My Journey of Social Services & Learning

There are certain moments in life when faith transforms into action and compassion becomes a direction. My journey began in 2013, during the blessed month of Rabi' al-Awwal, when I first visited a hospital to distribute fruits in remembrance of the birth of the Mercy to Mankind, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

The smiles on the faces of the patients were more nourishing than the fruits in our hands. When some of the patients—many of them non-Muslims—asked why we were doing this, I replied:

"We share this in honour of the birth of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ."

Their faces changed with a sincere expression of respect—and they joined their palms, acknowledging his sanctity. That moment engraved in my heart that the Prophetic light touches every soul, regardless of creed.

From that experience emerged a new tradition in our locality—a public food distribution, known as Langar-e-Rasool ﷺ—which continued for several years. Alongside my friends, I took part in the historic Juloos-e-Muhammadi in Kanpur, reciting salutations upon the Prophet ﷺ until sunset, before returning home after Maghrib in Phoolbagh.

The spiritual rhythm of Rabi' al-Awwal continues to this day.

From that starting point, our circle of work expanded into religious and educational gatherings:

• Milad Conferences
• Seerah Seminars
• Gosha-e-Durood Majalis
• Education Day on the birth anniversary of Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi (10th Shawwal), who reminded the world that:

"Knowledge is life, and ignorance is death."

We soon realized that sincere remembrance must naturally flow into service to humanity. Thus, we began social welfare initiatives:

• Winter blanket and sweater distribution
• Warm bedding sheets for the homeless
• And later, Ramadan Ration Programs

With time, a conviction settled in my heart:

"Charity relieves hunger for a night, but education ends hunger for generations."

The community was suffering from:

• Economic marginalization
• Political underrepresentation
• Low literacy and career opportunities

This reinforced what Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi wrote, that the revival of a people begins with "Tarbiyat and Ilm—moral training and knowledge."

Thus, we began supporting career counselling and scholarships for talented students.

But the world was changing rapidly, and a deeper realization emerged:

In 2021, I was invited to deliver a speech on:

"Islam and Europe: History and the Significance of Muslim Civilization"

at the Merchant Chamber Hall, organized by Minhaj-ul-Quran India under the title Minhaj Educational Conclave.

Our Chief Guest was the distinguished scholar Allama Ubaid Ullah Khan Azmi, and the Special Guest was Sameer Siddiqui, renowned IAS Coach. Speaking on the intellectual legacy of Islam in Europe—Al-Andalus, Sicily, Ottoman Balkans—strengthened in me a greater responsibility: the responsibility to reconnect our youth with the intellectual magnificence of their civilization.

Here I reflected upon Allama Iqbal's words:

"Nations are born in the hearts of poets; they prosper and die in the hands of politicians."

Iqbal's vision of the Momin—the spiritually awakened, morally grounded, and socially beneficial human being—became a defining compass in my journey.

To turn this mission into a structured movement, we established:

🌿 MERCI Foundation

(MERCI Educational & Welfare Foundation)

Our goal was not only to assist people in distress, but to create a human chain of compassion, where one transformed person becomes a means of transforming another. As I wrote in my mission reflections:

"Service is not a project; it is a way of being."

Through data-driven analysis of global market transitions and industry demands, we identified critical future-skills. With collaboration from The Quran Foundation and SEED, we worked toward empowering youth in:

(Video Editing training is being added)

Thus, the ASDC Institute was opened in Kanpur—an initiative to build a skilled, confident, and career-ready generation.

My deep interest in foreign languages further shaped our direction. I believe our youth should not be confined within linguistic borders, but be prepared for global opportunities. Our long-term plan includes:

Phase-1: French, German, and Arabic (Launching under MERCI Foundation)

Because tomorrow belongs to those who can speak to the world—not just in words, but with knowledge.

Our next developmental focus is to identify youth who:

• Think beyond employment toward enterprise
• Are innovative, collaborative, and ethically grounded
• Have the courage to create opportunities, not just seek them

As Iqbal said:

"Khudi ko kar buland itna, ke har taqdeer se pehle,
Khuda bande se khud pooche, bata teri raza kya hai."

I do not claim that this path has been easy. There were misunderstandings, doubts, and resistance. Yet, we continued—with reliance on Allah and belief that:

"Action done for the pleasure of the Creator does not wait for the approval of creation."

This journey—from fruit distribution to skill development, from charity to institutional transformation, from local service to global vision—is not my journey alone. It is a shared path walked with countless volunteers, scholars, teachers, donors, and well-wishers.