Thursday, May 24, 2012

AlfaBah

Br. Alfa Bah, Zion IL

alfabah.jpgOriginally from Guinea, Alfa Bah of Zion was a sunni Muslim for most of his life. A few years ago in a move from Evanston to Zion, his commute for Jummah prayers became very tedious and time consuming. One day, while driving with his wife on 173 he noticed the familiar Ahmadi motto coined by the 3rd Khalifa of the Promised Messiah, “Love for All, Hatred for None.” His wife told him this was a mosque. He immediately resolved to go there for Jummah prayers from this point forward because of the local masjid’s convenience.

After going to the Ahmadi mosque in Zion and being embraced he was fascinated by the brotherhood and unity he witnessed. As time passed he began consuming large amounts of Ahmadi literature which clarified many concepts of Islam in a rational and cogent manner. As he read more, Alfa Bah became more convinced of the truth of Ahmadiyya Islam. He maintains that he had always felt that a reformer was needed in Islam and this was the primary and essential difference between Ahmadiyya Islam and mainstream Orthodox Sunni Islam. The Ahmadi literature provides an inexhaustible resource for him to understand his faith and develop it further.

A husband and a father of two daughters, ages 11 and 6, Alfa Bah says he has grown tremendously over a few short years. Since becoming Ahmadi, he has dedicated his life to serving the cause of Islam and enhancing his spiritual and moral development.

Alfa Bah got the opportunity to attend the Centenary Khilafat celebration of 2008 in Ghana which drew a crowd of hundred thousand people. This was a memorable experience for him. The electric atmosphere in Ghana was infused with emotion and spirituality where floods of thousands of people showed their depth of dedication and obedience to Khilafat, displaying an extreme love of Allah and one another, exemplified by their supremely efficient and problem-free organization. In addition to the seamless brotherhood and unity, Alfa was especially touched when he saw thousands upon thousands of people gather for Tahajjud prayers behind Hazrat Ameerul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih V, every morning of the Jalsa.

He feels very blessed to have found the True Islam at a point in his life when his faith was not quite as strong. Although he always wished to dedicate his life to learning and spreading Islam, he was never part of a community that had the organization, resources, and dedication to spread the True message of Islam. The resources and literature helps Alfa when he goes to the local jail to preach to inmates about the beautiful, natural and wholesome teachings of Islam. He offers his services as a chaplain and gives prayers in the jail as well. He routinely counteracts the negative image of Islam in the dominant media with his conduct and energy, being involved in a wide range of projects.

Brother Alfa is also studying for a Masters in Education and is active in the local community in Zion. He keeps contact with the Guinean community in Chicago to spread Ahmadiyyat, and is studying the Quran and Ahadith in depth. He also works as a substitute teaching and coaches soccer.

May Allah bless and reward his efforts and give us more pious and dedicated souls like him.

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