Letters to the Editor
Letters: I was There When the First Dose was Given, Here Are My Thoughts
Dear Sir,
Tuesday 8 December at 18:31 marked a truly momentous occasion: the beginning of the run towards the Covid-19 finish line, of course we still have a long way to go.
As the Silver Commander for University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire, I was present and witnessed 90 year old Margaret Keenan become the first person in the world to be administered the vaccine. I knew there would be media coverage of this historic moment but little did I know that the world’s media would flock to my workplace, with the entire building buzzing with excitement. Understandably, there were so many mixed emotions in the room: excitement, hope and sadness. I myself have lost a close family member to Covid-19, so to watch the first vaccine being used was deeply moving. As I looked around the room, I found a story behind each face; as if every expression detailed a long arduous journey where loved ones were lost to the virus and the course of life altered for many.
Being a practicing Muslim, I took a moment to be thankful to God. Though others may see this as only a medical marvel – which it undeniably is – but to me this moment was significant in a spiritual and moral sense too. We as a race have indeed come very far, but as we found civilisation breaking down around us and humankind brought to its knees by an “invisible enemy” what we should truly learn from pandemic is humility.
Irfan Hanif
Qaid Leamington Spa
Letters to the Editor
Spiritually Charged Audience
Dear Sir,
Like many University graduates I had dreams and expectations to land an amazing job after graduation, as this is what I was led to believe. I ended up with a 1st class degree from a good university. However, when I actually started looking for a job, my degree didn’t help me much and the realities of life hit me. Like many people I ended up in a job not related to the field I studied. I was constantly depressed and unhappy. By the grace of Allah, I had a personal audience with Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih Vaba. I told him about how I felt and all my problems. Beloved Huzooraba listened to my struggles and advised me to “study ICT or Computing”. At first, I was reluctant to go back to education again, but I finally heeded his advice and did a conversion course in computer science. By the grace of Allah, that has been the best decision of my life, I managed to secure an amazing job even before I finished my degree and then have gone on to work with some amazing companies. By listening to Huzooraba, I discovered that software engineering is my passion and now I am in a job and field, which I love. I find it amazing that such advice which came from a meeting of only a few minutes was so spiritually charged that it really did change my life.
Yasir Khan
Upper Mitcham
Letters to the Editor
Financial Services
Dear Sir,
I have been following the whole debate around the stock market: taking money back “from Wall street to Main street”. Recently, we saw small investors invest in stocks which sent certain stocks shooting through the roof, however, as they quickly fell many people lost out. Unfortunately, it became quite evident that it wasn’t as simple as people hoped it would be. I am certain some of us, who have been following this saga, will ask were these actions just? According to the House Committee on Financial Services, the answer is no. This whole episode reminded me of the chapter of the Holy Qur’an which pertains to being just in all matters. Perhaps it’s now time to stop running our entire financial edifice on cash that does not exist.
Sharjeel Sajid
Balham
Letters to the Editor
The Spirit of Sacrifice
Dear Sir,
As you are aware, MKA UK has been covering the security shifts for Islamabad (whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines). Before the pandemic, these would be covered by Khuddam from across the country as each region took turns to bring a dozen Khuddam who would perform their voluntary duty for an entire day. As lockdown began, this responsibility fell to those Qiadats around Farnham and Muqami region as a whole. Khuddam have been much lifted by the manner in which Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih Vaba has shown his love for those performing these duties (see article in January 2021 edition). Recently, I learnt of a khadim in my Qiadat who walked nearly 1 hour to Islamabad so that he could cover his voluntary post. Though we have not really been offering prayers at the Mosque for over a year now, I believe the spirit of the second aspect of Islam—rights owed to humanity—is ever alive and growing.
Sabahat Cheema
Qaid Farnham
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