I would like to say Jazakallahu khairan for granting me this honor  to write regarding MY muazzin

EARLY LIFE AND ACCEPTANCE OF ISLAM

Muazzin luqman was born in the year 1972 in Kzn South africa. Being a South African growing up in apartheid was a challenge on its own. He was born in a family of non Muslims. His father followed a religion known as the “12 apostles.” As he grew up, luqman did odd jobs. At the age of 38, his father passed away. After his father’s demise, he dreamt of his father. In the dream, there were men dressed in white, busy worshipping. His father instructed him to follow these people if he wanted to be successful

This dream greatly affected luqman. For 3 weeks, he was unable to eat. He survived by merely drinking water. Whenever he was in solitude or in public, he would begin crying uncontrollably. There was a whole change in his life. His life started to take a turn. What is my purpose in life? What have I been created for?

After some time, he dreams of his father again instructing him to open to the last 13 pages of a certain scripture he left behind. Luqman, who had not yet accepted Islam at that time, was intrigued. Nevertheless, on awakening, he he does as instructed. He finds to the effect ” successful is that nation who will be made up of different races and colors. One statement will unite them. The statement is, “All power and glory belongs to the one and only creator.”

This had created a very deep desire and unimaginable thirst in luqman to find this nation and this group.

Not long after, he met a friend of his by the name of ahmed, who noticed a difference in luqmans behavior. Luqman explained to him his entire story. He told luqman, ” Tomorrow is Friday. I will come pick you up at 11:00. Wait for me at such a place.

When luqman enters the masjid at the time of jummah whilst the masjid is filled with men from different races and backgrounds wearing white worshipping, he stares in amazement and started crying. He then accepted Islam.

STEADFASTNESS UPON ISLAM AND IMAAN

After accepting Islam, luqman faced many challenges. His first challenge came from his own family. They chased him out of his house. From one family to the next, he moved. They kept on chasing him until his own children did not want him. But this did not stop him. He moved from place to place with no rest. When he would proceed for fajr, they sent young boys to try and kill him. Even this did not stop him. He would wake up from there and proceed straight to the masjid. The next day again fearlessly, he would proceed for fajr. Once imaan settled in his heart and he tasted the true sweetness of imaan there was no force in the world that was going to change him leave alone stop him. He would receive threats from various people, but nothing was going to stop him now.

HIS EAGERNESS FOR ISLAM AND TO PRACTICE ON ISLAM

After accepting Islam in  one of his first jummah bayaans he heard the moulana mention that when an angel comes to destroy a nation they instructed to start with the pious person first because he did not warn or stop his people from wrong. Upon hearing this, luqman immediately went home ,packed his bag, and left for the nearest town. He found an empty place under a deserted stairway. He spent the next few days there until a Muslim friend of his met him and took him home

After some time, he got a job at a supermarket owned by a Muslim person. After some time, ownership changed to a non-Muslim, and they were promised that pork would not be brought in. Luqman, after some time, noticed pork in the freezers. He immediately brought it up, knowing full well that they would fire him if he brought this up.

But his imaan did not allow him to decieve  others. How could it be that a muslim will sell pork . Never mind, I might lose my job and have no source of income, but I can not compromise on the law of Allah tala. I can not allow my Allah tala to become displeased with me for a few benefits of this world.

HIS REALIANCE IN ALLAH TALA AND HIS NEVER ENDING EFFORTS OF MAKING DUA

The entire time when working at different places, luqmans Constant dua was O ALLAH tala. I want to become a muazzin so that I never miss a single salaah. For every salaah, I want to be behind the imaam

This was his dream. His dream was not to have a mansion or to have  a smart car or to be making millions. Imagine! New to Islam and imaan, but Allah tala had made it such that imaan had penetrated deep into his heart . His only wish and desire at that time was to become a muazzin for the pleasure of Allah tala. On one occasion, he made this dua O Allah tala make a muazzin for only 5 days, and then you may take my life. Such was his desire. Allah tala accepted his dua in such a beautiful way. One Friday, he met my respected father, who runs a few jamaat khanas and madressahs in underprivileged areas. My father had known him for some time. My father offered him a job as the muazzin and caretaker of a madressah. His duty was to maintain and look after the place as well as to look after boarding students

We must not forget to call out the azaan 5 times a day. Alhamdulillah, since 2021, Luqman has been with us in the madrassah calling out the azaan.

HIS PIETY

Daily, his routine is to wake up  in the early parts of the morning. He spends his time in tahajjud and dua. Daily after fajr for about an hr he will sit remembering his creator and miking his zikr. Every Monday and Thursday, he fast without fail.

GENEROSITY AND KINDNESS

Luqman is extremely kind and generous

Many times at the madressah, certain necessities are depleted. Luqman will take out from his own money to buy for the students’ items as well as extra stuff despite it not being his duty and despite him earning a meager salary of R4000

On one occasion, we were collecting funds to build a masjid. So I was not around. When I returned, he asked me the reason for not being around, and I told him. He went to his house, brought out some money, and said I would also like to contribute this “little” towards the masjid

Imagine! Earning such a small salary. Yet he has such a big heart! He will not hesitate to take money and spend in the path of Allah tala. On one occasion, a bigger came to the masjid. Generally, if we feel sorry, we will take out perhaps R10 or R20. I see luqman coming from his house with his hands tightly closed. He then greets this begger and quietly puts a note in his hand. Behold it was R100

I thought to myself imagine such a person who generally people look down upon but they have such hearts the magninmty we can not imagine. How True is the saying many people are famous on earth but unknown in the sky and many are famous in the sky but unknown on earth

DEDICATION

This is something that we can write chapters and chapters on. Despite luqman being a muazzin for 3 years, it is like he has been here with us for 30 years. During this time, he has not once taken off at all. Despite us allowing him to go whenever he wishes, he chooses to remain in madressah, and he will not take any leave, be it a Sunday or Monday. Whether it’s holiday or public holiday. He is there every single day. This is something very, very rare. It is difficult to find a muzzin who does not take off just because of his love for Deen and salaah. He will make sure he is there on time to give azaan every day.

VOICE

luqman might not have the most sweetest voice but definitely a voice that echoes what is in his heart. His firm belief. He calls the azaan not as a ritual but rather as if he is calling the people to salaah from his heart. He has become ,alhamdulillah, soaked in the oneness of Allah tala.

CHARACTER

Smiling face. Always first to greet. A very high level of respect for the elderly and gentle to the young. That is luqman. He has a wonderful character. Really, my words can not do justice at all to this person. But I can say one thing for sure.

He is a wonderful person who Allah tala has blessed with imaan in the depths of his heart. He is kind, generous ,pious, and helpful. Someone who goes very far beyond his call of duty and never ever once asked for a cent extra.

HIS LOVE FOR HARAMAIN SHAREEFAIN

last but not least, i will conclude with regards to his love for makkah mukarrama and madina munawara. Recently, I had gone for hajj with khidmatul awaam. When I returned, luqman wanted to hear of my experience. Ever since, he has become madly in love with these places. At times, his eyes fill with tears, wishing he could get a chance to visit these places where imaan had started. Daily, he makes dua to go to these places. Recently, I had given him a dua to recite often if a person wishes to go to these places. His unmatched desire and unimaginable thirst for the haramain shareefain is something extraordinary

Amongst his duty is also to cook food for the students in madressah. At times, whilst passing the kitchen, I hear him reading something. When I come closer he is sending salawaat (durood) upon Nabi صلي الله عليه وسلم)

My dua has been for him for a very long time, and Allah taala blesses him with ziyaret (visiting) of the harmain shareefain in the near future

Please note that I do not have Instagram. Hence, my wife has liked the post, tagged a friend, and reposted it on her story. Instagram : Sarah wadiwala

MUHAMMED MUHAMMED