AN INTERVIEW WITH MR KHURRAM QURESHI

a job immediately. Looking back, I realize the struggle taught me invaluable life lessons and shaped my personality in ways I wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. The most remarkable moment came when I entered the cockpit of the aircraft for which I was selected for—it was the exact same cockpit from my dream 10 years earlier, despite never having been in an airplane before. That dream remains vivid in my memory.” How were you introduced to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan? My introduction to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan came through my mother. She used to read Maulana’s articles from Al-Jamiat weekly in Urdu to her grandfather, and she herself used to read Maulana’s books. I read Maulana’s book ‘Islam Rediscovered’ and was deeply impressed by its non-traditional and modern approach. When I was 11 years old, my family moved to Nizamuddin, just a few houses away from Maulana’s residence. Despite living so close, I didn’t meet him until I turned 30. However, I always felt that he would be the person to turn to in times of dilemma or need. When a critical crossroad arrived in my life, my belief held true. I finally met Maulana, who was incredibly humble and approachable. I found guidance. He invited me to attend his Sunday classes, and I have been a regular attendee ever since. How has Maulana influenced your way of thinking? When I first met Maulana, I was as confused as anyone unfamiliar with his teachings. I used to believe that serving community interests through a blend of ritualistic prayers constituted Islam. However, Maulana redirected my focus from community-oriented thinking to a Godcentred perspective, emphasizing spiritual realization, self-purification and serving the cause of humanity. I came to understand God’s plan of creation and that the purpose of life is to cultivate positive personality, suitable to inhabit Paradise, rather than striving for an Islamic state. Maulana taught me to prioritize obedience to the law of the land and its rulers, and stressed the importance of conveying this message positively, following the prophetic model. To illustrate these teachings, Maulana often recounted events from the Prophet’s life specially of the city of Taif to illustrate these principles. It would be an understatement to say that Maulana emphasised the importance of peace; he believed peace was essential for opening doors to opportunities. He often cited the Treaty of Hudaybiyah as an example, where the Prophet accepted unilateral and unreasonable demands to secure peace.