Perseverance — Page 196
196 – the story of al-haj Rashid ahmad american AFTERWORD – Rashid Ahmad’s Final Days January 27, 2015: Back when I embarked upon this project in 2009, Brother Rashid Ahmad American was already 86 years old. To put it bluntly, my primary concern was that he might not live long enough to see completion of this book. Rashid and I used to joke about this throughout the time we worked together. He would typically ask me what he should do to prepare for our next session, and I would often reply, “Just stay alive! Don’t worry about anything else. ” He would laugh it off saying, “Well brother, you know I can’t help you there. You’re gonna need to ask Him for that [pointing upwards]!” Jokes aside, at the ripe age of 86, he could’ve passed away at any moment – for who knows the final day God has decreed for our lives? Over the last 6 years I constantly prayed: “O Allah, You Alone are the Giver of life and You Alone, the Taker of it. If You desire to complete this book, it is within Thy Power – but I humbly ask Thee to extend the life of Rashid until his work is complete. ” Rashid, on the other hand, seemed to have this nonchalant attitude and uncanny confidence as if there was nothing to worry about. Things were going to get done one way or another. The writing of this book was completed in September 2014 and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s reviews were finalized just two weeks ago. The book is now ready for print. Unfortunately, last week (January 19), Brother Rashid Ahmad was diagnosed with a terminal illness. He is now in hospice care at the home of his daughter, N as irah, near Milwaukee. Last night, the hospice nurse