TRIBUTE TO KHUDDAM

BY SISTER AMTUSH SHAKOOR KARIM

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful. We praise Him, and invoke His blessings on His Noble Messenger Muhammad (saw).

"My Lord, expand for me my breast; And make my task easy for me, and loose the knot from my tongue, That they may understand my speech." (Holy Qur'an, 20:26-29)

I greet you all with the Islamic salutation of Peace! - Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. This was to be sent as a letter addressed to the Sadr Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya but I wished that all Khuddam and everyone benefit from it. Hence, I have requested to have it read on my behalf to all present at this auspicious gathering [MKA USA National Ijtema]. I pray Allah Almighty will guide, guard, and protect you all in your endeavors, and bless your efforts with success, Amen. I am not sure how to start or end this but I intend to start and finish it, Inshallah. I have for many weeks and months now, thought about writing this but couldn't find the words to express my thoughts. When I heard about the Khuddam Ijtema, I was very happy, yet tearful.

There was a particular year in Chicago when we had flooding in the city. Our house was no different. My husband was preparing to leave for the Khuddam Ijtema, I was home after being in the hospital for days. We had a two-year old daughter. I expected my husband to stay back and take care of the cleaning up but he told me, the cleaning up could wait until he returned from the Ijtema. This was a Thursday. He went on further to tell me, he had made his pledge and he was attending the Ijtema. He gave me many alternatives - don't go downstairs, don't turn on the air conditioner, open the windows, or try to get someone to do it if it can't wait. But I promise you when I return on Monday morning, I shall take care of it, Inshallah. With these words he left for the Ijtema. I was heartbroken because he had a good enough reason to call off the trip but his mind was made up, he knew exactly what his priorities were and my constant persuasions were not going to stop him from going against his pledge as a Khadim.

I must say how humbled, grateful, and appreciative my children and I are for the wonderful proclamation in honor of my late husband and their father Abdul Muhaimin Karim (Allah forgive him, and have mercy on him, Amen). (Download the Proclamation issued by MKA USA) Muhaimin loved the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw). His favorite movie was The Message, and he cried every time he watched it. He knew the characters, the words, and the scenes, everything in the movie but always cried because he could not understand why anyone would want to hurt this servant of the Most Gracious and Ever Merciful God and not want to embrace Islam.

A few days ago, someone told me a story. She said in the early 1990s Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (Allah have mercy on him, Amen) had visited the Chicago area and had been invited for a private visit with their family. During the visit, the family recorded their interactions and conversations with the Khalifa. After he left, they wanted to watch it and all they could see was this young man everywhere the Khalifa went, his eyes would light up when the Khalifa spoke and just listened to his every word. This young man was Muhaimin. That was the beginning of his search for the truth, the lady said. My thoughts were, "Why do you say that and how would you know?" She went on further to say, as if she could read my mind, "He traveled to Africa afterwards, married and never stopped until he died. He spent many days and nights at the mosque and my son would testify to it. When the Khuddam were asked to do something or show up for any event, he was the first. He had helped me transport Lajna members on 260 flights attending an Ijtema from various parts of the country, from different airports so I know when I am saying."

A loved one shared this with me and I want to do likewise; "Always know that there are those whose love and understanding will always be there, even when you feel most alone. May a kind word, a reassuring touch, and a warm smile be yours everyday of your life. Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending. Teach love to those who hate, and let that love embrace you as you go out in the world. May the teachings of those you admire become part of you, so that you may call upon them. Remember those whose lives you have touched and whose have touched yours and are always a part of you, even if the encounters were less than you would have wished. It is the content of the encounter that is more important than the form. May you always feel loved." 

In his last year on earth, he seemed to be in a hurry, not that he wasn't always, but exceptionally so. A year before his passing, he wrote a poem for the children and I. I realize now that he was saying goodbye. He had so much pain in his eyes when he called us all together to sit around him so he could read it to us. He asked us about things that happened years ago and wanted to close them out if he felt there was no closure. He would be teary when anyone was upset with him or misunderstood his intentions or thoughts. He was the first to apologize whether he was right or wrong. He called his friends and family either daily, weekly, or monthly, with the simple purpose of staying in touch.

Muhaimin's purpose in life was to worship Allah Almighty, believe in His revealed book, and His Prophet sent for all of mankind. This meant he lived everyday as if it was his last, loved as if there was no tomorrow, and appreciated every day that Allah blessed him with. He said the only regret he had was not being able to teach his daughters how to ride a bike. Not tell me, how else would anyone say this 14 months before his death if he had not been blessed to have an inkling that he was ready to depart this world? How many of us will be blessed to say goodbye to our loved ones before we depart this world? Remember, everyone spends from their works and deeds. He trusted and had firm fait in Allah, as his words would testify, "My every need always provided for, like mountains of sand on the seashore."

His children and I miss him dearly and there is not a day that goes by that he is not mentioned in the house, but with the passing of the days and nights, it is much easier to talk about him, laugh more and cry less although the heart is heavy and the emotions sometimes seem too strong to bear.

We read in the Holy Qur'an, 41:31-36; "As for those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah,' and then remain steadfast, the angels descend on them, reassuring them: ‘Fear not, nor grieve; and rejoice in the glad tidings of the Garden which you were promised; ‘We are your friends in this life and in the Hereafter. Therein you will have all that your souls will desire, and therein you will have all that you will ask for - An entertainment from the Most Forgiving, Merciful God.' And Who is better in speech than he who invites men to Allah and does righteous deeds and says, "I am, surely, of those who submit?" And good and evil are not alike. Repel evil with that which is best. And lo, he, between whom and thyself was enmity, will become as though he were a warm friend. But none is granted it save those who are steadfast; and none is granted it save those who possess a large share of good."

Muhaimin's desire was for both of us to embrace the institution of Al-Wasiyyat. He preached to me the essence, values and blessings of this institution as if he was doing Tabligh (propagating) to a non-Muslim. In the end, I agreed and embraced it. He told me, "Pray on it, you will not regret this."

In recognizing him, the proclamation stated that he was a role model and rising star. I say this now, this star will neither rise nor shine if we do not follow in his footsteps. My prayer is that every Khadim, and anyone who reads or hears this, who hasn't already done so, will embrace the institution of Al-Wasiyyat, it would be a fitting tribute in honor of his name and legacy, Inshallah.

Alhamdolillah, there is not a day that goes by that I don't feel blessed that I was a part of his life, and had the honor, privilege and singular blessing of calling him my husband. He was greatly and deeply loved by his family but may not have lived long enough to see it expressed fully. Blessed be his soul, Ameen.

I leave you with these words:

"People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you have anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway" (Mother Theresa). 

Allah bless us all with His Choicest Blessings and accept our humble supplications, Ameen.

Assalamo Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatahu.

-          Sister Amtush Shakoor Karim

      July 2007