A Faith-Inspiring Bai’at
I noticed a stranger at Friday Prayer in the North Jersey mosque. Noticing a new face, I got closer to him and introduced myself. I learned that he was Mr. Giovanni from Bogota, Columbia and was on a business trip to the U.S. On inquiring, he mentioned that he was dissatisfied with his Catholic belief. He was surfing the Internet and was introduced to Islam by Mr. Nouman, an Ahmadi from Virginia, who met him on a blog. He was attracted to it but could not get hold of any Ahmadi as there were no mission house /Jamaat Centre in Columbia. It seemed that Mr. Giovani had already accepted Ahmadiyyat at heart as he already had a downloaded Bai’at form with him and was ready for a Bai’at. He told me that he did not pray in the Catholic way on the funeral of his mother a month ago.
He found the address of Baitul Wahid, Hawthorne, NJ and came to attend Friday Prayer. I gave him a cap to cover his head. He wanted to offer the Friday Prayer but didn't know how to do it. I asked him to pray in his own words. He offered Jumu’ah Prayer in congregation and followed the motions.
After Jumu’ah Prayer, he had a short meeting with Hafiz Samiullah Sahib, local Jama'at's President, and expressed his desire to do the Bai’at but Hafiz Sahib told him that since he was in the U.S. for a few days it would be better to get familiar with the Jama’at in person before signing a Bai’at form. He agreed, and it was decided that he would enjoy visiting some sights on Saturday and I would bring him back to Baitul Wahid on Sunday for the monthly meeting of North Jersey Jama’at.
On Saturday, he had to move to Brooklyn. Since Brooklyn was quite far from North Jersey, I advised him to go to the Brooklyn mosque. I connected him through WhatsApp with Saifullah Khalid Sahib, North Jersey Tabligh Secretary, who introduced Mr. Giovanni to Brooklyn Tabligh Secretary. On the following Friday, January 12, 2018, Mr. Giovani took Bai’at at the age of 34 years, Alhamdulillah.
A few days later, I contacted him on WhatsApp and he replied: “Wa’alaikum assalam Naseer…Reading again Jesus in India and understanding more things about Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, peace be upon him. I confess I haven't been able to pray five times, but I do it and it gives me peace. I pray in Spanish mixed with Arabic and English. My friend Eakan told me that is a process and I should keep trying.”
I had always heard stories about Almighty Allah Himself guiding people towards the Jama’at but this was the first time I myself witnessed such an event which was very faith-inspiring. I wish to visit this “righteous spirit” in Bogota one day.
