Desire, time and the ability to serve. Those are three attributes our senior Jamati members aged 60 and up have demonstrated for years — and for three exceptional California seniors, this Diamond Jubilee year is no exception.
Sameer Merchant of Santa Clara, Yasmin Poonja of Santa Monica, and Ibrahim Khanmuhammad of Los Cerritos, all expressed a heightened sense of senior involvement and participation during Diamond Jubilee. Though we may often see younger people managing major Jamati events, it’s important not to discount the service our seniors often provide in the Jamatkhana setting.
Take Yasmin, for example. During the Golden Jubilee, much of her time was spent caring for a sick family member. This year, however, she’s grateful for the opportunities she said: “I try almost everyday to go to Jamatkhana and participate in everything – garba, music, whatever. That’s what I did.”
For Ibrahim, this particular Jubilee has been really special because of his involvement in service. He contrasts this year with his time during the Golden Jubilee, when he said, “I was busy with my business and all that, and I am so delighted that I’m helping all of the seniors of the Jamat with rides, and receiving them here. I feel good about helping and that I am really celebrating Diamond Jubilee.” This experience, he said, transcends any material benefits. “I want to serve as much as I can, and hopefully, all the business issues can wait.” Ibrahim wants to help out as a volunteer, especially if and when the Imam visits. When asked about his wish for the Diamond Jubilee year, he responded, without hesitation: “spiritual upliftment.”
But the Diamond Jubilee year isn’t just about outward service. For many, like Sameer, who plans his voluntary activities around his children’s schedules, the reflective nature of this momentous occasion is important, too. The morning of July 11,, before the Homage Ceremony, Sameer said, “The buildup to this particular event has been incredible, something anyone would look forward to. It was a great time to reflect on your own role in life as well as the 60 years of Imamat. So, it was both a feeling of jubilation and anxiety, to see how it would unfold, as well as a moment where you could reflect and think about what this all means to you.”
