AN INTERVIEW WITH MR KHURRAM QURESHI

AN INTERVIEW WITH MR KHURRAM QURESHI Tell us something about your formative years. Some of my earliest childhood memories are from when I was 4 to 5 years old. My mother used to read Islamic stories from a magazine called ‘Taha’ which helped me develop an understanding of the basic tenets of Islam and God. We lived in a joint family where all the elders were practising Muslims. One of my fondest memories is of my mother dressing me up for Friday prayers, after which we would go to the mosque with my grandfather, holding his hand. Kids would be sent to the roof where there was little shade. Sometimes I would end up standing barefoot on the burning hot floor without a mat in Delhi’s heat in summers for my prayers. I would keep standing thinking that God would be pleased with me. These experiences had a profound effect on me. During my prayers, I would kiss the ground, imagining that I was kissing God, as my mother had taught me that God is closest to us when we are in sajdah (prostration). At night, I would hold onto my mother’s feet while sleeping, believing what she had told us, that Jannah (Paradise) lies at a mother’s feet. What memories of your parents do you cherish? Both my parents have had a great influence on me. My late father was a well-known advocate, respected in both his professional and personal life. Despite his fame, he lived a very humble life. He would wash and iron his own clothes, and if they got torn, he would stitch them and put patches if they were too worn out. He took up legal cases for the poor without charging them, even when we were going through tough financial times. Mr Khurram Islam Qureshi is a pilot by profession and a member of Delhi chapter of CPS International. He has a Bachelor of Science degree. He is married and has a 14-year-old son named Tanzeel Islam. Mr Khurram actively contributes as a CPS Volunteer. This interview delves into his journey, experiences, and insights.