother and son travelling together for medical reasons is particularly poignant. We may never know all that passed between them during that journey, but one can imagine the love, concern and devotion that brought a son alongside his mother when she needed care.

And our hearts must also reach across the water to Canada. The four crew members were doing their jobs — providing medical assistance and helping someone in need. They, too, were someone’s loved ones, and their families are now carrying an unimaginable grief.

Islam teaches us that when tragedy strikes, we turn to Allah with patience, prayer and compassion.

The Koran reminds us: “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” (2:156)

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) also taught us that Allah loves gentleness. In moments of tragedy, therefore, let us be gentle with grieving families. Let us avoid speculation and sensationalism and instead offer dignity, privacy, prayer and practical support.

May Allah envelop the departed in His mercy and grant strength and comfort to every family mourning this terrible loss.

May He particularly comfort the families of Marilyn and Sergio here in Bermuda and the families of the four Canadian crew members who lost their lives in the service of others.

May He grant them sabr — that profound patience and strength that comes from placing one’s trust in Allah.

As we recognise Teachers’ Week, we should also pause to acknowledge the enormous responsibility carried by those who teach our children.

Teachers can inspire a child, discover a hidden talent and open a door to a future the child could not yet imagine.

I must confess, however, that I have had some horrible teachers in my day!

But then again, in primary school I did have a very lovely and encouraging teacher in Mrs D. Blakeney. In high school, there were Mrs H. Lough, Dr Norman Astwood and Miss Carol Hill — my four beloved angels!

Alhamdulillah, I was also blessed to have parents, grandparents, an aunt and an uncle who encouraged me, believed in me and helped me understand that I was capable of achieving more than I perhaps realised myself.

And perhaps those experiences taught me something important: a teacher’s attitude towards a student can either make that student or break that student.

A harsh word can remain in a child’s memory for decades. But so can an encouraging one.

Islam places great emphasis on how knowledge is shared. The Koran instructs us to teach and invite others with wisdom and good instruction (16:125). The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Allah is gentle and loves gentleness in all matters.” (Sahih Muslim)

That wisdom belongs in every classroom.

To Bermuda's teachers: thank you for every child you encourage, every struggling student you refuse to give up on, and every young person who leaves your classroom believing, perhaps for the first time: “I can do this.”

And to those teachers who may not realise the influence they have: remember that children often carry your words long after they have forgotten the lesson on the blackboard, well these days, the whiteboard.

In the end, both tragedy and teaching remind us of something profound: we never truly know how deeply our presence touches another person’s life.

A mother travels with her son. Four professionals leave home to serve others. A teacher walks into a classroom and encounters young lives whose futures may be influenced by a single word.

Life is fragile. Time is precious. People matter.

So let us be kinder while we have the opportunity. Let us speak words that heal rather than wound, honour those who serve, comfort those who grieve and encourage those who are still finding their way.

And when our own journey eventually brings us back to our Creator, may we leave behind not a record of how loudly we spoke, but a legacy of how much love, mercy and goodness we gave.

May Allah comfort every grieving heart, strengthen every bereaved family, and make us people whose presence leaves others closer to hope. Ameen.

As salaam alaikum (peace be unto you).

• Linda Walia Ming is a member of the Bermuda Hijab Dawah Team, a group of Muslim women who reside in Bermuda and have a goal of educating the community about the religion of Islam