Letter to an Exemplary Nasir: Mehdi Ali Qamar

A Letter to an Exemplary Nasir: Mehdi Ali Qamar, by Faheem Younus Qureshi, Sadr Majlis

Dear Brother Mehdi Ali Qamar,

As-Salamu ‘Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

You may not remember me but we have met many times at Jalsa Salana and other Jama’at events.

I remember you as a rather quiet fellow who would offer a gentle Salam/wa ‘Alaikum as-Salam. I also remember you as someone who was ahead of me…in age, in experience, in accomplishments. But I never thought that you could leap this far ahead—instantly—leaving all of us behind.

Allah has chosen you my brother to be a spiritual celebrity—a Martyr. You deserve (as hard as it may be for us) our congrats, not our sympathy. Despite the fact that our hearts are aching and our eyes are wet, we must remember that our reality is flawed. And it is flawed on many levels.

The world has declared you dead but we must remember: “And say not of those who are killed in the cause of Allah that they are dead; nay, they are living; only you perceive not” (The Holy Qur’an, 2:155) You can be sure that I believe that you are living; that is why I am writing you this letter.

People may have wept after seeing the pictures of your blood stained body lying in bright sunlight but why couldn’t they see the shade created by the wings of the angels? I am not making this up; Jabir bin Abdullah relates: “When my father was martyred, I lifted the sheet from his face and wept and the people forbade me to do so but the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be on him) did not forbid me. Then my aunt Fatima began weeping and the Holy Prophet said, ‘It is all the same whether you weep or not. The angels were shading him continuously with their wings…’” (Bukhari)

Relatives visiting your beautiful home in Ohio are already missing you…but can someone notify them of your prestigious new address, mentioned by the Holy Prophet? “Last night, two men (angels) came to me (in a dream) and made me ascend a tree and then admitted me into a nice and excellent house, the like of which I have never seen before. One of them said: ‘This house is the house of martyrs.’” (Bukhari)

You were a real Nasir my brother Mehdi Ali; a real helper of Allah. We pledge to live by this legacy and continue to be the helpers of Allah, no matter how many savages threaten us with their evil plans.

You traveled to help the ailing in obedience to your Allah and His messenger. Enjoy the company of “the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs, and the Righteous. And excellent companions are these” (The Holy Qur’an, 4:70)

It is natural for us to shed tears; it is hard for us not to miss you. We can only imagine the anguish of your family. May Allah grant them patience and swap their pain with pride. Amin.

Your brother,

Faheem Younus Qureshi