Cherished Memories of Africa — Page 294
276 Heart Rending event of my mother’s demise In 1997 I was on leave in Pakistan. (Those were the days when all the markazi (central) workers had to emigrate from the Gambia). My parents were in Germany at that time. After a few months, I was directed by Hadrat Khalifatul Masih IV (ra) to go to the Gambia immediately. Complying with that I returned to the Gambia. A short while after that my parents went to Pakistan, therefore, I could not meet them. A few months after arrival in Pakistan my mother passed away. راجعــون الیــہ وأنــا ہلل. انــا I was in Dakar, Senegal that day. Pakistan Standard time is five hours ahead of Senegal. My mother died in the morning; it was about midnight in Senegal. I was all alone at home when I received the sad news. My family had arrived in the Gambia but because of certain constraints they could not come to Senegal and because of my responsibilities, I could not go to the Gambia. Thus I was all alone in Senegal and the family in the Gambia. That already was cause of concern for me. On top of that, my mother’s demise really shook me. The whole night I cried on my own and consoled myself. A muallim, Saali Jabi lived with me. At Fajr prayers I told him about my mother’s death. People from neighbourhood and jama’at members came; they consoled me and comforted me. May Allah reward them abundantly, Amin! End of Edition One