A TRUE STORY.
“And as for those who strive in Our path-We will surely guide them in Our ways. And verily Allah is with those who do good”.(Al Qur’an~29:70)

I can never forget the story of Ibrahim Saheb. He was from Kerala state of India. He worked as a Computer Programmer in the same Company Al-Zamil, in which I was too working during those days in Saudi Arabia. He was a very cool, soft spoken, pious, gentle and tall bearded guy. He became my friend. At that time my job responsibilities were very less. I had enough leisure hours even during duty hours. So, I used to go to his Office, sit together and talk. One day I noticed that he had kept three copies of Holy Qur’an translated in English by three different translators. I asked him the reason of keeping three copies. He replied that he likes comparing the meanings and interpretations of certain verses by different translators and interpreters just with the interest to find out which one is more rational and reasoning. The translations available with him were by, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Moulana Abul Ala Moududi and someone with the title Taqi (His first name no more in my memory). I liked his idea and had the perception that Mr. Ibrahim is a man of clear heart, who is in quest of the truth. So, that was an opportunity for me to try my luck. I started discussing with him. Gradually this process progressed.

I avoided raising any issue that may eventually put him in doubt about me of being an Ahmadi, because that was Saudi Arabia. Rather I discussed topics like the creation of Adam, the story of the status of Iblis, what is Paradise and what is Hell, what is meant by Wadi-e-Namal ( the valley of ants), Hadrat Yousuf AS’s intention, the fact of prostrate by his brothers in front of him, the story of Hadrat Solomon and Queen of Saba, who was the wise man with whom Hadrat Moses beg to accompany in his journey, what is real concept of ‘jinn’… etc.  etc. These discussions continued for around a year, which indicated that the person was extremely patient. Ibrahim Saheb never complained or argued. He only listened and tried to understand like a sincere learner. He became like my disciple. But yet I was compelled not to give him any hint, which can lead him to doubt about my Jamaat. Every day I used to go through Tafseer Kabeer, that I kept with me very secretly, and select a particular topic, try to memorize the contents and tried to dumbfound him with those wisdoms. That is to say the magic of Tafseer-e-Kabeer by Hadrath Musleh Moud RA was actually doing the magic. The story of our friendship became a talking issue in the friends circle within our Company. Though he belonged to Jamaat-e-Islami group and had his study in an Institute run by Jamaat-e-Islami Organization in Kerala, he started disliking the concepts of Maulan Moududi, and expressed that the interpretations by Moududi were wrong, irrational and unrealistic.

After around a year, one day he asked me about the continuity of Revelations. I tried to convincingly satisfy him with my answer. That was our last discussion. As usual we returned to our camp finishing our duties went to the playground, played soccer. As usual before Maghreb Adhan, we both sat under a tree to dry up our sweats. Suddenly Ibrahim Saheb told me, “Khalid Saheb, I can tell you who you are!!!”. I was surprised. I said “ IJTANEBUJ’ ZANNI”. He told, “ I am not in any doubt regarding you”. I said, “WALA TAJAS’SASU”. He replied, “Khalid Saheb, I am not a spy”. I was help less. I said, “OK.You say what is in your mind”. He quickly replied, “ Khalid Saheb, you are an Ahmadi!!!”. Earth below my feet was going down. The one had dumfounded me to whom I was dumbfounding for last one year!!!!!. I thought in the speed of lightening to avoid him doubt more. I thought if I rejected at once and later he came to know about my status, then he will be having a negative impression about my Jamaat, that Khalid, pretending to be a such perfect person told a lie…and if I accepted his view, then I may be in trouble. I said, “Ibrahim Saheb, In this country one is not free to express his heart. So I neither reject your view regarding me nor do I accept your view right now. I only want to request you to pay respect to the good faith and never to disclose to anybody your view regarding me”. Then he left for Mosque to offer Maghreb salat and I went to my room to offer my Maghreb salat as usual lonely.

From next day I avoided to meet him as I was little bit scared. Around a week later, he came to my room and asked me why I was not meeting him and he missed me. I told that I was busy. This was a white lie I told him deliberately for the first time out of compulsion. But, what he said in turn dumfounded me. He said, “Khalid sahib….since last one week I could not sleep….whenever I tried to close my eyes I hear a voice addressing me, ‘ Ibrahim…you have to accept Ahmadiyyat immediately; I have lost peace of mind. I am restless. Please make me an Ahmadi! Khalid Saheb!”  That moment was one of the most glorious moments of my life. I can never forget.