Letters to the Editor
Cancel fireworks and spend the money on COVID
Dear Sir,
As the year is coming to a close, I saw Australia welcoming the New Year with thunderous celebrations and specifically fireworks being set off. I thought to myself, in these precarious times, why are we so determined to not just waste but literally burn our money on such lavish, trivial pursuits? Why is there such a stark contrast between that spending and the vast majority of us who are having trouble making both ends meet? Instead of literally burning up millions of pounds on something that is needless and extremely harmful to our environment as well, shouldn’t we aim to improve the lives of those who are less fortunate than us? Wouldn’t that money be better invested in the future of those who are, under no fault of their own, starving and fighting off homelessness? Not to forget the children on free school meals whose families are forced to choose between a warm home or a full plate.
In these times I am always contented by seeing that we, as a youth group, are leading by example. Many of our youths have been at the forefront helping, among many other causes, the NHS as volunteers by sacrificing their time and money to help the elderly. Working tirelessly to feed the homeless and the aforementioned disadvantaged children. Another very recent example could be seen at the port of Dover where over 3000 meals were prepared and distributed to people stuck at the port. An example not just for our fellow human beings but also for major nations who seem to not be able to grasp such a simple concept on their own.
I pray that we continue to be a source of ease and happiness to others as is our responsibility in being followers of the Mercy for Mankind (sa).
Sharjeel Sajid (Balham Qiadat)
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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