5 minute read
Ask a Murabbi
Born and raised in France, Nabil Ahmad Mirza currently serves as an Imam of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the city of Montreal, located in the French-Canadian province of Quebec.
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH RESPECTED NABIL AHMED MIRZA SAHIB (CURRENTLY SERVING AS MUBALLIGH SILSLA CANADA)
In school, I had a keen interest in learning languages so at first I decided that pursue my studies in languages, but soon after attending the Jalsa Salana of France in 2007, I decided to apply for Jamia Ahmadiyya UK. During that Jalsa we had a special marquee dedicated for Tabligh where during those 3 days, guests would come and ask questions regarding Islam. For 3 consecutive days, I attended those sessions that I can still recall where we could hear the beauty of Islam through the books of The Promised Messiah (as). After one of the sessions, some French speaking converts, who had accepted Islam Ahmadiyyat in their forties came to us (Waqf-e-nau) and said to us, “we were not fortunate enough to have accepted Islam Ahmadiyyat earlier in our life. If we had, we would have opted to get admission in Jamia just to learn, read and understand Islam through the lens of The Promised Messiah (as).”, We often forget the blessing that we have of being born as Ahmadi muslims, Alhumdulillah that was the day I decided to pursue Jamia.
Was there anyone who inspired you to become a Murabbi? Someone you looked up to in your childhood.
My beloved and dearest mother is my biggest inspiration. She faced lots of difficulties in her life, my father was ill but she always stood firm and put her trust in Allah. When I decided to go to Jamia, many people would try to persuade me to choose another field knowing my situation. But whenever I would share this with my beloved mother, she would tell me to not listen to them and to go to Jamia.
Name three things that you experienced in your time studying in Jamia which changed you as a person.
After coming to Jamia Ahmadiyya UK, every day, three students would have the opportunity to meet beloved Huzoor (aba). I was fortunate enough to have been blessed to see beloved Huzoor (aba) from very close. The love he showered upon us was
not an ordinary love, his compassion, his kindness, his care shaped all of us. He cared for even the smallest details, he would ask if we were getting enough food, enough sleep. He would from time to time visit Jamia and see our rooms just to make sure that the facility was suitable for us. He changed us, shaped us and guided us.
Any special memorable moment with Khalif-tul-Masihaba which stuck with you?
During my time in the UK, one incident that stuck in my mind was when I was fortunate enough to serve as a translator during a private mulaqat of a couple that came from France. The couple could only speak and understand French. When we arrived at the office of beloved Huzooraba, the mulaqat started with the basic introduction of the couple. Later beloved Huzooraba asked for other details but suddenly beloved Huzooraba asked him if he was the one who wrote him a certain letter to which I noticed the gentleman became overwhelmed with emotions. I was confused about his reaction considering that the details of the letter were fairly normal. After the Mulaqat I enquired from the gentleman as to why he was so emotional to which he replied since his conversion he had only written to beloved Huzoor once, and that was a long time ago. Yet beloved Huzoor knew me exactly and remembered me among the thousands of correspondences that he receives every single day. This special moment reaffirmed my faith in the truthfulness of Khilafate Ahmadiyya and Islam Ahmadiyyat.
How has studying in Jamia prepared you for your posting? What are two things that you would advise the current Jamia students around the world?
Focus on building connection with Allah and with Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya.
Please share some personal stories or moments you had with Khalifatul-Masihaba?
Since childhood, my mom always emphasized on the notion that I am a waqf-e-nau and that I should in the future dedicate my life for the Jama'at, but when I left my country for Jamia the separation was difficult for her. She never opened up to me about it and kept praying.
After 4-5 months, I had the blessed opportunity to meet beloved Huzooraba, during the mulaqat beloved Huzooraba said ''Your mother should be feeling better now'' I was confused and did not get what was meant.
After the mulaqat, I called my mother and told her what beloved Huzooraba had said. She said to me that this morning “I saw beloved Huzoor in my dream and he consoled me and put his hand on my head and told me not to worry. And since then, I was feeling much more relaxed.”
Taught me how to manage my time effectively, discipline. By staying with students of different nationalities, I realised that in many ways, we are all a product of our upbringing. This enhanced my social skills with people.
Without constant guidance of Khalifatul Masihaba, a missionary cannot function. We have to understand that Khilafat is the means through which the strengthening of Islam is destined. Without it, nothing can be achieved. As Missionaries, our primary goal is to spread Islam through the constant guidance of Khalifatul Masihaba. We have someone to whom we can turn to, to guide us, a divine blessing that is only found in the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
We observe in the world that many people even though they are living under the same roof, physically very close but they are in reality very distant from each other. In the spiritual realm, physical nearness amounts to nothing, what matters is the spiritual nearness. We cannot see God with our physical eyes but He does reach us through spiritual means. Physical nearness is for sure something that I wish for. Who would not want to be near Khalifatul masih? But are we near this blessed institution spiritually, this is what will matter and help us throughout our life as a Waqf.
