Mr Khurram Islam Qureshi is a pilot by profession and a member of Delhi chapter of CPS International. He has a Bachelor of Science degree. He is married and has a 14-year-old son named Tanzeel Islam. Mr Khurram actively contributes as a CPS Volunteer. This interview delves into his journey, experiences, and insights.

Tell us something about your formative years.

Some of my earliest childhood memories are from when I was 4 to 5 years old. My mother used to read Islamic stories from a magazine called ‘Taha’ which helped me develop an understanding of the basic tenets of Islam and God.

We lived in a joint family where all the elders were practising Muslims. One of my fondest memories is of my mother dressing me up for Friday prayers, after which we would go to the mosque with my grandfather, holding his hand.

Kids would be sent to the roof where there was little shade. Sometimes I would end up standing barefoot on the burning hot floor without a mat in Delhi’s heat in summers for my prayers. I would keep standing thinking that God would be pleased with me.

These experiences had a profound effect on me. During my prayers, I would kiss the ground, imagining that I was kissing God, as my mother had taught me that God is closest to us when we are in sajdah (prostration). At night, I would hold onto my mother’s feet while sleeping, believing what she had told us, that Jannah (Paradise) lies at a mother’s feet.

What memories of your parents do you cherish?

Both my parents have had a great influence on me. My late father was a well-known advocate, respected in both his professional and personal life. Despite his fame, he lived a very humble life. He would wash and iron his own clothes, and if they got torn, he would stitch them and put patches if they were too worn out. He took up legal cases for the poor without charging them, even when we were going through tough financial times.

He was a man of strong faith and trust in God. I never saw him worried, stressed, or angry, even when he was diagnosed with cancer or when we faced financial difficulties. He was always in a good mood and spent most of his nights in prayers. I was very close to him, and he treated me like a friend. I cherished his company deeply.

Like my father, my mother is also a retired advocate, equally humble and caring. She has been a pillar of strength in my life.

Despite facing many hardships in life, I have never seen my mother complain and has always maintained positivity and peace. She is a very spiritual person. Ready to always help others. She instilled compassion and duty to do service for others in us.

Kindly inform us about your early education and work experience.

In primary school, I was probably the least serious, most inattentive, and absent-minded student in my class. I was extremely naughty and frequently admonished by my teachers.

My mother played a crucial role in my education. I was deeply involved in sports and extracurricular activities, with academics never being my strong suit. My mother gave me a free hand in pursuing my interests. I had many hobbies like stamp and currency collecting, sketching, painting, crafts, and woodworking, among others. I played almost every sport and excelled in many. I had a knack for creatively repurposing things at home and could even do basic repairs on appliances. Though I was a jack of all trades but master of none, it helped me broaden my creative horizons and fostered out-of-the-box thinking.

As a child, my interest in airplanes and aviation began when my mother gifted me a book on airplanes. I started making cardboard airplanes and was enrolled in an aeromodelling club by my aunt when I was 10 years old. That’s when I decided I wanted to become a pilot.

Please tell us about your journey of becoming a pilot.

It was a financially challenging time for my family, and pursuing my dream of becoming a pilot was seen as a risky gamble. Despite discouragement from many, my mother supported me unwaveringly. I relied on my faith in God. I was in a big dilemma. One night, I earnestly prayed to God to guide me and on the same night I had a dream that I was sitting in an airplane’s cockpit which strengthened my resolve. Thereafter, there was no turning back. It took me 10 years to complete my flight training which normally takes 2 years. However, everything fell into place seamlessly after finishing my training, and I secured a job immediately. Looking back, I realize the struggle taught me invaluable life lessons and shaped my personality in ways I wouldn’t have experienced otherwise.

The most remarkable moment came when I entered the cockpit of the aircraft for which I was selected for—it was the exact same cockpit from my dream 10 years earlier, despite never having been in an airplane before. That dream remains vivid in my memory.”

How were you introduced to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan?

My introduction to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan came through my mother. She used to read Maulana’s articles from Al-Jamiat weekly in Urdu to her grandfather, and she herself used to read Maulana’s books. I read Maulana’s book ‘Islam Rediscovered’ and was deeply impressed by its non-traditional and modern approach.

When I was 11 years old, my family moved to Nizamuddin, just a few houses away from Maulana’s residence. Despite living so close, I didn’t meet him until I turned 30. However, I always felt that he would be the person to turn to in times of dilemma or need.

When a critical crossroad arrived in my life, my belief held true. I finally met Maulana, who was incredibly humble and approachable. I found guidance. He invited me to attend his Sunday classes, and I have been a regular attendee ever since.

How has Maulana influenced your way of thinking?

When I first met Maulana, I was as confused as anyone unfamiliar with his teachings. I used to believe that serving community interests through a blend of ritualistic prayers constituted Islam. However, Maulana redirected my focus from community-oriented thinking to a God- centred perspective, emphasizing spiritual realization, self-purification and serving the cause of humanity. I came to understand God’s plan of creation and that the purpose of life is to cultivate positive personality, suitable to inhabit Paradise, rather than striving for an Islamic state.

Maulana taught me to prioritize obedience to the law of the land and its rulers, and stressed the importance of conveying this message positively, following the prophetic model. To illustrate these teachings, Maulana often recounted events from the Prophet’s life specially of the city of Taif to illustrate these principles. It would be an understatement to say that Maulana emphasised the importance of peace; he believed peace was essential for opening doors to opportunities. He often cited the Treaty of Hudaybiyah as an example, where the Prophet accepted unilateral and unreasonable demands to secure peace.