USA: A touching letter to a martyred brother

---

"Allah has chosen you my brother to be a spiritual celebrity—a Martyr. You deserve (as hard as it may be for us) our congrats, not our sympathy." 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Ansar Connection
By Staff Report | June 2, 2013

Dr. Mehdi Ali Qamar, a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Elders Association, Majlis Ansarullah, USA, was brutally murdered while on a mercy medical mission in Pakistan.

In a very touching open letter (copied below), the national president of Majlis Ansarullah, Dr. Faheem Younus Qureshi, pays a very special tribute to his late friend and brother in faith.

A Letter to an Exemplary Nasir: Mehdi Ali Qamar

Dear Brother Mahdi Ali Qamar,

As-Salamu ‘Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

You may not remember me but we have met many times at Jalsa Salana and other Jama’at events.

I remember you as a rather quiet fellow who would offer a gentle Salam/wa ‘Alaikum as-Salam. I also remember you as someone who was ahead of me…in age, in experience, in accomplishments. But I never thought that you could leap this far ahead—instantly—leaving all of us behind.

Allah has chosen you my brother to be a spiritual celebrity—a Martyr. You deserve (as hard as it may be for us) our congrats, not our sympathy. Despite the fact that our hearts are aching and our eyes are wet, we must remember that our reality is flawed. And it is flawed on many levels.

The world has declared you dead but we must remember: “And say not of those who are killed in the cause of Allah that they are dead; nay, they are living; only you perceive not” (The Holy Qur’an, 2:155) You can be sure that I believe that you are living; that is why I am writing you this letter.

People may have wept after seeing the pictures of your blood stained body lying in bright sunlight but why couldn’t they see the shade created by the wings of the angels? I am not making this up; Jabir bin Abdullah relates: “When my father was martyred, I lifted the sheet from his face and wept and the people forbade me to do so but the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be on him) did not forbid me. Then my aunt Fatima began weeping and the Holy Prophet said, ‘It is all the same whether you weep or not. The angels were shading him continuously with their wings…’” (Bukhari)

Relatives visiting your beautiful home in Ohio are already missing you…but can someone notify them of your prestigious new address, mentioned by the Holy Prophet? “Last night, two men (angels) came to me (in a dream) and made me ascend a tree and then admitted me into a nice and excellent house, the like of which I have never seen before. One of them said: ‘This house is the house of martyrs.’” (Bukhari)

You were a real Nasir my brother Mehdi Ali; a real helper of Allah. We pledge to live by this legacy and continue to be the helpers of Allah, no matter how many savages threaten us with their evil plans.

You traveled to help the ailing in obedience to your Allah and His messenger. Enjoy the company of “the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs, and the Righteous. And excellent companions are these” (The Holy Qur’an, 4:70)

It is natural for us to shed tears; it is hard for us not to miss you. We can only imagine the anguish of your family. May Allah grant them patience and swap their pain with pride. Amin.

Your brother,

Faheem Younus Qureshi,
Sadr Majlis Ansarullah, USA



Majlis Ansarullah, USA passed the following resolution:

Resolution of Majlis Ansarullah, USA: Commemorating the Martyrdom of Dr. Mehdi Ali Bashiruddin Qamar

WHEREAS, Dr. Mehdi Ali Qamar joined the blessed group of “Martyrs of Ahmadiyyat” on May 26, 2014 at the age of 50, on the 2nd day of what was going to be a three-week humanitarian trip at Tahir Heart Institute.

WHEREAS, Dr. Qamar sustained 11 bullets by two unknown gunmen in front of the Bahishti Maqbara (a local graveyard) in Rabwah, Pakistan, while his wife and two-year-old son witnessed the gunmen’s brutality and the martyr’s heroism.

WHEREAS, Dr. Qamar served as the Za‘im of Columbus Majlis from January 2006 to December 2007.

WHEREAS, Dr. Qamar was currently serving the Columbus chapter of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, USA as Secretary Tehrik Jadid, and has continuously served the Columbus Jama‘at during the last decade, in various positions including the positions of Secretary Waqf Jadid and Secretary Ta‘lim.

WHEREAS, Dr. Qamar was in his personal life an exemplar of human kindness, always treating his family, colleagues, patients, and others with the utmost in kindness, compassion, and patience.

WHEREAS, Dr. Qamar generously contributed in all financial campaigns including the fund raising campaigns for Tahir Heart Institute, the Bait-un-Nasir Mosque in Columbus, Ohio, and the Mosque in his ancestral neighborhood in Rabwah, Pakistan.

WHEREAS, Dr. Qamar held the Young Investigator Award by the American College of Cardiology, Physician Recognition Award by the American Medical Association and was identified among America’s Top Physicians for the year 2003-2004 and America’s Top Cardiologists for years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.

WHEREAS, Dr. Qamar was a founding physician member of the Gordon B. Snider Cardiovascular Institute at Fairview Medical Center (FMC) in 2011 and was honored as a Legendary Philanthropist by FMC in 2013.

WHEREAS, Dr. Qamar was a prolific poet and his upcoming book ‘Barg-i-Khial’ is anxiously awaited by his fans.

WHEREAS, Dr. Qamar was a skilled calligrapher whose works remain preserved on the center dome of Bait-un-Nasir Mosque in Columbus, Ohio.

Therefore, National Amilah of Majlis Ansarullah, USA unanimously resolves that:

We, despite our heartfelt grief, are forever inspired by Dr. Qamar’s character, valor, and martyrdom.

We send our condolences and a promise to offer relentless support to Dr. Qamar’s wife and children.

We pray that may Allah grant patience and perseverance to Dr. Qamar’s family to bear this loss.

Humbly submitted on this 4th day of June 2014.
The Members of the National Amilah of Majlis Ansarullah, USA



  --  USA: A touching letter to a martyred brother


This content-post is archived for backup and to keep archived records of any news Islam Ahmadiyya. The views expressed by the author and source of this news archive do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of Ahmadiyya Times.