By Mubarik Ahmad, Ex-Principal of Ahmadiyya Secondary School, Salag

Wahab Adam

A very sad incident happened on June 22^nd 2014 with the demise of the Amir of Ghana Abdul Wahab bin Adam on June 22^nd 2014 who possessed exemplary qualities.  Innalillahe wainnahilahe rajehoon.  Hazrat Kalifatul Massiah Ayyadatallah described his numerous qualities on his sermon on June 22^nd and offered his funeral prayers.

This humble one has the honor to work with him for two years from 1975 – 1976 as a principal of Ahmadiyya secondary school at Salaga in Ghana.  Wahab Sahib was Amir for Ghana for several years and had numerous qualities.  He was a sympathetic and a popular Amir who showed love, equality and benevolence to all of us.  Everyone used to think that he has a personal relationship with the Amir Sahab. As the  Holy prophet (p.b.u.h) has said in one of the Hadith, ‘O Muslims you should remember those who passed away and describe their good qualities so that you too should emulate their qualities, I  will describe some of the few beautiful memories of Hazrat Amir sahib which are still very fresh even after forty years.

His belief in the acceptance of prayers and preeminence of Islam and Ahmadiyya 

Respected Amir Sahib had a strong belief in the acceptance of prayers.  I had the extra responsibility for constructing and supervising the new Ahmadiyya secondary school building in addition to teaching and administration.  Once I described my worry about a school matter, so he immediately replied, ‘Mubarik sahib don’t worry we will spread the praying mat’. This comment described his firm belief in prayers and became a source of comfort and strength in faith for me.  Whenever, I had a chance to sit in his company, I always had the feeling of his strong belief in the spread of Islam and Ahmadiyya as if it will spread within a few days. Such was always the company of the righteous people.  

His respect and encouragement for his colleagues

a) My eldest son was born in Ghana and Hazrat khalifatul Messiah the 3^rd gave his name Ata-ul-Wahab.  After hearing the name of my son, respected Amir Sahib commented that he liked the name of my son very much. When I inquired the reason, he said, ‘He has taken the name of both the Amirs of Ghana. He was referring to ex-Amir (Ata Ullah Kalim) and the present Amir (Wahab Adam).  I had not thought that he would find this coincidence to show his love and respect for his colleague and predecessor.

b) I was busy constructing the Salaga School building, when I realized that the asbestos sheets of a roof had cracked and had to be replaced.  I was worried that the Amir Sahab may be upset about this loss.  But to my surprise, he replied with so much love and affection, “Mubarik Sahab, don’t worry, Salaga is the city of storms, and I thought that whole roof of the building has blown away.”  This was our beloved Amir who knew how to win the hearts and make the people to work with love.  He immediately sent the money to repair and helped us to complete the construction.

c) I had an annual function of prize distribution and parent’s day in the school. Wahab Sahib was invited as a chief guest and Mr. S.S Fusani, an ex-minister in the cabinet of the first President of Ghana Mr. Nkrumah, as a guest speaker.  Wahib Sahib was a bit late as he had to travel a long distance from Accra to Salaga. First he rendered an apology for coming late and then gave a very moving speech about Islam, Ahmadiyya and its services to community. He also praised the devotee teachers who had been serving Jamaat. He rendered thanks that God has blessed our efforts in constructing this building, the size of that could take double the cost that we have spent on it.

Spiritual attachment to URDU language 

Hazrat khalifatul Messiah the 3^rd gave a slogan, “Urdu is not only our national but also a religious language” during an Urdu conference at Talim-ul Islam College Rabwah.  Amir Sahib truly considered Urdu as his religious language and always communicated and talked with us in this language.  Once I had the chance to attend the annual gathering in Wah, a city in North Ghana.  I was very impressed when I saw that the Amir Sahab read number of quotations from Promised Messiah’s book and then directly translated it into the local language.  This seen was so impressive that I still remember its sweetness.

His love and sense of comfort for the devotees of the Jamaat

Amir Sahib used to show a lot of love and cared for the comfort for the Jamaat devotees.   I had a personal kerosene fridge for our domestic use.  When it was time for me to go to Pakistan after my waqaf, Amir Sahib wrote a letter: ‘Do do not sell your fridge. Salaga is a hot place. Leave this for your replacement coming  from Pakistan, so that brother  will not suffer for the heat.  I did not know who will be coming but later it happened to be the present Khalifatul Messiah came here as a principal.

Amir Sahib always express thanks for Allah’s bounties

a) During my stay at Salaga, Wahab Sahib’s uncle Mr. Botting was a government welfare officer there. Unfortunately he died due to jaundice, at that time when Wahab Sahib was still in London as a Naib Imam Masjid.  On his arrival in Ghana, he rendered thanks to me saying: “Mubarik Sahib, thank you very much for taking care of my maternal uncle’.

b) He used to speak highly of Chaudry Sir Muhammad Zafrullah khan.  Wahab Sahib narrated that when he was Naib Imam in London, Chaudry Sahib offered him if he want to send some gifts to his wife as Chaudry Sahib was visiting Ghana.  Wahab Sahib had a concern that where as Chaudry Sahib works more than the devotees of the jamaat, some of our devotees do not show such example.  Once, when Wahab Sahib was wearing a Necktie, told me that this was a gift from Dr. Abdus Salam.  The departed soul had many virtues.  The deceased has left with us numerous remember able memories.  May Allah, have mercy on his soul and enable us to emulate his examples.  Ameen.