Cherished Memories of Africa — Page 290
272 They Fulfilled the Pledge with Allah My parents dedicated me from childhood. I was the eldest of all my siblings. My younger brother was ten years junior to me. When I matriculated my father used to do farming. Our means were limited. The household were destitute. At the same time, some sickness affected our cattle and some of them died. It was a desperate situation. I was planning to go to the jami’a. In view of the prevailing circumstances, some of our relatives, out of sympathy, advised my parents: ‘Your son has matriculated and he is young, Find a suitable job for him to improve your circumstances because your financial situation is very critical. If you must send someone to jami’a, send one of the younger sons. ’ My mother was very annoyed with that relative and said: ‘if this son dies, who will help me? I have pledged to dedicate this son in the way of Allah and I will certainly fulfil that. ’ She sent me to jami’a and fulfilled the pledge that she had made with Allah. Blessing of Waqf – Poverty to Affluence The year I got admitted to jami’a, our financial situation was very critical. My father had continued farming as usual. After a few months at the jami’a, during the vacations I went home. The family were much pleased to see me. One of our Ahmadi neighbours, Sayyed Bashir Ahmad Shah was employed in the police and appointed at Gujranwala. An Ahmadi brother at Gujranwala, Malik Muzaffar Ahmad had agency of Shizan. He required a reliable person to supervise his business. Shah Sahib