Updated 28 March 2012
Fatema Ramji of Hyderi (South London)
Thinking back to when I applied to be a mentor on the Madinah and Bab al-ilm course, I had no idea what to expect. Although having been to Iran previously, I knew this experience was going to be completely different in a number of ways and I couldn’t have been more right. After days of intense training, I left for Iran feeling as if I knew myself so much better and I was prepared to make the journey as beneficial for the participants as I possibly could.
From the moment we reached Iran, it felt like home and there was a sense of peace in all our hearts and acceptance from Imam Reza (as) and Bibi Masuma (as). Alongside the intention of being a mentor, the opportunity of doing Ziyarat was at the forefront of my mind. I cannot begin to explain the contentment in my heart at being in the presence of the Ahlul Bayt because I just would not be able to do it justice.
The experience of a mentor is in some ways similar to that of a participant, however in a lot of ways very much different due to the added responsibilities. However, throughout the time in Iran, I kept reminding myself that it was an honour to be a Zawaar of Imam Reza (as) and to be serving and taking care of the other Zawaar was an even bigger honour. Spending so much time with all the participants from so many different places, we built friendships that didn’t end after three weeks and still remain now and will remain for a long time.
Given the chance to change one aspect of the opportunity, it would be to have extended the time we had there. The time flew by and the hardest part of being a mentor was to leave all the participants who weren’t from the UK, who each had an effect on me individually. I came back from Iran feeling spiritually uplifted and although saddened, was glad that I had been blessed with the chance to make a difference in someone life in some way by being their mentor. Being a part of the course was an amazing experience and I pray I’m given the chance to accompany more Zawaar to Iran with the group again in the future. Imam Ali (as) says, “The value of each person lies in the good they do.”
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