Introduction
AHMAD TOTONJI: PUBLIC SERVANT, ROLE MODEL, AND MY FATHER FAITH IS NOT SOMETHING THEORETICAL, but a conviction one must live by, marked by a perseverance that under-stands the potential of that faith and seeks to realize it in all action for the pleasure of God. We are beings of purpose, and this book is an extraordinary account of a man who understood that purpose and its broader ramifications early in youth and sought to shape his life around it. It is a chronicle of a man's vision, an account of a life that for over six decades has sought to turn conception into reality, to cham-pion the betterment of Muslim youth and communities the world over through dedicated and tireless effort. My father, Ahmad Totonji's chief happiness has been the happiness and success of others, and he has devoted his entire life to this cause whilst simultaneously raising a family, establishing a successful career, and managing multiple international da 'wah projects.
The pages in this biography chart the trajectory of both his remarkable work and an extraordinary life journey that has seen him meet some of the most important and influential figures in recent Islamic history, as well as everyday students, men and women across continents for whom he has acted as an inspirational force. In these pages my father shares that journey. It is one that has seen him navigate many challenges and struggles, to successfully establish various Muslim organizations across the world, gain valuable and extensive first-hand experience of carrying out da'wah work at the institutional as well as the individual level, and generally improve the plight of Muslim students and communities from one continent to another, understanding the dynamics of problem-solving, teamwork and opportunity.
Ahmad Totonji's view of himself as a public servant developed remarkably early on in life when as a young man he left his native Iraq to pursue studies in the UK. These were formative years as he quickly came to understand the nature of human and community needs, and more fundamentally the importance of going beyond this conception to start fledgling projects to address them. And once begun these grew in force, together with a circle of like-minded altruistic colleagues, who came together to meet the ever expanding presence of need that cried out for solutions. My father's constant planning. simple dedication, sacrifice of personal time and studies, and organisation of collective effort through teamwork ensured such success that instead of sitting back he chose the harder path, to continue to build upon each and every achievement. In fact he has never separated thought from action, and this combined with a spiritual, mental and physically disciplined outlook on life, has not only allowed him to face the many challenges that he would inevitably encounter as the years wore on, but also been one of the secrets to his endurance and unfailing optimism. Patience, planning and perseverance in the service of God has been the philosophy that has seen him through some of the most difficult of times.
Compressing accounts and experiences into these pages whilst setting an example of what can be achieved, still does not do justice to the difficulties or the sacrifices faced and overcome. Suffice it to say my father has always strived hard and tried to do his best. And along this journey he has not forgotten all those who joined him in the endeavour, betraying the same great generosity of spirit as his own to elevate the conditions of others and to make what he would modestly term his and their humble efforts, bear fruit. Outside the circle of his family and friends it is little wonder that Ahmad Totonji is adored and admired by the countless whose lives he has touched across the years.
Away from the projects, people, setbacks and successes, of professionalism, charity work and career, what of the man himself? Being his son, Ahmad Totonji is a man I have known well, a man whose thoughts I can read, a man I look forward to seeing and spending time with, and a man whose radiant enthusiasm I have absorbed. I have been with him for over fifty years of his eighty years sojourn on earth and in those years I have known him as a father, a teacher, a friend, and even a colleague. Looking back at those treasured mem-ories I am grateful for every moment spent both with him, my mother and the inner circle of our growing family.
As a boy I would go to school in the morning, then in the afternoon hurry home to attend a very different kind of education, one which saw me sitting at my father's feet and learning from his wisdom and years of accumulated knowledge. As a child I even attended meetings of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth, as a teenager I spent time at the Urubah Office in Riyadh, and as a young man I went to the Rabwah Office, as well as visiting the SAAR Foundation and the offices of the International Institute of Islamic Thought. And so my father's work in a way became an important part of our family life.
And my father also reciprocally took interest in the things that interested me and my siblings - in fact, he seemed to care about these even more than I did myself tirelessly keeping a track of my accomplishments, as much preoccu-pied by his family's needs as those of his professional and charity work. It was always touching to see that he made no distinction between his children and others, solicitous toward them as much as he was toward his own. This to me is reflective of a generosity of spirit that is profound. And of course he acted as a strong role model for us all as we grew up sustained by his love, work ethic and faith.
Striking a work-life-family balance is hard enough but factoring da'wah activities into the equation requires remarkable skills of management. My father's charity work took him to many countries and placed him in the orbit of many differing cultures, but there are certain universal principles which he has lived by, which he has inculcated in me and which he nurtured amongst all those he met. Some of the most fundamental of these are:
Keep Allah with you; do not keep Allah behind you.
Do good to those who are worthy of it, and also to those who aren't. If you do good to someone who is worthy, then so much the better. But if you do good to someone who is not worthy, then you yourself were worthy of it.
Treat others as you would like them to treat you.
Do not put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
Spread peace among yourselves.
Reconcile people who are at odds with each other.
Place the common good over personal interest.
Be conscientious about giving charity, remembering what the Messenger of God said about it.
Religion is about giving people useful advice.
The true leader of a nation is its servant.
Call yourselves to account before you are called to account by someone.
In every problem, find an opportunity.
Seek out God's presence in His houses of worship.
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