Community thankful for knowing Shakils

Much of Cape Girardeau and thousands of people around the world were stunned upon hearing that Dr. Mohammad Shakil and his entire family -- his wife, Farida, and children: Usman, 16; Hassan, 14; Sabeen, 13; and Rabiya, 11 -- died in a plane crash last weekend.

They were engaged in an educational family activity, a common occurrence for the close-knit parents and children. They were attending a documentary and arts film festival in Hot Springs, Ark., and planned to fly back to Cape Girardeau for a typically busy week, Dr. Shakil at his neurology practice and the children at Central High School, St. Mary Cathedral School and Central Middle School.

Dr. Shakil, described as a capable pilot constantly learning more about flying, and his family never made it. They died in the middle of an Arkansas pine forest. It will take weeks to determine fully what went wrong.

But Southeast Missouri residents, and others from around the world, aren't focusing on a plane crash. Despite their shock and pain, they are focusing on a family who set the standard for others.

Tributes to every member have poured into the Southeast Missourian.

Dr. Shakil is remembered as a family man who helped start the Islamic Center in Cape Girardeau and reached out to others through his faith. He took international students from Southeast Missouri State University under his wing -- no doubt they felt alone and homesick in this foreign place.

His friends remember spirited but kindhearted debates on philosophy.

And when the events of Sept. 11 threatened to cause a rift between the Muslims and Christians in our community, Dr. Shakil took the lead in denouncing the terrorist acts and explaining that Muslim Americans were just as saddened and outraged as any other Americans.

His wife is remembered as an intelligent woman, a supportive wife and mother with accomplishments of her own.

And the children's friends expressed their feelings, too, making clear that the four were kind, bright and friendly young people who made an impression on those who knew them.

The community's sentiment became even more apparent when hundreds, who felt they had to do something to express their sense of loss and respect for the family, gathered around the Shakils' home for a candlelight vigil Wednesday.

While the community will no longer enjoy seeing the Shakils, they will forever remember the privilege they had of knowing such a remarkable family.