Sheikh Kamil Ahmad currently resides in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia, where he is pursuing Master’s degree in Aqeedah from Qassim University. He has also studied various classical texts in different Islamic disciplines under several scholars during his stay in Madinah and Qassim.
Tell us something about your childhood.
I was brought up in Toronto, Canada, where I was born. Obviously, as I grew up in a non-Muslim environment, I faced different challenges than someone, who grew up in a Muslim society. Alhamdulillah, due to the efforts of my parents, my siblings and I grew up in an Islamic environment within a good Muslim community, which allowed us to strive in a non-Muslim environment.
What brought you close to Allah (swt)?
It was not one particular individual but various Muslim scholars or preachers I used to listen to as a child. I used to go for lectures, which inspired me to a certain extent. When I was a teenager, certain events brought me closer to Allah (swt) such as seeing death, experiencing someone passing away and burying that person, which was the first time in my life that I was really moved. It really made me think about this life. I imagined myself in that grave and basically taught myself to take advantage of this life. We have only one life to live in doing what pleases Allah (swt).
What is your educational background and current professional commitment?
I completed my Bachelor’s degree from the Islamic University of Madinah. Currently, I am doing my Master’s from Al-Qassim University in Saudi Arabia. As for professional commitments, I work with various organizations in the profession of giving Dawah. It is not really a profession, but what I am dedicated to. One of those significant organizations is the Islamic Online University, where I work as professor.
How did you find the right spouse?
My mother’s family background is from Pakistan. I had a very good prospect – someone religious, whom I knew and personally liked. This is how I found my spouse. Obviously, I should understand that this is not what you call an arranged marriage. One can be interested in the person, whom he or she wants to marry, and there is nothing wrong to take suggestions from parents or family.
How do you balance your work and your family?
One needs to balance in the sense that one should not over burden himself with one at the expense of the other. Work is important without any doubt, but a person should not go to extremes in giving all the time to his family to the point that he is not making enough living for supporting his dependents. The way to balance is to first of all seek Allah’s (swt) help. Nothing is impossible in this life. Make a lot of Dua that Allah (swt) helps you to balance the two. Secondly, whatever free time you have, prioritize that time and spend it with your family. Family should be your first priority after work, rather than going out with friends.
What aspirations do you have for your children?
One of my aspirations, which also every single Muslim parent should have for their children, is not that my children become the most successful people in life; rather, I wish that they become those, who live their lives according to how Allah (swt) wants – in submission to His Deen. A life that can prepare them for an everlasting life of Akhirah! After that, if they are successful in Dunya-related matters, that’s a bonus. But it should not be the priority. We often focus so much on making our children successful in Dunya that we do not pay sufficient attention to their Deen. As long as they are successful in their Dunya-related matters, we are satisfied. This is very dangerous for their worldly life as well as Akhirah.
What should Muslims do to become global leaders in today’s era?
The main reason we are lacking in global leadership is because we have abandoned our Deen, not because Muslim states and countries would be behind in technological advancements. The greatest evidence is that Ummah has witnessed time, when Muslims were the global leaders in terms of scientific advancement and at the same time also very strong in Deen. Once we left our Deen, we also left our global leadership in all aspects of life. So one way of going back to the golden days of Islam is by returning to our Deen – living it as per authentic resources, implementing it in our lives, and teaching it to others.
Where do you see Pakistan standing in terms of benefitting the Ummah?
Pakistan has a lot of potential to benefit this Ummah, but it can be done only if Pakistanis truly go back to their Deen and implement it in their lives.
Interview conducted by Maaz Moten and transcribed by Faiza Rizwan.
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