Perseverance — Page 193
Concluding Thoughts Rashid Ahmad accepted Islam nearly 70 years ago and he’s never turned back. His life stands as a testimony to the transformational truth of the Promised Messiah’s teachings. Under the mentorship and guidance of the Second Khal ī fah ra , Rashid’s faith grew to the unwavering extent of no return, leaving behind a life of gambling, drinking and debauchery. I had once asked Brother Rashid why he never turned back from Islam like some others did. He looked right back at me as if I had asked a stupid question. His quick response was as simple as it was satisfying: “Because it’s the Truth. ” Not only did Rashid witness the changes within his own life, but also the fresh signs of the progress of Ahmadiyyat. The Community in the United States was a mere seedling at the time he was first introduced to it. It has dramatically grown politically, administratively and economically, and continues to expand its spheres of influence. When Rashid arrived at the International Community’s headquarters in Rabwah, Pakistan back in 1949, the city’s very existence and future were in doubt. Now it is home to world class medical, educational and spiritual institutions, completely funded by the members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Although the oppressive intolerance against Ahmadis in Pakistan has