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My father – A role model for humanitarian service

By Abdul Ahad Chowdhury (Los Angeles, CA Majlis)

Many of the deepest memories we cherish of our elders involve their fortitude and strong commitment towards the cause they cared about so passionately.

The particular incident I want to share here is about my father, Dr. Abdus Samad Khan Chowdhury. Back in 1973, he used to travel to his medical practice by bus between Gulistan - a busy bus station in Dhaka, and the bustling small town of Narayanganj, about 12 miles away. On this day though, he had decided to ride in our East European car, with our trusted driver behind the wheel.

After a couple of hours of his departure, the home phone rang. My mother picked it up. It was Abba. After the usual salutation, he said, cheerfully, "Ami bhalo aachhee, driver-o bhalo aachhay! [I am fine, and the driver is fine, too!]"

These words had the effect, inevitably, of alarming Ammi. It turned out that there had been some rain during the journey, the driver had lost control on a bumpy stretch of highway, and the car had careened off the highway into a pond on the left, rolling a full 360 degrees and coming to rest partially submerged but upright. Abba, seated directly behind the driver, had steadied himself and the driver during those seconds of sudden gyration.

Here was an example of superb self-control and resolute calm: after extricating both himself and the driver from the partially submerged car, Abba had simply collected his well-worn doctor's bag from the car and traveled on to Narayanganj on the first bus that came by, leaving the driver by the car; he would send help, he assured the driver. He then had begun to calmly examine patients before he called home. 

In his call Abba asked for a change of clothes and that I take our second car and a tow-rope to the accident scene and then tow the car home. I could not find a towrope, but left home hurriedly anyway, hoping to request the use of a towrope from some passing trucker. I drove past the scene, waving to the driver sitting on a grassy slope (with the car still in the pond), on to Abba's medical chambers.

The chambers' waiting area was crowded, with many patients standing around outside the building, too. At my knock on the consulting-room's door, an assistant opened it. I peered inside, and there was Abba, prescribing away at full speed, with several patients awaiting their turn. Abba glanced up with a smile, responding to my salaams and asking, "Yes?"

I blurted out that I had brought a change of clothes, but that Ammi also wanted me to check on his well-being. He smiled and said he was all right and asked me to see about extracting the car from the pond.

Here is where the public's deepest feelings of respect and love come into view. Returning to the accident scene, I decided to walk over to a metal-working factory and try to borrow a towrope. When I reached the factory's reception area, several workers crowded around and asked whether it was really "Samad daktar's" car that had met an accident. When I replied in the affirmative, they began to ask with great concern how he was. When I replied he was fine, I could hear the collective sigh of relief all around. As they departed the reception area, I could hear them: "Koiseelam na, Alla-e fereshta-go kono khotee hotay dito na! [Told you so: Allah does not let His angels suffer harm!]"

As I walked back with a rope, I could see that a truck had stopped near the pond; the crew got out, quickly attached a cable to the car and the truck, pulled the car all the way onto the highway, and took off. When I reached the driver and the car, I was told that the truck-driver had recognized the car as Abba's and simply asked his crew to do what was needed. Never was there talk of compensation of any kind!

I request readers' prayers for the departed souls of those who have exemplified service to humanity!

Please watch an important video message from Qaid Maal, Zahid Mian Sahib here.

Remembering Syed Mozaffar Ahmed Sahib of Silicon Valley

By Wali Shaikh (Zaim, Silicon Valley, CA Majlis) on behalf of Mozaffar Ahmed’s family

It is sad to share the news about Syed Mozaffar Ahmed Sahib’s passing away on March 30, 2021 at the young age of 50.

Syed Mozaffar Ahmed Sahib was born in Nigeria. At the age of 12, he moved with his parents to New Delhi, India and received his formal education there. In his mid-20’s, he moved to the United States in 1997 and was a part of the Silicon Valley Jama’at for over 20 years.  He was the son of Syed Monawar Ahmed Sahib and Nusrat Ahmed Sahiba, and paternal grandson of Sahabi Syed Wazarat Hussain Sahib (RA), belonging to the state of Bihar, India, and Sabira Begum Sahiba, maternal grandson of Noor Uddin Siddiqi Sahib, former Sadr Jama’at Meerut, India and Jameela Khatoon Sahiba.

By profession, Mozaffar Sahib was a well-respected Software Engineering Manager at Apple Inc. for approximately 15 years. Ahmadiyyat was deeply ingrained in him - passed on from his parents and grandparents. He was an active and dedicated member of the Jama’at and served in various capacities including Naib Secretary, Finance. He was a living example of humility and meekness of heart. He always put the needs of others above his own and had great empathy for the poor and served humanity to the best of his abilities. He was very much adored amongst his family, relatives, Jama’at members, neighbors, friends, and colleagues alike.   

Mozaffar Sahib was regular in offering his five daily prayers. As he was self-reliant, he endured his painful illness with great patience, dignity, and strength. During the past few months as he was physically breaking down, he still had the mental and physical fortitude to complete his daily prayers. He would watch beloved Huzur’s (aba) sermons on MTA every Friday, and never lost faith in Allah Almighty. He is survived by his mother Mrs. Nusrat Ahmed, who has been living with him for the past couple of years, and his younger sister Mrs. Saima Ahmed Parvez and his nephew Rayyan Parvez, who both live in India. May Allah Almighty grant dear Syed Mozaffar Ahmed Sahib an elevated status in Jannat–ul–Firdaus (Ameen).

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Department of Publications Majlis Ansarullah USA

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