Jaffari News

“Deal with Allah (S.W.T) and feel the Difference”

Salaam alaikum, Thank you for your time. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I was born to Lebanese parents in Kuwait and when I was about 14, my father decided to move to Australia. We moved there in 1978 and I completed my high school there.

What did you study at University and where and at what age did you start your Islamic studies? 

I completed my BA in Translation at Al-Azhar University and there I was studying religion as well.

From our understanding, you were from a Sunni background. How did you change your school of thought?

I was comparing religions and the two schools of thought and it dawned on me in the process of it all and I decided to change my school of thought.

What inspired you to become a Shia? We understand that you also read the Sahifa-e-Sajjadiyah and that was an influential factor.  

Yes, it was one of the most influential factors and had a great impact on my life. I often say that if we could re-print this book and change the name to the Universal Book of Prayer, it would appeal to everyone.  It is a straightforward communicative prayer between the individual and Allah (S.W.T).  There are many other books that had a tremendous impact on me such as, The Right Path and The Important Chapters in Uniting the Muslims/Ummah by Allama Abulhussein Sharafudden.  My communication with one of the local Syeds in Australia along with my father’s experience and visit to Najaf and his interaction with the Marja of the time Ayatullah Mohammed Hussein al-Kashiful-Ghitah, also helped in determining my future.

So all of your family became Shias together?

No. Neither my other brothers nor my mother are Shia, but they never had an issue and were very supportive. Having said this, they are very much fond of Ahlul Bait (a.s). After that visit I mentioned to you earlier that my father made to Najaf, he made sure that Sunni-Shia issues are never talked about negatively at home. He was a major advocate of the Sunni-Shia unity. It was a struggle but worthwhile in the end.

Was there any particular dua that struck a chord with you from the Sahifa?

There are a number of duas, but the dua Ahle-at-Thagoor really moved me. It is the dua which Imam (a.s) used to pray when the Muslim armies used to go out in defence of their faith. The impact that dua has on me is profound. It is amazing the way he communicates the ability of Allah (S.W.T) to come to someone’s rescue and the confidence you gain when you put you trust in Allah (S.W.T). As I say, “Deal with Allah (S.W.T) and feel the difference” you know, it’s amazing...just amazing

What was your inspiration to become a speaker, an Alim?

Ever since I was young, I went to Mosque and I have great respect and affinity just at the sight of an Aalim. Whenever I saw one I was inspired. I felt that these people do a great amount of work and the respect they demand from the community is phenomenal, and so I said I wanted to become one. Nothing was stopping me, and basically that’s what happened. In fact when my father found out that I was going to Egypt for studies, he was flabbergasted. He was “over the moon” that I actually took that initiative to go for Islamic studies.

Where did you go to further your Islamic studies?

Qum. Najaf was not accessible to us at that time.

In Qum, who were your mentors whom you looked up to? 

One of the most instrumental people in helping me go into the hawza was a famous Alim in Iran, his name is Sheikh Al-Ibrahimi and he was the brother-in-law of Ayatullah Muntadhari at that time.  He was the head of Al-Hujjatiyah Hauza. It is one of the most famous hawzas in Qum. Most of those Alims who are called Hujjat Al-Islam are graduates from this Hawza, that’s why it’s called Hujjatiyah.

It is often very rare to see an Alim who is Mashallah well dressed and has the bling.... (Laughs) I didn’t think you’d go there....and usually the youths say that how can an Alim dress so materialistically. How would you explain it to the youths?

Fair enough. I am glad you raised this because it will alleviate some of the misconceptions. I travel and interact a lot with non-Muslims in Australia and I felt that living in such a set up, Western set up, which looks up to refinement and fine details, I needed to show a positive image of Islam.  I also get lots of home visits, from journalists and others. One of the most interesting visits was from a commander in the Army who was doing a PhD on Hezbollah because he had served with them in South Lebanon and was totally mesmerised by how organised they are. The first thing he said when he entered my house was,” I have never been to a Muslim home that is as neat and organised as your home.”  All my investment in my home and myself goes for that purpose. For projecting an image that we Muslims are as refined, if not more refined, than anyone else. One of the community members asked me the same question and I said, “When I am seen in public dressed like this, imagine what people will think of you as a follower of that faith.” I am not saying go extravagant but within as much means as possible. If you can project yourself in that image, it changes the total concept of what Islam and its followers are all about. Of course it is not based on looks only, but other things as well. I remember, once I was travelling with a Sunni Alim going for a Milad-un-Nabi program. I was at the airport and I have this habit of matching everything I wear. There was a couple coming from the other direction and I heard the husband very overtly telling the wife, “This is the most well dressed priest I have ever seen in my life” So that is the reason. It is not for the sake of, God forbid, arrogance or pride; this is the least of my concern.

What is your secret to good memory?

The best thing to increase and keep your memory is to be connected to the Qur’an. It keeps you focused, number one, and two  Subhanallah Allah (S.W.T) has put that quality in the Qur’an, that the more you read it your memory becomes sharper and sharper...

lt;strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You are a father of 7 children...6 girls and 1 boy...being and Alim and travelling often, are there any special challenges that you face with your children?

I am a father, obviously I will be challenged, not with all the challenges that other girls face though. My wife and I have a very interesting set up with our girls. Basically it is “Don’t keep anything from us. We are your parents but we are also your friends and we will help you. We will never put you down for anything. Trust us and we will help you along the way.” So my girls will not hide anything from me. They are very transparent and even if they do anything wrong, they will tell us and ask for help to overcome it.  That is my advice to every parent. Be there for your children. Befriend them from an early age and you will be surprised and feel the wonders of communication between your children and yourself.

What about time management?

That is a big issue. I am out of home for almost 4 months out of the year. It is a huge task and very taxing on my children and whenever I get an email, I sit and cry on my own. It’s tough ...it’s tough. They always want to see more of me. It’s the words of wanting to see me that touch the heart. But when I am in the country, I make sure that it is I who takes them to and from school. I use that time, weekends and nights  and when I am home to very efficiently to talk to them,  because back home I am very heavily involved in counselling services, marriage programs and of course my own work at the center...but Alhamdulillah you always manage to find time..

In your lectures you point out that you should not raise your children according to how you were raised...because the time has changed...but do you see any similarity in the way you were raised and the way children are raised now?

None...The way I was raised with my parents was completely different. I think it may have worked for me and that is why I am what I am but I would not employ the same methodology as my parents. 

What would you hang on to?

The biggest thing I would say is respect and love. Showing respect to your children .If you don’t give it, you won’t get it...and secondly showing compassion. Children need a lot of compassion. They feel that the moment you are not compassionate with them even for one day, you never give them love.  I have been receiving emails lately especially from girls, saying that they cannot relate to their mum and that their mum does not love them. It seems that mothers are having issues showing love to their daughters. They think that too much protection is love and surely that is one way of showing love but that is not working with the sisters at all.... Sisters want a hug. They want to feel cuddled and passionately loved in every shape or form. That is not what our girls are getting and without that at home I think they will go astray and find it elsewhere and often in the wrong hands.

Can you tell us some of your tabligh activities?

We are very much involved in interfaith programs in Australia. We also invite government agents to come to our centers and are very well connected with the police force. So every now and then we invite them to come and give us the latest as far as the law is concerned and we engage them heavily in talking to our youth about the vices of alcohol, drugs and being part of gangs from the legal point of view and the ramifications of getting tangled in those vices. They have been very cooperative in that, in the sense that they will passionately speak about the subject and warn our youths about going down that path. We also engage the local MP and when the Hijab issue came out, the local MP spoke three times in Parliament in defence of Hijab.  She is a great advocate of Muslim /non Muslim interaction and has mentioned our center a number of times as a model of multicultural interaction between communities...Alhamdulillah. I am also heavily involved in counselling services and the Nabi Akram center.

What is your experience post 9/11. Have you had a harder time?

Absolutely! In fact, I don’t say it to shy away from who I am but when I travel to certain destinations namely the US; I struggle with my full gear, i.e. ammamah, abaya etc. I don’t do it anymore because I was stopped by FBI once for 6.5 hrs because I was travelling like that and I asked the officer why and he said, “You are a recipe for disaster. Your name is Jehad, you were born in Kuwait, your parents are Lebanese and you dress like Taliban. You fit the profile!”  It is difficult and in fact you get worse treatment when travelling within the Arab world. They identify the ammamah as sign of a Shia...

What has been your most memorable moment here in Toronto? ... (Laughs) You caught me off guard....I have to collect my thoughts...It happened this morning. We were driving through and I finally saw the dome at Bathurst. It was very touching. I was waiting to see that sight.  I hope the project will be finished. I have so much affinity towards Bathurst. With good networking with the community and excellent work from the EC, inshallah the project will be completed quickly. 

Thank you again for your time       

Books recommended to youths: Self development by Allahma Amini, 3 vols but worth reading:

Collector of felicities by Allama Naraqi

Principles of Islam by Allama Tabatabai

All books are downloadable from www.Al-islam.org