AN INTERVIEW WITH MS GUL ZEBA

AN INTERVIEW WITH MS GUL ZEBA Please tell us about your family background and early religious influences. I had a moderately religious upbringing. My mother was the one who guided my siblings and me on Islamic practices like praying, fasting, and reading Quran. Hifz (memorization of the Quran) was very important to her. I completed hifz when I was 14 years old. I live in the USA with my family. Alhamdulillah, all of my children are involved in this mission. When did you start looking for more answers to your challenges? I was surrounded by an Islamic environment since childhood. Later as an adult at my local mosque, I was very active. However, I felt something missing. There was a moment in my life when I felt that I was doing all the things a Muslim should do but did not truly know who God was. I prayed to God to show me a way to get to know Him better. What was your earlier notion about religion? Religion is an essential part of life, and it should be drawn from the Scripture. It requires contemplation and active discussion. How were you introduced to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan? I was completing a Quran course at Al-Huda International. I would often visit an Islamic bookstore there. I asked the salesperson to show me some new arrivals on Islam. He showed me two Urdu books Raz-eHayat (published as The Secret of Success in English) and Allah-u-Akbar. Ms Gul Zeba Ahmed is a core member of the CPS USA team. She lives in Elliott City, Maryland with her three children. Along the path of the journey toward God-realization, she developed a zeal for sharing the message of the CPS mission with other people. She conducts and takes part in interfaith programmes in her vicinity. She started conducting Quran and Seerah classes for the youth in 2013, which continued till 2020. She keeps in touch with other members of the CPS USA team through Zoom meetings every Sunday. She has taken the initiative to establish a library and educational academy, for girls of age 16 and more. This interview brings to the fore her journey of God-realization and her efforts to introduce the peaceful message of Islam.