A Diamond of Khilafat - Syed Taalay Ahmed Shaheed (MTA Documentary Special)

Summary

The video script commemorates the life and martyrdom of Syed Taalay Ahmad, a devoted servant of Islam Ahmadiyyat and a dedicated follower of Khilafat. It highlights his love and loyalty to Khilafat, his upbringing, educational journey, and significant contributions to the Muslim TV channel, MTA. Through various personal anecdotes and experiences, the script paints a vivid picture of Taalay's commitment, humility, and spiritual devotion, ultimately culminating in his tragic death while on duty in Ghana. His legacy and impact on the community and future generations are profoundly emphasized.

Takeaways

• 💎 Syed Taalay Ahmad was deeply devoted to Khilafat, showing his love in every action and moment.
• 📝 He wrote a poem expressing his love for the Caliph, highlighting his dedication and affection.
• 🕌 Taalay was a devoted servant of Islam Ahmadiyyat and was martyred while filming for MTA in Ghana.
• 👶 He was born on February 9, 1990, to Syed Hashim Ahmad Sahib and Tayyaba Ahmed Sahiba, with a blessed lineage tracing back to Hazrat Ali (ra) and Hazrat Imam Hussain (ra).
• 📚 Taalay had a strong relationship with God, often sharing his spiritual experiences and how his prayers were accepted.
• 🎥 He worked extensively in MTA News and the Press and Media office, contributing significantly to the production of documentaries and news coverage.
• 🏫 Despite starting a degree in Biomedicine, Taalay's passion lay in serving the community, leading him to pursue a Master's in Journalism as directed by Huzoor (aba).
• 🤝 Taalay's humility, selflessness, and devotion were evident in his work and personal relationships, leaving a lasting impact on those around him.
• 📽️ He played a vital role in enhancing the quality of MTA documentaries and initiated the program 'This Week with Huzoor,' which became highly popular during the pandemic.
• 🌟 Taalay's martyrdom is seen as a source of inspiration and spiritual awakening for many, particularly within the family of the Promised Messiah (as).

Q & A

Who was Syed Taalay Ahmad?

Syed Taalay Ahmad was a devoted servant of Islam Ahmadiyyat, a true follower of Khilafat, and an exemplary Waqfe Zindagi who was elevated to the status of a martyr on August 24, 2021.

What significant work was Syed Taalay Ahmad doing in Ghana?

Syed Taalay Ahmad was in Ghana to report on charity work carried out by the Muslim Community for the TV channel MTA when he was ambushed and martyred.

How did Taalay demonstrate his love for Khilafat?

Taalay's love for Khilafat was evident in every action, from his interactions with the Khalifa to his dedicated work. He expressed his love and devotion in his every moment, including his final words.

What educational background did Syed Taalay Ahmad have?

Taalay pursued a degree in Biomedicine with the intention to study Medicine, but his heart wasn't in it. Under the guidance of Huzoor, he shifted to a Master’s in Journalism, which he completed successfully.

What were some of the key projects and roles Taalay took on in his service to the Jama’at?

Taalay served in various capacities, including working in the MTA news, the Press and Media office, and Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya. He produced numerous documentaries and was instrumental in the creation of 'This Week With Huzoor'.

How did Taalay’s family background influence his dedication to his faith?

Taalay came from a lineage of devoted and blessed ancestors, including ties to the Promised Messiah (as) and the Holy Prophet (sa). This heritage instilled in him a deep sense of responsibility and devotion to live and die for God.

What was Taalay’s relationship with his colleagues and family members?

Taalay was known for his humility, warmth, and sense of humor. He was regarded as a brother by many, always ready to help and support his colleagues and family.

What were Taalay’s last words, and what do they signify?

Taalay's last words were a message of love to his family and Huzoor, reflecting his unwavering devotion to Khilafat even in his final moments.

How did the community and the Khalifa respond to Taalay’s martyrdom?

The community and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) expressed profound grief and pride. Huzoor (aba) provided prayers and guidance, which gave strength and comfort to Taalay’s family and the Jama’at.

What legacy did Syed Taalay Ahmad leave behind?

Taalay left a lasting legacy through his high-standard documentaries, his dedication to Khilafat, and his role in inspiring the next generations to love and serve the Jama’at.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Taalay Ahmad: A Devoted Follower and Martyr

The first paragraph describes the deep love and devotion that Syed Taalay Ahmad had for Khilafat. He expressed his love through a poem and demonstrated his commitment through his actions and demeanor. His martyrdom on August 24, 2021, while filming for MTA in Ghana, is highlighted, showcasing his dedication to his work and faith. The paragraph reflects on his life, family, and the spiritual legacy he leaves behind.

05:06

🌟 Taalay's Lineage and Early Life

This paragraph outlines the noble lineage of Syed Taalay Ahmad, tracing his ancestry to the Promised Messiah (as) and the Holy Prophet (sa). It discusses his upbringing, the prayers made for him before his birth, and his early involvement in the Waqfe Nau scheme. The narrative highlights his understanding of the responsibilities that came with his heritage and his commitment to live his life for God.

10:12

📚 Taalay's Education and Early Career

The third paragraph focuses on Taalay's education and the pivotal role of Huzoor (aba) in guiding his career. Despite his initial struggles with Medicine, Taalay found his calling in Journalism under Huzoor's (aba) guidance. This period marked a significant transformation in Taalay's life, leading him to excel in his roles within MTA and the Jama'at, culminating in the creation of impactful documentaries.

15:13

🎥 Taalay's Contributions to MTA and Personal Qualities

This section highlights Taalay's immense contributions to MTA, including his innovative approach to news presentation and documentary filmmaking. It also touches on his personal qualities such as humility, sense of humor, and dedication to his work. Notable projects like 'For Love and The Game' and the Hartlepool documentary are mentioned, showcasing his commitment to preserving the history and legacy of the Ahmadiyya community.

20:19

🎬 Pioneering Projects and Unmatched Devotion

This paragraph discusses Taalay's major projects, including his documentary on the election of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba). It emphasizes his love and dedication to Khilafat, his innovative ideas, and the personal sacrifices he made to serve the Jama'at. The narrative also reflects on his ability to inspire others and the lasting impact of his work on future generations.

25:23

📅 'This Week With Huzoor' and Taalay's Impact

The creation and success of the 'This Week With Huzoor' program is detailed in this paragraph, highlighting Taalay's initiative and dedication. It underscores the program's significance, especially during the pandemic, and its positive reception among the community. Taalay's commitment to his work, his family, and his unwavering love for Khilafat are central themes.

30:26

📖 Taalay's Dedication to Knowledge and Service

This paragraph covers Taalay's commitment to continuous learning, particularly his dedication to listening to the Darsul Quran classes of Khalifatul Masih IV (rh). It also recounts his professional diligence during holidays and his readiness to serve the Jama'at in any capacity. Taalay's humility and acknowledgment of others' contributions to his work are also highlighted.

35:33

✈️ Taalay's Final Mission in Africa

The eighth paragraph narrates Taalay's final mission in Africa, his excitement for the project, and his dedication despite the challenges. It describes the tragic incident that led to his martyrdom and the immediate reactions from his colleagues and family. The paragraph reflects on the mix of grief and pride felt by the community and the strength derived from the prayers and guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba).

40:34

💔 The Aftermath of Taalay's Martyrdom

This section delves into the aftermath of Taalay's passing, the community's response, and the ongoing support from Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba). It highlights the prayers and strength provided by Huzoor (aba) during this difficult time, and the pride in Taalay's service and sacrifice. The narrative also touches on the spiritual reassurance and dreams that followed his martyrdom.

45:35

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Taalay's Family and His Final Message

This paragraph emphasizes Taalay's love for his family and his unwavering loyalty to Khilafat, as expressed in his final message. It highlights the emotional connection between Taalay and his wife, the spiritual significance of his dreams, and the continued prayers and support for his children. The narrative underscores the spiritual and personal legacy Taalay leaves behind.

50:37

🙏 Taalay's Devotion and Spiritual Legacy

This section reflects on Taalay's deep devotion to Khilafat and his exemplary life as a Waqfe Zindagi. It acknowledges the challenges he faced, the strict guidance from his uncle, and his ultimate sacrifice. The paragraph concludes with a hopeful prayer for more individuals like Taalay to emerge within the Jama'at, dedicated to their faith and service to Khilafat.

55:40

💎 A Diamond Among the Devotees

The final paragraph pays tribute to Taalay as a precious diamond among life-devotees, recognizing his exceptional commitment and sacrifice. It recalls a dream that signified his acceptance in the company of the Holy Prophet (sa), providing spiritual comfort to his family. The narrative ends with a reflection on the inspiring impact of Taalay's martyrdom on the Jama'at and a call to continue his legacy of devotion and service.

Keywords

💡Khilafat

Khilafat refers to the institution of spiritual leadership in Islam, specifically in the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. In the script, it is portrayed as a central theme, embodying the devotion and love of Syed Taalay Ahmad for the Caliph, which guided his actions and life. For example, Taalay's love and obedience to the Khalifa of the time are evident throughout his life and his work, culminating in his final words expressing his love for Khilafat.

💡Martyrdom

Martyrdom in the context of the script refers to the ultimate sacrifice made by Syed Taalay Ahmad in the way of Allah, symbolizing his dedication and service to his faith and community. His death while filming for MTA in Ghana is highlighted as an act of supreme devotion, inspiring others within the community to follow his example.

💡Waqfe Zindagi

Waqfe Zindagi, meaning 'life devotion,' refers to the commitment of one's entire life to the service of Islam and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Syed Taalay Ahmad's life is described as a true embodiment of this concept, as he dedicated his talents and efforts to the community, from his educational pursuits to his professional contributions in MTA and other Jama'at activities.

💡Jama’at

Jama’at refers to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, a religious organization dedicated to the teachings of Islam as interpreted by its founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. The script frequently mentions the Jama’at in the context of Taalay's service and sacrifice, highlighting his roles and contributions to various projects and the community at large.

💡MTA

MTA, or Muslim Television Ahmadiyya, is the satellite TV channel of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. It plays a significant role in the script as the platform where Syed Taalay Ahmad worked, producing documentaries and news segments that brought the community's activities and messages to a global audience. His work with MTA, including his final project in Ghana, is central to his legacy.

💡Tahajjud

Tahajjud refers to the voluntary late-night prayer in Islam, which holds great spiritual significance. In the script, Taalay's dedication to this prayer is highlighted as an example of his deep faith and spiritual discipline, particularly noted in his commitment to offering Tahajjud following the guidance of the Khalifa.

💡Nusrat Jehan Scheme

The Nusrat Jehan Scheme is an initiative by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to provide humanitarian aid, such as education and healthcare, in Africa. Taalay's involvement in documenting the impact of this scheme during his final assignment in Ghana underscores his commitment to showcasing the community's charitable efforts and his excitement about contributing to this significant project.

💡Istikhara

Istikhara is a prayer for seeking guidance from Allah in making decisions. In the script, Taalay's mother mentions performing Istikhara before her marriage, which she later connects to the divine blessings and spiritual richness observed in their family, including Taalay's life and sacrifices.

💡Promised Messiah

The Promised Messiah refers to Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, who claimed to be the promised reformer in Islam. The script frequently references Taalay's lineage and dedication as a member of this community, emphasizing his commitment to the ideals and mission of the Promised Messiah.

💡Sadaqa

Sadaqa is the act of giving charity in Islam, often as a means to seek protection and blessings from Allah. In the script, Taalay's mother advises him to offer Sadaqa after a significant dream, which later appears to foreshadow his martyrdom, reflecting the deep intertwining of faith and personal experiences in his life.

Highlights

Syed Taalay Ahmad expressed his profound love for Khilafat through his actions and writings.

On the 24th of August 2021, Syed Taalay Ahmad was martyred while filming for the Muslim TV channel in Ghana.

Syed Taalay Ahmad was born on 9th February 1990 and was part of the Waqfe Nau scheme.

His paternal great grandfather, Hazrat Mir Muhammad Ismail (ra), had a blessed lineage tracing back to Hazrat Ali (ra) and Hazrat Imam Hussain (ra).

Syed Taalay Ahmad showed immense respect and devotion towards his family heritage and responsibilities.

At a young age, he demonstrated an understanding of spiritual and religious concepts.

He was actively involved in Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya, serving in various roles including National Health and Fitness Secretary for Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya.

Taalay was instrumental in producing high-quality documentaries and content for MTA News.

His documentary 'Four Days without a Shepherd' was highly praised and titled by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba).

He initiated the popular program 'This Week with Huzoor', highlighting the activities of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba).

Syed Taalay Ahmad was known for his humility, selflessness, and dedication to his work and community.

He was deeply loved and respected by his colleagues and community members for his contributions and character.

Taalay's commitment to his work continued even during his personal time, often merging his professional and personal efforts.

He showed remarkable resilience and dedication, even preparing for work in challenging conditions.

His last words were a testament to his love for his family and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba).

Transcripts

He was a precious diamond that has departed from us.

He had written a poem and he began the poem by saying

“I love my Caliph more than the others”

and ended it by saying “I love my Caliph but he’ll never know”.

O my beloved Taalay! I tell you that even before your final words,

I knew that you loved and adored Khilafat.

This love was evident from your every deed, your every moment,

when you stood before me with a camera in your hand

and even when you met me without your camera,

this love was evident from the sparkle in your eyes

and from the unique expression of joy on your face.

Your every action would demonstrate your eagerness to express the love you had for Khilafat.

On the 24th of August 2021, the 14th day of the Holy Month of Muharram 1443 AH,

a most devoted servant of Islam Ahmadiyyat,

a true follower of Khilafat and an exemplary Waqfe Zindagi,

Syed Taalay Ahmed, was elevated to the status of a Shaheed - a martyr in the way of Allah.

Syed Taalay Ahmad was ambushed, while filming for the Muslim TV channel.

He was in Ghana to report on charity work carried out by the Muslim Community,

for the TV channel, MTA. It seems that he was focused on his job, to the very end.

To know his life and pious actions is not only a source of inspiration

but how we keep the blessed memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice

for their Lord’s sake, alive.

We were married in Hartlepool, and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh) came to do the Nikkah.

So our Nikkah was done on the night,

and I said to him, "Huzoor, pray for our children from this marriage.

"Pray for our children to be born out from this wedlock."

And that brought, you know, a beaming smile to Huzoor’s (rh) face.

He was so pleased with that.

His eyes filled, his face was smiling but all he could manage was a nod, saying to me like this,

"Yes, I will".

And Taalay was not even conceived then but the prayers started from him.

I think from that moment.

Syed Taalay Ahmad was born to Syed Hashim Ahmad Sahib and Tayyaba Ahmed Sahiba

on 9th February 1990.

And we had requested Huzoor, Khalifatul Masih IV (rh),

if he could be in the Waqfe Nau scheme and Huzoor (rh) had graciously accepted him.

Huzoor (rh) gave him his name Taalay, which means

"very fortunate" or "one who rises like the sun".

And he was always very, very fortunate.

This most fortunate child was the progeny of blessed and holy ancestors.

From his father’s side his grandmother was the daughter of Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra),

one of the blessed sons of the Promised Messiah (as).

From his mother's side, he was the grandchild of Hameed Khan Sahib and Sajida Hameed Sahiba.

However his paternal great grandfather, Hazrat Mir Muhammad Ismail (ra), had a most blessed lineage.

We have an authentic family tree from our grandfather’s side right to Hazrat Ali (ra)

and Hazrat Imam Hussain (ra) and then Hazrat Ali (ra).

So the combination of all these lineage, Allah the Almighty produced Syed Taalay Ahmad.

Out of all my children,

he realized the importance of being born in a family who has lineage of prophethoods

that once you have been born in this family the life is not yours.

It is to be lived for God.

You have to live it the way He wants you to, and you have to die with the way He wants you to.

And, I am so proud to say that every minute of his life was like that.

Realizing the responsibility that he is born in the family of Promised Messiah (as)

and going beyond that he is born in the family of the Holy Prophet (sa).

When my father passed away, my mother had passed away before.

After a few months, Taalay’s family moved into the house and basically to look after me.

I was still a young guy. I was still a child myself at the time.

And so then at that time I saw Taalay.

So then that relationship being an uncle at that time became more like a younger brother

because we were living together. And you know, how younger brothers,

they have times when they are the best of friends, sometimes you have arguments.

Taalay was the most fun son, loving, warm, confident, charming,

such a good company, such a great sense of humour, always kind, always cheerful, very forgiving.

Once Huzoor, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh), he came to Hartlepool

and Taalay was only three or four years old, and they were running around.

So once Huzoor was joking with my mum,

and he said, "Out of the four kids who do you think is the most intelligent?"

And my mum said, "Abid".

And Huzoor (rh) said no it’s - Gugu - Gugu is Taalay’s mum.

But he said, "This little one," and he pointed to Taalay.

He said, "He is going to be more clever than all of them put together".

When he was five years old he came to England and started school over here.

And at that time the teacher sent me, you know this is what he has written

which was incredible, I thought, for a five-year-old and I’ve still kept it.

And what it was: He said there was plant, and it was dying.

And then there came a worm to live underneath the plant and gave it life.

And the plant started living.

When worms actually bring life to the plant, by burrowing through

and making the air and nourishment go to the roots of the plant.

So this five-year-old had the understanding of that.

Abid Khan Sahib, who is our Mamu, (maternal uncle) was Head Boy at school.

Taalay, I think, wanted to be head boy as well, because he was.

And at that point he had to do a speech, an election speech

and for that speech he dressed in Shalwar Kameez, and then he wrote a witty poem, which he recited.

And the fact that he won this competition just showed his character

and what people thought of him.

And he never, you know, he never felt inferior,

the fact that he went in a Shalwar Kameez is to say, "I am a Pakistani, I am proud of it".

He really enjoyed studying religion and his faith.

So if there was ever anything that I was confused about or I was trying to know more about,

I knew that the person I could ask was Taalay Bhai.

My sister, so, she wanted him to - even though he was waqf -

she wanted him to do Medicine first and then do waqf.

But his heart was never really into it.

So he, you know, he didn’t really enjoy it very much.

He was extremely intelligent, but it wasn’t his passion.

He was just doing it because his mum told him to do it.

So in the end, he didn’t pursue that. And they asked Huzoor’s advice.

Huzoor said do it.

By the time he finished, he did a "Biomed sci" degree with the intention to do Medicine,

but he didn’t really find his heart in that. So he didn’t want to do the whole Medicine.

Huzoor (aba) realized this problem and he took him under his wings.

So, I still remember that he said, "Okay, you live in 39 (Jama'at guest house) over here".

And he said to start with, what you do is, meaning by his waqf started from the same time

that, "This is five volume commentary, and you start reading it."

Huzoor realized what is his abilities, so he said, "Okay, you do a Master’s in Journalism".

Now, Huzoor (aba) has said to do a Master’s in Journalism.

It is a very interesting incident but he has no degree.

But anyway, as Huzoor (aba) instructed he applied for Master’s in Journalism

to Sunderland University, which was close to our house

and he got admission - which was, you know, totally extraordinary.

From that point onward, Taalay was not the Taalay we knew from when Huzoor (aba) took him over.

With us, he was like a diamond with coverings all over it

and looked just like a stone, where Huzoor (aba) polished him and made him into a diamond.

When we heard the news of Taalay’s passing, Abid, my brother, passed on some messages

that Huzoor (aba), some comments, some lovely things that Huzoor (aba) had very kindly said

and in that Huzoor (aba) had said, "He was a heera", meaning a diamond.

And immediately I could feel in my heart gratitude to Allah,

and I could feel that, you know,

Khilafat is such a blessing and so divinely inspired

because many years before when I was considering my husband’s proposal.

So, even before I was married, and I was doing my istikhara prayer, I had a dream,

whereby I had gone through a very icy road and ended up in a wooden sort of cabin area

where there was a very holy gentleman, wearing one of our flat caps that Ahmadis wear

and I knew about this gentleman that he was extremely trustworthy,

and I trusted him beyond anything.

And he took out in front of me many jewels, and I just gained the impression

that he was the richest man in the world, in the dream.

And upon this my husband, future husband at the time, came into the room

and took out a rock-sized diamond and placed that in front of us

as if to say he was also one of the richest people in the world.

Obviously, I took the riches to mean spiritual riches and blessings Alhamdulillah

and when Huzoor (aba) mentioned upon Taalay’s passing, that he was a diamond,

I felt a connection that this was the fulfilment of that dream.

He was an extraordinarily intelligent child considering his age.

His relationship with God Almighty was extremely strong.

He would narrate his personal, spiritual experiences with God Almighty to me

and would request that I should not share them with others.

Experiences such as how Allah Almighty would miraculously accept his prayers

and how Allah Almighty would take care of his matters.

Secondly, his relationship with Khilafat (was extremely strong).

Whatever Huzoor has said is the final, and nothing else matters after Huzoor’s final word.

In 2013 Taalay, who was a Waqfe Nau was appointed as a Waqfe Zindagi

by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba).

And he was appointed under my supervision in the Press and Media office.

Taalay worked there for two to three years, in the Press and Media office.

He was spending half his time in MTA news and half his time in the Press office,

and on top of that, throughout the years,

he had started to become involved in Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya, as well.

And he was also serving for a long period of time,

as the National Health and Fitness Secretary for Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya,

and he also went on to serve as the Editor of the Tahir magazine,

and then he did other various roles in the Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Isha’at department, as well.

He was a very good all-rounder, any spare time he had really,

he spent it figuring out a way that he could serve the Jama’at, in new ways.

Taalay Bhai was really obedient and had immense love for Khilafat.

And that showed through his conduct

and whatever he said was in direct guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba).

I remember clearly that a few months ago,

when Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) was carrying out virtual Mulaqats,

and in few of those Mulaqats Huzoor mentioned

that every Missionary should try to offer at least one hour of Tuhajjad prayer.

But, Taalay Bhai took this guidance upon himself,

and he wanted to carry out as if he was given this direct guidance.

Taalay’s personality was such that he did not wish to openly express this love,

rather he wanted to keep it hidden, but it would not remain hidden.

In some way or another, Allah the Almighty would reveal this love of his through him.

Thus, he was extremely dear to me.

His ever-present thought was to eagerly await any guidance from the Khalifa of the time

so he could immediately fulfil his words.

When we watch a football match, we often see the commentators say or the players themselves say

that they would run through a brick wall for a manager,

and of course the work of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community is far more important

than a mere football match,

but I have often seen that the way Huzoor (aba) addresses His workers and cares for His workers-

He gives guidance with such wisdom,

that you become so motivated and you actually feel like you could run through a wall

to fulfil the instructions of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba).

With just three days to go till Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba)

addresses 35, 000 Ahmadi Muslims, at the opening session of Jalsa Salana Germany,

preparations are already fast under way behind me -

It was decided Taalay would work in MTA News full-time.

And it was around that time or just a little bit before that time

that I had been given the duty and responsibility

of being the director of MTA News, in charge of that department.

Taalay was of that young generation who brought some excitement

and a breath of fresh air to that team.

And really, you know, changed the way in the which news was presented on MTA, for the better.

By far for the better and clearly under the guidance of Huzoor.

You know he didn’t go to Jamia.

His first love was the work he did for the Community,

and that was his end goal to serve the Community which he ultimately did very successfully.

When he was Health and fitness secretary, he brought that into MTA news as well.

He made sure that if there is an opportunity to cover MTA news stuff,

whilst doing his Khuddamul Ahmadiyya stuff, he did that.

And he did that so well, he covered Atfal Football League as part of MTA news,

and he used to make stories about it regularly when football leagues were running.

And of course he did the Ahmadiyya Muslim youth football club,

a documentary 'For Love and The Game',

This project was undertaken

without any technical or operational knowledge of cameras at that time by Syed Taalay Ahmad,

would be the start of a series of ever increasing documentary projects,

that would go about diversifying the content produced by the MTA News team.

Syed Taalay Ahmad, then turned his attention towards his hometown,

and the foundations of the Community that were laid there by his maternal grandparents.

The town of Hartlepool.

I was reluctant, I said this is our hometown, where we grew up.

If we do a documentary about this,

I do not want anyone to think that we are using MTA’s facilities or using our position within MTA

to promote something that is directly intrinsically related to us.

So I think that this is better for us to leave.

And Taalay said that, "I am not doing it because of you or because of me,

"I am doing it because your parents" - as in my parents, grandparents- "did a lot of service.

"And there is a lot of Ahmadis in Hartlepool,

"English Ahmadis, and it should be recorded once in history."

So when he said that, he got me.

So then I said, "Okay, your point is valid."

And so I went to Huzoor, and I said that, "This is what Taalay wants to do,"

and Huzoor said, "Of course. This is their right," that MTA records their history.

How do our youngsters, how do we know and even our kids and our grandkids,

how will they know the history of Ahmadiyyat unless somebody makes the effort to document it?

In the old days people used to write biographies,

but the kids these days have not got the patience to read biographies.

My kids have not got the patience for that,

but they are quite happy to watch a 20-minute YouTube video, which documents everything.

It seems that these two projects as great as they were, were just a warmup for Syed Taalay Ahmad

to pursue the very centre of his calling.

His unmatched love, drive

and passion for the representative of the Promised Messiah (as),

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba).

Then he told me after that,

that he wanted to do something about the election of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba).

He started preparing the documentary, and when he showed it to me,

it was one or two minor things, but I remember seeing it and thinking that it's truly beautiful.

It is something that is really, really-

I think it’s touched my heart so much, but the only - I think - small issue was over the title.

And so I took the DVD to Huzoor (aba), and Huzoor (aba) was watching the video,

and at one point Taalay’s father,

he said something about his own experiences, he was in the documentary,

about how it felt that we were without a shepherd,

and Huzoor was doing his work, and suddenly Huzoor (aba) looked up and said, "this".

And I was a bit confused

and then Huzoor said "the word ‘Shepherd’", and still I did not follow,

and Huzoor said that, "Four days without a shepherd".

And then I said, "Taalay we have got a title", and he said, "What is it?"

and I said, ‘Four days without a Shepherd’.

Huzoor (aba) heard your father’s interview and then this and Taalay on the phone,

he was so overwhelmed and emotional.

And this interview was here in Masjid Fazl,

I remember I was just sat in my car just a few meters away,

at that time Huzoor (aba) lived here in Masjid Fazl, and Taalay was completely overwhelmed,

he was just saying "I cannot believe that I have this honour,

"that the Khalifa of the time has chosen the name for my documentary."

During the burial of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh),

he came and stood to the right of me.

I was unaware of who was stood next to me.

Now that I have seen a picture of it, I realise who it was and what the occasion was.

Perhaps that 13-year-old child made a firm pledge at the time,

that he is a Waqf-e-Nau and that he will strive to become a helper and supporter of the Khalifa.

Then years later, after completing his education,

he fulfilled this pledge in the most excellent manner.

One of Taalay’s lasting legacies is

that the standard of documentaries in MTA has definitely gone up,

and not just through the news department but the production of producing documentaries,

in the last 2, 3, 4 years which are a much higher standard to previous.

And I think Taalay’s efforts have played a role in that.

Every programme that he made, no matter the topic it was

whether it was news items and the other documentaries that he made,

his love for Khilafat and bringing people closer to Khilafat was a central theme.

And I think in that regard, our next generations, our children owe a lot to him,

because he played a vital role in that with his programmes and documentaries.

Obviously, he made excellent documentaries, which touched the hearts of millions of Ahmadis

around the world, but for me, I think that,

his main legacy which he left was, 'This Week With Huzoor'.

About two or three years ago, Taalay came to me, and he said that,

"Whenever Huzoor has an event, or a public event or a programme,

"we publish a short report on that day,"

but he said that, "It does not get the exposure that it should."

We had a News slot everyday of 15 minutes,

so I said, "Okay, this week just prepare something, instead of putting any news,

"like world news or anything,

"we will put something regarding Huzoor's activities that week,

"I will give you the full slot."

And so he prepared something, and sent it to me, on WhatsApp or YouTube, or whatever,

and I checked it, and it was a very nice piece about some of Huzoor's meetings that week,

so, I said that, "Go ahead, put it out there." And just before, a couple of hours before,

he said to me, "What do we call it? We cannot just call it 'World news'".

And I did not have time to seek Huzoor's guidance on this because the broadcast was in an hour,

and I did not have a Mulaqat, I already had a Mulaqat that day.

And so I was just wracking my brains

and I said to him, "For this week just call it ‘This Week with Huzoor’,

"as it's a simple basic thing, just call it that."

Peace be upon you, and welcome to MTA news.

Each week we bring you a brief glimpse into Huzoor's activities.

And MashAllah we got so much feedback on that first episode,

I got calls after calls that we love this program, the viewership was very good.

Throughout the early period we used to produce everything,

but I think this program really has come into its own during the pandemic.

Because people were desperate, especially in the early parts to see Huzoor (aba), to hear from him.

One benefit is that which I get from this virtual Mulaqat is that I can see your faces,

I can see how strong and staunch the people of the community are in their faith.

And I can see the love for the Khilafat on their faces, as I can see on your face.

So this is the benefit which I am also getting.

There probably isn’t a single moment that he has wasted

during his ten years of service to the Jama’at.

Even during family discussions, he would touch upon subjects that were

in relation to his work or the projects that he was planning to undertake.

Taalay Bhai not only was my colleague, but was also my teacher,

a friend rather a brother, throughout these last three years.

Obviously I have been struggling with his passing, as everyone has.

One thing I've realised, is that anyone I speak to, they tell me the same stories,

the re-occurring thing that they keep saying is that, "He was like a brother to me,

"he was like an older brother to me, he was like a younger brother to me"

and what I have realised is to all those people he was a brother just like I am his brother.

The only difference is we had the same blood.

He would just laugh off anything that could possibly tease him or annoy him.

I have always seen him laugh and smile for as long we have stayed together or known each other.

Even now, he was sending me pictures and videos of his activities in Ghana on a daily basis.

There is a picture of him breaking off a Guava from the tree in Huzoor’s old school,

and I came to realize after opening it up on my phone

that this was the last picture of him before his martyrdom.

Once I remember me and Taalay had an argument about

a point and obviously I was clearly wrong in that.

And I sent Taalay a link which showed him that his point was correct.

And he was like, "Why are you sending me this?

"You sending me this is like an atheist giving a Muslim the Holy Qur’an."

So, he had his sense of humour as well, and his own way of thinking.

I really enjoyed that and is stuck with me.

By the Grace of Allah, Syed Taalay Ahmad embodied the spirit of a true life devotee,

as witnessed by so many of his close friends and family.

This included a sense of humility, selflessness, and complete lack of ego,

an unquenched thirst for knowledge, and none more

than his attention to the rights of his neighbours.

When I almost died,

by the grace of Allah, the prayers of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba)

and the believers, Allah saved me.

He said the way we took care of him, he took care of us, he said we became one family.

He made a pledge, "If something happens to Ibrahim, O Allah,

"I will take care of his children and his wife till my death."

And he said this as a promise to Allah.

One really unique quality of Taalay Bhai was that, I have never come across

any individual with such quality of such determination to carry this task out was that,

he was the only person I knew that had listened to the entire

Darsul Quran Classes of Khalifatul Masih IV (rh).

So, he frequently used to walk to work from Fazl Mosque, before that he was

living near Fazl Mosque, and he used to walk to work put his headset on,

used to download those classes on his phone, and he used to just listen

to them on the way to work to Baitul Futuh. And then same thing on the way back.

This way he would listen to at least two or three episodes on his way here and on the way back.

It’s a long journey, it would roughly take about an hour.

Sometimes he would come to me and often when we would be sitting in the office

he would discuss certain points that Khalifa IV (rh) would mention.

And that way I got to learn some things about from those classes as well.

We were on a holiday in Pakistan

and the whole trip just doing work the whole time, he was taking interviews of people.

We went on a tour of the city of Lahore,

and he had his camera the whole time and he was trying to get the most scenic shots.

And he said to me that, "Last time I came", you know it was

his holiday from work, so he didn’t take any work which most people would do.

But he said he realised that he enjoys his time the most when he is doing work.

So, he said, "This time I’ve made sure that I am doing work the whole time."

And he loved that trip, MashAllah and a big part of this was he got to do work for MTA

the whole time he was there.

He had this hard drive, which he had bought with his own money.

And he had all his projects that he was working on you know his footage etc.

and he had that on his hard drive.

And I think he said this to me, and he must have also said this to my colleague, Nosherwan,

that, "All my work is on this hard drive and if anything happens to me

"you guys know that it’s on here and you guys know what to do to - kind of - continue my work."

So, at the time he said it in a joking way, but I thought maybe it was

a bit of a strange comment, but this incident shows his selflessness as well,

because he wasn’t really concerned about himself, he was concerned more about the work.

He would come to me for little bits of technical advice.

I helped him to digitise some video tapes and a few other bits and pieces.

He was always so humble about it.

You know it wasn’t a big thing for me to do,

but he would put my name in the credits, at the end of the documentary.

And then he would tell me you need to check your name is there on the credits.

And, you know, it was a testament to the fact that

he never saw any of the work he did as being just his work or his dedication.

Even though it was 99 percent of the effort he had put in himself, he always said, you know,

it was Huzoor’s direction, the blessings of Khilafat and other people have helped me.

And it was just an incredible testament to him as a person that he did it with such humility.

Ghulam Qadir Shaheed was my first cousin and my best friend.

We grew up together from age three year and four, years ago.

I saw a dream after he passed away and I saw him in the dream that I was meeting him,

so I put my hand on his hand and asked him, "Can I do anything for you?"

And he said, "To get married one of my child to his child."

So, that became like a spiritually ordained duty for me, from that point onwards.

So, I still remember that I called him

and his mother was also sitting over there, and he was having a pizza.

And I started this conversation with him that this is my desire,

and this is what I would like to do it you are willing.

And I still remember that he had pizza in his hand it never went into his mouth, he just stood there.

And he immediately after that he said, "Yes, I will do, yes please send my Rishta."

And as it was lucky enough the girl said, "Yes."

They were 17-year-old, and they got married when they were 21.

I can share with you what I mentioned to him, and I said that,

"You are marrying the daughter of a martyr.

"So, she is an orphan but don’t expect that she is an orphan.

"I’ll be a father to her first and I’ll be a father to you later.

"So, you have to look at it from that side and treat her like that."

And, his wife told me that you know he was a very humorous person, make humour of everything.

And he used to say that, "You know I said yes to my father,

"because he promised that he'll give a pizza for the next one week."

Although I am sad for my daughter’s loss,

however, I am equally sad for the loss of Taalay - the individual.

He was such a lovely child, and I was telling my children that,

it feels like I have lost my own child. It is as if I have lost my friend.

Taalay took it really seriously and considered it a great honour that

he was marrying the daughter of somebody who had been martyred for the sake of Ahmadiyyat.

And he had a sincere desire to be a good husband.

And I know that he tried very, very hard to make her happy.

He was a happy natured person himself and cheerful.

Nobody make me laugh alright? I don't want to have to edit it.

Huzoor instructed that the news department should continue to make some documentaries.

And Huzoor, himself said that one documentary that you should do is

about the Nusrat Jehan Scheme, about how the services of the Jama’at are in Africa.

And so Taalay was very excited and happy about this project.

He said, "I had a mulaqat with Huzoor (aba), and Huzoor (aba) said to me at that time,

and this must be seven or eight years ago at least that "Should I send you to Africa as well?"

And Taalay said that, "Out of embarrassment or just shyness I just kept quiet."

But he said that, "In my heart I was just desperate to say to Huzoor:

"Huzoor please, please send me to Africa for some work.

"And he said that ever since that day he said I knew, Huzoor will never break his promise,

"or even that indication, so, I just kept waiting for that day.

"And he said today you have told me that Huzoor is sending me to Africa."

So, he was full of excitement, full of happiness.

He requested prayers and said, "I am going for five weeks."

And he told me he was going to Gambia, Sierra Leone and Ghana.

And he was extremely excited about it.

When he was getting ready to go to Africa, he was so excited.

And he phoned me, and he messaged me to ask for advice.

I had been out to Gambia, about a year or so before.

And he was I wouldn’t say nervous, but he wanted to make sure

that nothing would stand in the way of him being able to do the work that he needed to do.

And that again, was a testament to his dedication.

You know, he would’ve been very upset because of

if some oversight he’d not been able to do his MTA work.

You know he got ill, he got an infection, or whatever it was

if something stood in the way of doing that.

MashAllah, by all reports, his own reports,

I could tell but even from all the other people in Africa

he was working with pure devotion and dedication, in the last few days.

He sent me some video and some photographs,

and I couldn’t believe how beautiful and how serene he looked.

And my last text to him was, "MashAllah, you look so happy".

My family will be happy.

This is Africa.

It was on the evening of the 23rd of August, when Syed Taalay Ahmad

and two of his colleagues from MTA studios in Ghana,

were travelling from the northern town of Tamale, when the vehicle was fired upon by armed robbers.

Syed Taalay Ahmad and his colleague Umar Farooq were hit, and

Abid Khan Sahib received the shocking news from the Director of MTA Africa,Umar Safeer Sahib.

And I remember I was just sat on the sofa in my lounge, and I just -

jumped out of my chair, and that feeling of pain - shock is just indescribable.

But he said to me, he said, "Don’t worry though the reports are that he is okay".

They were saying that they are in a small hospital,

and they need to take Taalay to a bigger hospital.

And just the fact that they needed to take him to that bigger hospital,

was a cause of concern for me, that it means that something was not quite right.

Otherwise they could treat him where he is,

but I was just praying, and I informed Taalay’s father, as well.

As soon as I found out of course, I informed Hazrat Khalifatul Masih, it was late at night,

and until about midnight, half-twelve, Huzoor (aba) was inquiring about Taalay.

And I told him as much as I knew.

Then about two-thirty in the morning, I received a call from a missionary in Ghana,

and he was weeping, and he was crying, and he just said,

"Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return."

And he said, "We couldn’t save Taalay."

It was obviously a feeling of complete shock and devastation,

and just a thousand things, within a moment, go flashing through your mind.

How was he feeling in those moments? All these things were running through your mind.

At the same time, you also have this immediate sense of reassurance,

that he was there on Jama’at duty.

He was serving the Jama’at, and in our Jama’at,

no matter what happens we always have the prayers of the Khalifa of the time.

Huzoor (aba) wrote and responded with such prayers for Taalay, for his family,

for his wife, for his children that even in those moments of grief which were horrific

and I know that, if we didn’t have the prayers and guidance of Khalifa of the time,

I don’t think I would’ve survived that night.

Never mind his close family and friends, the pain and the difficulties that we felt at that time.

But, through the prayers and the guidance of Huzoor (aba), the love of Huzoor all of his family

his wife, his parents, his brothers, his sisters, the members of the Jama’at,

the staff of MTA - everyone's greatly grief-stricken of course,

but so much strength and pride as well.

That is one of the overriding emotions that I have felt over the past few days,

and you get to know so many things about Taalay, so many things that you never heard.

And, so of course it is a time of sadness, but it is also a time of certainly pride

that Taalay wanted to serve the Jama’at. He was a Waqfe Zindagi in spirit,

and in the way he fulfilled his duties to the very last with bravery and courage.

He was also the son-in-law of a shaheed.

His father-in-law was the first martyr in the family of the Promised Messiah (as),

and he is the second one.

So his wife holds the station now, that she is the daughter of a shaheed,

and she is the wife of a shaheed, as well. Alhamdollilah.

Taalay was a very loving husband and a true friend to me.

A few months ago, I had some errands to run, and as I was walking towards the mall,

I was overcome by a sudden grief and sadness, and I started to cry.

After some time, I composed myself and continued to do the little jobs that I wanted to do.

When I came home, I opened the door to our bedroom and Taalay looked at me

and said, "Have you been crying?" And I said, "Yes".

I thought maybe from my face he was able to tell that I was upset.

Then he said, "About 20-25mins ago I heard you cry and so I got out of bed

"and looked around the whole house, but you were not there. I wanted to console you.

"You were not there". I think Allah always told him whenever I needed him.

Taalay loved his children.

And it is just my request to the whole Jama’at, to always remember his children in your prayers.

He was once making a documentary on Mian Bashir Ahmed Sahib.

He phoned me and narrated a dream to me, in which Munir Odeh Sahib

was forcefully dragging him to Mian Bashir Ahmed Sahib, who was to slice his neck with a knife.

I told Taalay, that the meaning of Munir is, "light, illumination."

It is indeed very good for you to see his name in your dream,

however a dream as such requires that you should offer Sadqa.

As you can see now that this dream turned out to be true.

Yesterday, my husband was able to speak with the gentlemen that was with Taalay

when he was passing away, and his last words were a message to his family,

which was, "I love my family and I love Huzoor."

He demonstrated his utmost loyalty to Khilafat in such a way that even in his last words

when he was at the brink of life and death,

he was mindful of his love and devotion to the Khalifa of the time.

His last texts to me, all of it sort of pointed towards the obedience to Khilafat.

So I thought, Mash’Allah the fact that my last messages from him, he could’ve, replied

to my messages, the last messages from him were even then guiding me

towards obeying Khilafat and I think that just really embodies his own love for Khilafat.

Alhamdullilah the day that Taalay passed away, it was so kind and so gracious of Huzoor (aba),

that he came to see us all and very kindly and in such a loving way discussed the incident

and then listened to some of the things we wished to say about our beloved son.

And obviously the other relatives, too, and it was a source of great comfort.

And I know as I've learned in the last few days,

I didn’t know before just how much Taalay loved Huzoor (aba).

I knew that he loved Huzoor (aba), but I didn't know he loved him the way that he did.

Allah Almighty made him for what he was done and he lived his life like a martyr,

and he died like one and he knew that as well.

But when he was dying, he said, "Whether I live or die my mission is accomplished".

He took his work extremely seriously.

Many times, or several times I should say, Huzoor (aba) has told me that,

"The Jama’at is not contingent upon any single person, this is a divine Jama’at."

Mash’Allah Taalay did his duty and now it is up to the rest of us to fulfil our duties.

I think one of the things that we see when we look at Huzoor’s character is how

as Hazrat Khalifatul Masih, the fifth successor of the Promised Messiah (as)

he’s a perfect representation of the Promised Messiah (as).

A perfect representative for this era. He truly is the Khalifa of the time.

So when we see Huzoor in this role, where he so courageously, like a lion of God defends Islam,

then we think that Huzoor (aba) shouldn’t be by himself.

We should join him; we should stand up to help him. And how can we do that?

So, Huzoor (aba) said that, "Although there is a promise of the victory of Islam Ahmadiyyat,

"whether it happens sooner or later depends on how hard we’re willing to work.

"So now it is up to you on how hard you work."

Taalay Bhai used to write letters to Huzoor (aba) on a regular basis.

So he would regularly send me letters on a weekly basis, or every so often he used to

send me letters and then whenever I could, I would forward those.

So one of the letters that he had written before going to Africa, and he had written in that letter,

that, "Huzoor, that I am unworthy of this task that I am going to go forward with,

"and I have shortcomings and weaknesses so pray that Allah removes those weaknesses and

"makes me a good representative of MTA, Jama’at and the family of the Promised Messiah (as)."

I felt as if his prayers are accepted.

And he has received the best reward that he could have received.

He was of course my nephew and someone I loved very, very much but, because of that relationship

I was always feeling that I don't want any of my other staff or anyone else to think that,

I give him preferential treatment and because of that I think from my side I went the other way

and I was more harsh with him, more stricter with him

than I was with any of the other people who work with me

and that is something that I feel that I must have done some injustices

and I just pray that God forgives those injustices

and I hope that he knew that, that was the reason because I knew his potential.

He did true justice to being a member of the Holy Prophet (sa)

and Promised Messiah (as)’s physical and spiritual progeny.

He was from among the progeny of the Holy Prophet (sa)

and Allah the Almighty chose him for this sacrifice in the month of Muharram.

As I mentioned earlier that he was a precious diamond among the life-devotees.

May Allah the Almighty continue to elevate his rank.

I am hopeful that Allah the Almighty has granted him the nearness of the Holy Prophet (sa).

In fact, after his demise, someone saw this in a dream as well.

The next morning somebody sent us a message, after he had passed away.

And he said that I was obviously feeling sorrow and sadness to hear of Taalay’s passing,

but at night I dreamt that Taalay was walking, smiling in paradise.

And there were a group of people and at the head of which, stood the Holy Prophet (sa).

And when Taalay recognised and realised that it was the Holy Prophet (sa),

he started running towards him and then he ran and he embraced him

and Huzoor (sa) laughed, the Holy Prophet (sa) laughed gently

and embraced him back and said, "Welcome my dear son".

Satwat told me that she prayed and when she woke up,

she saw the text message from Hashim Sahib about the dream.

So I said to her that Allah has given you the good news of acceptance of your prayer.

After this dream, I recalled an old dream of Taalay.

It was a very long and detailed dream but the last part of it was

that he was the son of the Holy Prophet (sa),

or the Holy Prophet (sa) is his father. That’s how he narrates it.

The thing is, they did not know about this dream even though I had read this dream of his so many

times but I didn’t remember to focus on this final line, that, the Holy Prophet (sa) is his father.

So yesterday, when I was going through his messages I realised,

that the final line of that dream also seems to have come true,

even though Allah knows better, however, it does seem to have been confirmed true.

In the end I can’t help but reiterate

the words of the Holy Prophet (sa) when his son Ibrahim passed away.

"Verily, our eyes are full of tears. And our heart grieves,

"but we say only what our Lord is pleased with. And indeed we grieve on your separation.

"Verily, our eyes are full of tears. And our heart grieves,

"but we say only what our Lord is pleased with. And indeed we grieve on your separation."

So, sometimes the spirit goes into a slumber, and sometimes it dies.

And martyrdoms have a quality

that it wakes up the slumbering spirits or dead spirits, it gives them life.

And, I have a personal experience of that because it happened to me.

And I am sure, that the martyrdom of Syed Taalay Ahmad is going to be a source of life

for so many thirsty spirits, slumbering spirits, and dead spirits.

In general for all in Jama’at

but especially for the spirits in the family of the Promised Messiah (as).

That beloved individual understood the spirit of Waqf [life-devotion]

and truly fulfilled the oath which he had taken.

Seeing him left me astonished, and still to this day I am amazed

at how, despite being a child who grew up in this worldly environment,

he understood the essence of his devotion and truly fulfilled it to the highest degree.

Having attained martyrdom, he proved that he was indeed a true helper of Khilafat.

He was a role model for the life-devotees [Waqifeen]

and as a member of the Promised Messiah (as)’s family,

he has established a model for them as well in his sincerity and devotion.

O beloved Taalay! I testify that indeed you have

attained the highest standards of fulfilling your Waqf and the oath you had taken.

May Allah the Almighty continue to grant the Jama`at such people who are loyal,

have a sincere and dedicated relationship with Khilafat,

and give precedence to the faith over worldly matters.