Its 14:30 in Mogadishu, I’m all alone at the guest house.. Some have gone to view a site where Al Imdaad plans to build a hospital; the others are entertaining a delegation from their home town on a separate mission here.
It’s the first time this week im alone for this long, 2 hours, I wonder where they guys are and what they are seeing and it dawns that I haven’t even introduced the people with whom I am traveling. I must apologize to both them and you, it’s been a lot to take in and keep track of and a lot to try and share with you where ever you may be reading this from.
Myself included the convoy consists of 13 people. We are from 3 countries, South Africa, Zambia and Australia.
Let me start off with the Al Imdaad team from the head office in South Africa; the director and founder of Al Imdaad is Yacoob Vahed, he is always silently busy ensuring things are in order or explaining the mission, situation on the ground or thinking of what more can be done or is being done.
Qari Ziyaad Patel, he is the doer, running the errands making the arrangements and reciting qiraat.
Ebrahim Vahed, Yacoob’s son, Before gwetting to really chat with him I already see that this younger man has his father’s spirit. He care and believes in his father;s dream and the more we chat the more this can be seen.
Ml Imraan, he is the spiritual leader and naturally he is appointed the Amir of the convoy, he is wise and learned. Always passing on spiritual advise and sharing duaas and wisdom.
Shafaat Ahmed Khan, what can I say about Shafaat this man and I have been colleagues since 2004 yet this is the first time we have met. He has always been an encouragement and supportive. He is a great man and I am glad that we finally met. He is a gem and has kept us going on this mission.
Iqbal Adam is the chairman of the Australian Muslim association, this individual is truly and intellectual, I have spent hours every morning after Fajr til breakfast enjoying his company learning about everything from Halaal industry of Australia to Hajj in dustry in Mecca and various political issues in between.
Ml Burhaan, he is also from Australia and is part of the Al Imdaad’s Australian division. He is a young and good amir, I think it’s a blessing that the young Australian committee has a young and focused aalim to refer to.
Ashraf Chohan, he is a former South African now living in Perth also affiliated with Al Imdaad. What a leka guy, cracking jokes and sharing thoughts, he is easy to relate to and a clever and good man.
Ml Yusuf, he is the journalist from radio Islam, a yound and quietly confident man, he makes excellent observations and presents the situation in Somalia excellently to the listeners on the radio.
Iqbal Akubat Is from the Lusaka muslim society he is very spiritual, yet balance, can laugh at and makes some good jokes too. A good balance, he reads duas and passes on advise too.
Yusuf Adam, chairman of the Lusaka muslim society, he is a wise elder and share some good ideas he is also very concerned for the people in plight and has done a lot to raise funds for the Somalis.
Faa’iq Dyer, last but certainly not least, he is the heart of the team, he keeps us going inspiring conversation with lots of pun and controversy but most importantly always keeping us cracking up with laughter, everyone enjoys his company and if you have traveled with him it will come as no surprise why….
That’s the team. I couldn’t have asked for better company in such a difficult mission. If we hadn’t been able to gel so well and understand each other we would all have depressed and at each other by now.
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