Below Aziz Abdul Mohammad shares his personal experience of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s arrival in Texas for the San Antonio Darbar visit, where he was given the opportunity to represent the youth of Mid-Cities Jamat Khana in welcoming Mawlana Hazar Imam at the Austin Airport.. We thank Aziz Mohammad for sharing his moving experience with our readership.
My name is Aziz Abdul Mohammad, and I currently live in Euless, Texas. I have finally found a website where I can share my experience of the San Antonio Darbar.
April 11, 2008 would be the day that I will never forget. Just two days before the San Antonio, Texas Darbar I was given the opportunity to welcome Mawlana Hazar Imam at Austin’s Airport. I found out about this opportunity a week before the Darbar. I was told that I would be given the opportunity to represent the youth of my Jamat Khana (Mid-Cities) at an “event” where Mawlana Hazar Imam would also be present. I was shocked, and I wanted to express my gratefulness to the youth of my Jamat, but I was asked not to tell anybody about this special event except to my own family.
When I reached the area where everyone was asked to meet (Alamo Dome), I then found out that the “event” was to welcome Mawlana Hazar Imam at Austin’s Private Airport! I was really happy, and on the way there I had the entire Mid-Cities Jamat in my heart, in my thoughts, and especially in my prayers.
We finally reached the airport, and were asked to line-up to welcome Hazar Imam with a handheld United States of America as well as the Texas Flag. I got really nervous, and I was still surprised that I was given a chance to be present at this historic event. Then something happened that I would never forget. I was asked along with 2 other girls from San Antonio to come forward as there was something that was needed to be done. He asked us to “Hold the Ismaili, Texas, and the United States Flag right in front of Hazar Imam!” I was speechless, and I couldn’t believe that out of everyone that was present there, I Aziz Mohammad was given this special opportunity.
As Hazar Imam came in front of me, I had my eyes closed and was remembering everyone from my Jamat. I then remembered the words “Looking into the eyes of Hazar Imam is like Ibadat!” I then realized that this was the time that I open my eyes and look directly at my Spiritual Father, my role model, the 49th Imam Shah Karim Al- Husseini. I looked at him and gave him a smile. And just like always he smiled back at me. This would be the historic day that I would never ever forget.
After Hazar Imam departed, I held everyone I knew and cried my heart out. They told me that this was all because of my parent’s (Abdul and Shaker Khanum) hard work and dedication to Hazar Imam that I got this opportunity. I went back and hugged them hard and thanked them for making this very day and event possible. The youth of my Jamat were astonished to see the video of me standing in front of Hazar Imam holding the Texas Flag. I told them “it was not only me there standing. All of you were there as I was asked to represent you all over there!”
Thank You and Ya Ali Madad
Aziz Abdul Mohammad
