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Child prodigy: Lights dim on a beautiful mind
Youngest ever Microsoft certified professional is in critical condition.
Aarifa Karim Randhawa.
FAISALABAD: In 2004, Aarifa Karim Randhawa was the youngest ever Microsoft certified professional in the world. Born in 1995, she received the prestigious title at the age of nine.
On December 22, Aarifa was admitted to Lahore’s CMH hospital after suffering cardiac arrest. On Thursday, doctors said there is no hope for her survival, and that her life support could be switched off ‘at any time’.
Aarifa’s father, Lt Col (Retd) Amjad Karim Randhawa told The Express Tribune that she had suffered an epileptic attack, which caused severe brain and heart damage. Randhawa said “only a miracle will allow my brilliant, genius daughter to live now”.
After the news of Aarifa’s condition emerged, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice and offered economic support to the family, but they have refused to take the money.
When Aarifa, now 16, was given the title of a Microsoft professional as a young child, she visited the company’s headquarters in the US. When she met Bill Gates himself, she had two questions: Why weren’t children allowed to work for Microsoft, and why such few women worked for the organisation.
Her love for technology, however, started long before she was recognised internationally. After discovering computers for the first time at the age of five, she pestered her father for a personal computer, and after that there was no looking back.
Aarifa’s father recalled the year in which his daughter passed the test which enabled her to be declared the youngest professional certified by Microsoft in the world. “When she passed the test at age nine, everyone thought the result was wrong,” he reminisced. She wanted to make software just like Bill Gates, he added. She would say that she wanted to work for children and poor people.
Proudly, he said she came from a ‘low-profile’ family, but she would always say she wanted to study all over the world and then come back to help the people in her village. Her dreams were never for herself alone.
Aarifa’s achievements go far beyond recognition from Microsoft alone. The 16-year-old, a student of Lahore Grammar School’s Paragon campus, has represented Pakistan in various international forums. In 2005, the child prodigy received the Fatimah Jinnah Gold Medal from the government as well as the Salaam Pakistan Youth Award. In addition, she has received the president’s award for Pride of Performance, medals from IT professionals around the world, and also became a brand ambassador for PTCL in 2010.
Her talents however, are versatile. Besides excelling in the field of science and technology, Aarifa also flew a plane at the age of 10.
Aarifa’s life hangs in the balance, and while most have given up hope, her father says: “I am praying and I want everyone to pray for her”. (WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM THE NEWS DESK)
Published in The Express Tribune, December 30th, 2011.
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Reader Comments (224)
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May she get well soon. May Allah protect her.
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wish her a speedy recovery
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get well soon….May Allah give her long life Ameen
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May Allah give her good health and quick recovery. Ameen.
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God knows that this girl is more precious for Pakistan than all of our politicians combined! I really hope she gets well soon. She has a bright future ahead of her, and I for one really want her to accomplish all she can to her maximum potential. May Allah grant her health and a speedy recovery and bless her with happiness! Aameen.
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Can you give me her family’s contact details or tell us to contact us http://www.krcnhc.yolasite.com << Contact number and clinic address is gvn there.
Thanks
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May Allah give her Health and bring her life again on normal routine
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May Allah talah give her health & she recovers soon ameen
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ALLAH shifa dain. Ameen
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Get well soon Arifa,. I cant explain How grieved I am to hear this
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Inshallah, she will get soon. she is a talented little girl, having potential to give motivation to many of elder ones like me. we are proud of her and hope she will continue her successful life after recovery. i also to want to get master this computer programming skills.
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Ameeen!
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MAY ALLAH GIVE HER QUICK HEAL, COMPLETE the DESTINY.
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effects of over-burden/pressure from family
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May Allah give her health!!
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Very Sad news indeed.
She was such a sweet and intelligent kid the last I recall of her.
May Allah revive her and give her good health.
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May Allah give her health!! … this is super sad!!
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May Allah cure her and she get well soon. Why we keep losing our heros and left with all the trash!
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we need people like her for the progress of this country…please Allah don’t take her away from us…!!!
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I totally agree with Patriotic!! She is indeed valued more!! May Allah Bless her with speedy recovery and a long, healthy and successful Life.
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she is the gem of Pakistan…… v should pray for her…..INSHALLAH…..SHE WILL BE FINE SOON…AMEEEN
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How smart, wealthy or larger-than-life you may be, you have to surrender before Nature. Before God. Mankind is weak and vulnerable. If humans realize this, there would be no arrogance or injustice in this world – driven by a collective recognition of a supreme being…
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May Allah protect her and bless her with health. Aameen
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Get well soon little one.
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We all pray for her good health and quick recovery..
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Said to hear. hard time for family .
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Oh God, I hope she gets well soon :(
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Get well soon Arifa..my heart is going out for you!!
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May she get well soon .. INSAH ALLAH she will be fine
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She is very precious. May God bless her. Ameen
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May Allah Bless Aarifa with good health and long life. ameen and I request from all the readers to pray for her. I truly believe that only prayers can change destiny. Allah will surely listen to our prayers for Aarifa. and she will be back on the path of triumph and prosperity. Insha Allah
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May ALLAH SWT recover her soon.. she really is an asset for us..
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Get well soon girl, you have alot to give to this country !! May Allah give you health and happy life…..
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May Allah Bless her with life. Ameen
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May Allah make her well again to achieve all that she can with her immense talents. Ameen.
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May Allah give her health and lots of success ahead. Ameen!
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“She was invited to the Microsoft Headquarters in the US by BILL GATES for being the World’s youngest MCP”
AYE ALLAH SWT WE NEED MIRACLE.. PLZZ RECOVER HER…
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Get Well Soon.
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From what I have gathered she hasn’t got a chance but still miracles happen. Insha Allah she will survive! (Ameen)
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It is very very tragic that a very brilliant mind of our country is in critical condition.. Whole nation is praying for her good health…
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trtk
posted an hour ago
effects of over-burden/pressure from family
Such an ignorant statement to make. If you did take time out to post something the least you could have done was sent out a prayer! You have no idea what parents go through when they see their child suffer like this.
I hope that Allah blesses her with a quick and speedy recovery and that she may grow up to bring even more pride to this country!
Don’t believe in miracles…rely on them!
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@trtk , very bad remarks at the moment. MAY ALLAH PROTECT THIS GIRL.
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wow! she has achieved so much in sucha young age which many of us can only imagine of doing in our life! why does our media never promote these people and bug us with news bullettins about them every single minute of a day! all I see in the news is some crap! sigh… May Allah grant her and her family strength and courage. ameenRecommend
May Allah bless her with health and happiness and get well soon dear little angel
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May Allah give her health and long life to make more achievements for herself and Pakistan Insha Allah.
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May Allah bless her with health!
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we are proud of you.. I will remember u in my prayers.. May Allah bless you and give you life ameen,, its a big honour to have a genius citizen like you.. u’re a motivation to me and many others LONG LIVE
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We should pray for her early and painless recovery alongwith others who are suffering. Having said that i feel publishing the poor girls picture like this is inappropriate
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Allah please bless her with good health. AMEEN.
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Oh Allah, pls. give her health and long life…. Please…
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bimar e karbala ke sadqe mein is bachi ko zaroor shifa milegi–elahi ameen.inshallah puri family is imtihan se juldi guzar jae
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Brought tears into my eyes :’(..May you get well very soon girl..and InshaALLAH you will because GOD knows that this country needs you…
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May Allah give her health, long life & she will be stand with her family.
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God protect her and give her health back!
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Ya Allah! Rehem Farma. May She Get well soon.
She is in critical situation and seriously I am feeling hard for Her. Love you Sister.
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Get well soon. You are extremely valuable to our nation plz get better.
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She is a pure Diamond, May Allah bless and save her. Amin.Recommend
She is pride of Pakistan. Allah jald sehtayaab kare – Aameen.
M. R@fique Zakaria
Karachi.
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How sad it is to see, that Aarifa intelligent brain whichis the pride of our country has been damaged. Its not the time for comments only, we need to do something more than this for our national Pride Aarifa
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Ya Allah ST is bachi ko sehat aur tandrusti dijye, Ameen, May Allah ST bless her and save her life in good health, Ameen, she is a national treasure, not even an asset, Imran Owais Kazmi
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May she recover soon. Ameen =l
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Don’t leave us like that….u need to fight….please
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May Allah Bless our daughter of Pakistan..INSAH ALLAH she will be fine
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May God bless her with good health!
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Kindly correct her name she is not Aarifa but Arfa. Thanx
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May Allah bless and save her.
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Allaha Is ke haq mai jo behtar samjay………….. many sympathys with his parents
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get well soon girl.your country needs you.my prayers and good wishes for you.a wellwisher from india.
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Ya Allah have mercy on her,, give her health. She is so precious.
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Allah apne habib S.A.W k sadqe se usay sehat dede aameen.
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Please get well soon
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Please pray for this miracle !!
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May ALMIGHTY ALLAH bless her..Honestly while i am reading this i feel very sad for her ,she is very precious for Pakistan,I wish she will get well soon & i pray for her in my prayers..INSHAHALLAH she will recover fast.AMEEN
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May Allah give her health .or is waqt in ki family ko himat or hosla ata farma .Aameen
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Whole PAKISTAN is praying for her speedy recovery, i’m sure she will get thru this. INSHA’ALLAH
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Sad turn in life! I wish her the best of health soon.
To Mr. Shahbaz Sharif: Please give this economic support to the thousands of homeless people who are rotting on the footpaths of Lahore. They are as human as anyone else.
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Good & timely approached by Govt Punjab.
Keep it up Shabaz….
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May Allah give bless her with health and fast recovery. Ameen
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I pray she get well soon.
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We should pray for her early and painless recovery along with others who are suffering.
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i still cant believe she is going thruogh this! u really are a motivation for me after hearing your story it was an honour studying with u and our school is really going to miss you! loosing you will be a great loss to us our school (LGS) and to our nation. may Allah almighty give u health. ameen
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May Allah grant her speedy recovery. She is an asset to our nation.
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She is very precious. May God bless her. Ameen
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May Allah give her health
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God please save her.
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Invoke Allah Jalla Shano for as you can see my tear for because to our beloved country Pakistan need for such youngest so Oh’ my Almighty Allah I invoke to be soon recovered her so that …A’meenSumA’meen!
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Allah please give her health and long life and empower her to do the best for Pakistan. AMEEN
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May Allah gave her health and prosperity by the sadqa of Beemar-e-Karbala.
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Get well soon.
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Oh Allah Plz. Give her health and long life. please
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Ya ALLAH! Only YOU can heal, cure and give her complete health. Pakistan requires such brilliant minds and hearts to work and guide this country, by your permission. Please, please, please Ya ALLAH give her a healthy and long life. Aameen, Summa Aameen.
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She is the Sister and Daughter of Nation…… We are praying for her speedy recovery. Inshah;Allah she will be back to normal soon. Allah Kareem.
Sayed Ali Zakir Naqvi
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This girl is a matter of great pride for our country. So much sad news in Pakistan. God give us a miracle.
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Aarifa Karim! We are proud of you
You will get well soon inshallah
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May ALLAH S.W.T give her health…!
Aameen
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I pray to Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her health. She indeed is most brilliant girl of our country. Remember me if I can be of any service.Recommend
ALLAH ap ko sehat atta farmay,AAMEEN
We as the pakistani nation proud on u dear sister of Pakistan……
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Please ALLAH Give her health Ameen Ameen
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Allah zindagi aur sehat de, Aameen.
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i am a non-believer in religion…..but i rspect and love this young girl that i realy PRAY she must come back to life…i am very heart-wrenched, dead tired sinse i heard she is in comma…i believe she will survive..
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She’s an asset to Pakistan and those around her. May Allah grant her full recovery and a bright, happy future! Ameen.
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May Allah bless her good health
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May God give her a long and healthy life.
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Allah is larki ki mushkil asaan farmaye. Aameen.
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I will pray for her health. IA she will recover. Why cant our govt send her abroad.
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INSHALLAH, Allah will give her health and lots of success ahead. Ameen!
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Allah knows, what is best for her. We can only pray.
Wish you best of luck
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May Allah give her long life with prosperity we all are with her , I am doing BS-Computer Science
and for me she is a vibrant path . We will pray for her at every moment of our life ,
May Allah Bless Her…
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Ya Allah swt may save the Life of this Young Talent of Pakistan. May she as a Miracle of Allah swt recover fully & soon. Looks like either Meningites or some Drug reaction but Allah is Great & does Miracles.
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reallyu sad to hear about it, May Allah bless her with good health (she is my sister’s friend’s cousin).
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May Allah grant her long healthy and happy life. Ameen.
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our leaders always come up to financial support statements though they never do then but this time her family need moral support not financial….salute to her family that they refused it.. and those who needs financial support in real our leaders then seems quiet
Anyway they dont wanna go to other topic but just wanna pray for this little gem of pakistan.. May ALLAH give her quick recovery AMEEN
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@ Farrukh
Col Randhawa is the name of father of Arifa Recommend
May Allah bless her with full and speedy recovery. Aameen
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gws..! inshaalah
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May ALLAH bless her with health & a long life.
Get well soon Aarifa!!
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I am heart broken to hear this. May Allah give her full recovery. Aameen
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If her parents or loved ones are reading this, ALOT of people are praying ALOT for this beautiful girl and Inshallah she will become better.
On another note: Why are all the only remaining good things about Pakistan getting affected??? :( :( :( :(
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get well sooooon ………..
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get well soon….
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Ya ALLAH, please accept our dua.Make her well soon.Amin
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Don’t worry people. She will be fine InshaAllahRecommend
Allah subhan watallah please give her good health. AMEEN
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Arfa….You are very special to all of us… Plz get well soon…. Us (your family and friends)are in deep tension and want you to get well soon…Plzzz everyone Pray for our child… I know their Parents wont be able to bear it…… May Allah grant Arfa with Health….. Ameen
Love you :(
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Ya Allah, Please save the talented young girl. Aameen
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From what doctors have to say about her….it seems that we need a miracle to save her life from this tragic epileptic attack.
But there is hope…….I have seen people recover from similar conditions….although such cases are only few and far in between but still we should never lose hope…..Lets pray for her…….
May she have speedy and full recovery…as such attacks can leave very bad effects on nervous system and cognitive abilities…. May Allah make her as normal as earlier
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May Allah bless her with health and a new life (ameen).
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My lil champ, may Allah protect you and save you for the betterment of Pakistan. You are precious for all of us.
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get well soon ……………..Allah give her good health Recommend
Get well soon Arifa…… we are all praying for you…….
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being on a ventilator is a dismal condition..yet we ought not to lose hopes..ALLAH can do anything in her favor.so let us just pray for the health of this precious life
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May Almighty bestow her fast recovery with best of her health. May He shower His divine miracle from His infinite miraculous bounties.
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May Allah grant her health and strength to all people including her family, in these testing times.
Ameen
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Ameen
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All our prayers are with her. @trtk, please spare kind thoughts and don’t spread negativity. Remember, kindness begets kindness.
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may she live long with good health Aameen
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No doubt she made Pakistan proud, she lifted up the Pakistani repute with her talent. We all should pray for her recovery may Allah Bless her n grant her health. ameeen.!
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ALLAH KARIM pls give her long life and helth AMEEN
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May she become healthy soon!
Please do not post her photograph in that condition… Put up a nice one.
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@patriotic you spoke my heart she is precious to pakistan may god give her health
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May she gt well soon……Ameen
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Oh ALLAH (SWT), please bless her with healthy/long life and expedite her recovery …….ameen summah ameen
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What else could be said ?.My heart is broken.Can she be transported to USA ???. What the doctors say?.
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I, pray to ALLAH SWT to bless Aarifa Karim with unlimited health,long life,may her parents be blessed with her life,I salute you our GENIUS,Mushkil Kusha ALI helps here Ameen.
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Allah give her Health and strength to continue her success Ameen.
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Allah, we need your highly talented creation to be in our world a little longer. Please work your miracle!
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She’s NINETEEN. And may God save her. :’(
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What’s Allah got to do with it? Let’s hope the doctors can do something.Recommend
When I saw this video on TV tears started running down and I prayed to Allah (SWT) to give her life and early recovery. Insha’Allah she will get back to normal. May Allah (SWT) keep the rising star of Pakistan alive and give her perfect health. Ameen Suum Ameen.The entire Pakistani nation is praying for Aarifa.Recommend
The world needs more people like Aarifa Karim. May Allah Bless Aarifa Karim
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