Written with rawness, honesty and pathos, these poems embrace the pain and heartbreak of loss and mourning and reveal the acute spiritual questioning that even devout believers inevitably experience. Written each day as the outpouring of a heart torn open by painful loss, this collection unfolds in a sequence that coincides with the stages of grief and healing. With deep spiritual insights, Hayward's beautiful poems shine a light on something often hidden away within Islamic discourse: the pain of loss and the wounded soul's pleas to God for explanation, restoration and solace. Ideal for Muslims and people of all faiths, and indeed even for those who profess no faith, these rich and evocative poems address issues that are often difficult to verbalize, especially by people trying to make sense of loss and struggling through the grieving process.

"This volume not only expresses all the shades of grief over the death of his beloved wife but also explores the wide range of emotional responses within himself to her passing away and to his changing memory of her"

- Dr Rafey Habib, Professor of English, Rutger's University

"Pain and Passing is a highly recommended work of art for anyone seeking answers to deeper questions about life and death, but also about the process of grieving and healing"

- Flamur Vehapi, author of A Cup with Rumi: Poetry