IN THE SPOTLIGHT

My name is Fowad Ahmed. I am a Waqif-e-Zindagi currently serving in MTA Ghana, Wahab Adam Studios in Accra. I am part of the blessed scheme of Waqf-eNau and I became a Waqif-e-Zindagi in June 2018 when I was sent along with my family to serve in Nigeria as a Chemistry teacher. After serving in Nigeria for three years, I was then transferred to Ghana to serve in the Production Department for MTA Ghana at the Wahab Adam Studios, Accra.

How did you know you wanted to dedicate your life in service of your faith?

From the very beginning, when I was young, my parents told me about the Waqf-e-Nau scheme that when I am older, I should be ready to dedicate my life for the service of faith. I was also very fortunate enough to attend classes with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV rh and Hadrat Khalifatul Masih V aba . This helped so much that now, when I look back, I feel fortunate to have been a part of these classes because it helped me stay attached and close to Khilafat and the Jama’at. All these factors put together were essential in having the mindset about dedicating my life when I was eventually called upon.

What were the events leading upto your Waqf being approved by Khalifatul-Masih V aba ?

Once I completed my bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, I sought for Huzoor’s aba advice as to what I should do next. I was graciously advised to seek for employment in the field of Chemistry. Alhamdulillah, I was able to obtain a role as a water treatment Chemist and worked for various companies in this field for about five years. During this time, I would report back to Huzoor aba every year. I was not fully content with working for a company which only had an aim of making profit so I was just praying and waiting for the moment I would be called upon to serve the Jama’at. Alhumdolillah, it was not too long after that I was fortunate enough to receive a letter from the Waqfe-Nau department that there is a need for teachers in Africa and that because I have a background in Chemistry I should be encouraged to come forward and apply. For me it was the easiest decision I ever had to make because of the way I had been brought up and told that the purpose of being dedicated for the sake of the Jama’at as a Waqf-e-Nau is to serve in the best way possible. I had a stable job and I was progressing in my career, I had a chance to progress further and earn a very good living in the UK which was our home and my place of birth. All this was irrelevant for me because I was yearning for the opportunity to start my Waqf and dedicate myself fully. So, for me I didn’t have any second thoughts or reservations, neither did my wife who is also a Waqf-e-Nau and by the grace of Allah, we filled in the application form and sent it off without hesitation. We had no idea where in Africa we were going and what the conditions of the country would be, we were just ready to pack our belongings and make a move to wherever we were needed. Alhumdolillah after a short period, our Waqf was accepted by Huzoor aba and we were posted to Nigeria in June 2018

Is there anyone who specifically inspired you?

It is without a doubt that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V aba was the inspiration for us because his own example is there for us to see. He also served in Africa for many years as a teacher and the living conditions in those days were much worse than what they are today. In one Mulaqat we were fortunate to have with Huzoor aba we mentioned about the conditions in Nigeria and how we are trying our best to settle in and adjust to the new environment. Huzoor aba said that we are fortunate because during his time in Ghana, he would travel on the back of trucks to go from one place to another and contacting family and friends on the telephone was something you couldn’t even imagine. So, these words really inspired us to be firm in our Waqf and persevere and be thankful for what we have as we live in this day and age, we are still able to contact our families instantly and we have more comfortable modes of transport.

What creates passion and motivation when you are carrying out your Waqf?

The passion comes from knowing that we have been sent by Huzoor aba to carry out a task and he has an expectation from us to fulfil that task to the best of our abilities. Also, when you see that others around you are inspired by the work of the Jama’at and the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat we spread to the people is welcomed, that is also something which is a motivating factor. During our time in Nigeria, we were not only working as teachers but our overall aim was also to take part in tabligh activities and humanitarian work by assisting Humanity First and IAAAE. When you go to the villages to see where boreholes have been drilled to provide clean drinking water to people who previously had to travel miles, those who have seen this first hand will also tell you that it is an extremely inspirational feeling. Similarly when we distributed various food parcels to the needy over time, we witnessed the joy and happiness on their faces which is something you can’t get enough of. These moments make you motivated on another level which you can’t even imagine.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to dedicate their life but is unsure about this life changing decision?

I think that we need to remember is the purpose of our existence which is to worship Allah and to serve His creation. If you are able to dedicate your life in the cause of your faith and focus fully on this task then I believe there is no better way to live your life and fulfil this command. Money comes and goes but the pleasure and the contentment in your heart will only be fulfilled once you are at peace with yourself. Once you know everything you do is for the propagation of Islam Ahmadiyyat and you are only carrying out the task which Huzoor aba has assigned for you to carry out, that is what is the most fulfilling part of dedicating your life is. All the worries and concerns you may have about the conditions and how the family will adjust should be left with Allah to deal with. He will give you the strength and perseverance to be able to handle all these challenges. Once you dedicate your life you have decided to give your life in the way of Allah and surely once you leave your worries to Allah He will never leave you stranded Insha’Allah.

How important would you say are your earlier studies (Secondary School and University) in counting towards your ability to do Waqf?

My education as a whole was important for sure because it was my Chemistry degree which I was utilising to teach children in school. Having been fortunate enough to have been born and brought up in the UK, I had access to top quality education which is not available in countries such as Nigeria where I was teaching. So, the knowledge and skills that I gained from my education were essential and are even useful in my current role today.

What are three things you love about your Waqf?

Firstly, I feel since I became a Waqif-eZindagi my bond with Allah has become more stronger. When as a Waqf you face trials you pray to Allah for help and you realise that from nowhere Allah has arranged for us a solution. It comes from a place where you could never even imagine. The beauty of it all is that it happens time after time. We are faced with a trial and then when things seem as though there is no way out, suddenly Allah helps from the most mysterious of ways unimaginable. These incidents make your faith that much more stronger and the bond with Allah stronger day by day.

The second thing I love is the close bond with Khilafat and the fact that Huzoor has a special relationship with the Waqifeen-eZindagi around the world. Every Waqif-e-

Zindagi can affirm that they are fortunate to have this special link with Khilafat and it is an irreplaceable bond. It is due to the love Huzoor has for the Waqif-e-Zindagi serving the Jama’at.

The third thing I love about Waqf is the contentment in my heart about serving as a life devotee. In this day and age where materialism is rife and there seems to be no end in the world’s pursuit of wealth and fame, in reality that kind of life is void of any real substance and if you ask any person who is chasing this dream, they feel empty inside, never satisfied and without a real purpose in life. I in fact feel very sad about these people and seeing their condition makes me so grateful to Allah that I am a life devotee of the Jama’at. I know in my heart that no amount of money or wealth in this world can ever lure me away from serving in any capacity as a Waqif-e-Zindagi and I thank Allah for this huge blessing. I pray that May Allah give me the opportunity to serve as a true Waqif-e-Zindagi as expected by Huzoor and that I may be able to serve until my last breath, Ameen.

How are you still keeping in touch with Khalifatul-Masih V aba with regards to your Waqf?

As we are no longer in close proximity of Khilafat physically, the only way we can keep in touch is by writing letters. Alhamdulillah, I also have had the opportunity to meet Huzoor by having a Mulaqat on several occasions with my family during my Waqf. Every time I do meet him, I update him on the work that my wife and I are doing.

Describe your daily routine?

As a Waqif-e-Zindagi serving in MTA Ghana, we are expected to work 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. My work consists of managing the production department which mainly focuses on recording studio programmes. As my children’s school is also within the compound of the MTA studio, my working day starts at around 8am, which is when I drop my children to school and make my way to the studio. I leave the office around 6:30-7pm, sometimes if there is a recording taking place in the evening it can reach 8-9pm or even later. If there is a recording outdoors where we are not on site then the day sometimes can be quite long.

Not everyone who is Waqfe-Zindagi will be posted near or around Khalifatul Masih or even in the same country. What advice do you have for such Waqifeen who will be posted far away from Markaz or their families?

I have been very fortunate to have been so close to Khilafat from my childhood. When I was posted in Nigeria, moving away from Khilafat was by far the most difficult part of the whole experience. Then of course, you have family and friends who are very dear to you, who you don’t want to move away from. We are human beings and so we are bound to have an attachment with the country and the people we have grown up with. But when you have dedicated your life for the sake of the Jama’at then these issues become nonexistent. There may be worries as to what conditions you will have to live in or what your allowance will be and whether or not you will be able to live within the means provided. I can tell you, I have witnessed countless experiences of Allah’s Fazl (grace) where I have been in difficult situations and Allah has helped me and my family from places I cannot even imagine. The key was to trust in Allah and just serve in the best way that you can. Therefore, when you have full trust in Allah and you decide to go ahead and dedicate yourself, it may seem difficult at first, but when you look back you will say that it was the best decision you ever made.

Please share a story or event you had with Khalifatul-Masih V aba ?

I am very fortunate enough to have had many moments with Hadrat KhalifatulMasih V aba but one particular moment I would like to share is during my time in Nigeria where I had a very close escape from some machete wielding thugs in broad daylight. It is only Allah who protected me that day because there were at least six armed men versus me alone who was backed against a wall with nowhere to run. The incident happened one afternoon where myself and Murabbi Sahib, who was with me that day, were buying some chicken on the roadside when suddenly a political rally passed by. Before I knew it, a group of armed thugs who were a part of this rally approached us and attempted to rob us of our belongings. Murabbi Sahib managed to escape behind them while I was left backed against a wall with around six or seven intoxicated men ready to attack me. I vividly remember shouting Murabbi Sahib’s name and seeing the look of helplessness on his face. The next thing I see is one of the men shouting on the top of his voice with his machete raised up high, ready to strike me, when just at that moment they saw a large amount of cash on the floor which drew their attention away from me. At that time I had no idea where the money suddenly appeared from but as they went to pick up the cash I found my way out of the situation and was unscathed Alhamdolillah. As I attempted to run, one of the thug’s hands was still in my pocket but because I ran it ripped my pocket. I still managed to get away from him. I later found out that as Murabbi Sahib ran away, money from his pocket fell on the ground which drew the attention of the thugs. I wrote to Huzoor about this incident and requested for prayers to which I received a very wonderful reply. A short time after this very incident, one of my family members had a Mulaqat with Huzoor where he inquired about me in relation to this very incident. When I found out about this I was speechless and so overjoyed that Huzoor remembered me and was asking of my well-being. This incident didn’t put fear into my heart at all but instead strengthened me because it was a huge miracle that I came out unscathed by the Grace of Allah.