Last summer I was invited to represent Pakistan in the Davis Cup
Group One playoffs. Although we lost in the finals to China, the
experience was priceless. We trained in Pakistan, in Islamabad and
Lahore, where I am originally from. I was in Pakistan for a month
and it was 120 degrees. Not only was it extremely hot, but it was
humid.
In order to enjoy the fruits of life, one must construct his
paradise from the materials which surround his or her life. My
family, my self-belief and my heart were all I had in my
possession.
I was only 11 years of age and I still remember myself
helplessly staring at my father just minutes before the little life
left within him quickly diminished. His struggle was finally over
and my father was well on his way toward the heavens above, leaving
me behind to confront the world alone.
“Wherever I’d go, love would now follow,” I
told myself repeatedly. In this world of harshness and selfishness,
one would think a man had nothing left to live for. My father
passed away, my mother was without a job and I lived on bread and
water for five years.
Only a few of us in this world know the secret to a beautiful
existence and how to overcome such tribulations. Allah (God) only
gives you as much as you can handle, and I knew that something that
doesn’t grow in your heart could not be sought. So I followed
my heart. Love was within my heart and within my family, keeping us
together and bringing us closer. It made me stronger.
I have learned so much from each gargantuan impediment I have
had to overcome. It is time for me to help give back to society
what society has graciously given me: hope and direction.
Accepting the invitation to lead my country in the Davis Cup was
an honor. I was escorted by the former commander of the Karachi
fleet’s driver, and received VIP treatment everywhere I went.
I was elected captain of the Davis Cup team my first week in an
exhibition match and was invited to train in London with
England’s top junior. I played 60 matches that summer and
went undefeated for five months after returning. Allah had blessed
me with a gift.
I had never had a coach before and had taught myself everything,
growing up. Perhaps this is why my drive was so deep and powerful.
I knew I had the talent, just no financial backing. After my summer
in Pakistan and Europe, I was offered a one-year pro contract for
$75,000. Everything was finally starting to happen. As much as I
loved being a part of the UCLA men’s tennis team, ranked No.
2 in the nation, it was time to move on.
Islam is the central driving force in my life right now. There
are so many misconceptions about Islam that I will have to clear as
a role model when I turn pro next year after graduation.
I have lived a life very different from many. I had a very
dramatic childhood and was forced to mature at a very young age. I
learned the true value of money and became closer to what life was
all about: not the superficial materialistic things, not the
surface of everything, but the little homeless boy sitting on the
side of a road begging for money as he sells flowers.
He hasn’t seen the world, and is content with what he has,
and it is so little. We can learn a lot from people like him, and
many times the world is ignorant of such things.
I am very hard on myself now, seeing the other side of the world
that many people haven’t seen: the poverty, the homeless
children, the crippled parents, all over the overcrowded streets. I
am already working on South Asian projects to help fix the
infrastructure of these developing nations. You are a product of
your experiences and professional tennis provides a great
opportunity for me to positively influence the youth.
Not only am I interested in being a role model, but feel that
those who I will meet will have a lot to offer and I will be able
to learn a lot from them as well. We can grow, interact, and view
the world from the eyes of each other. Seeing the world from all
these different faces of the diamond can be very beautiful.
As much as I realize just how important my future is, I have
realized that Allah only asks one to do his or her best. I must
continue to excel in biochemistry and Arabic here at UCLA for
medical school in my latter years ““ insha’Allah (if God
is willing) ““ and in every other aspect of my life. Many
people ignore the deeper meaning of life, rarely study religion or
approach it with a sealed heart and mind. You cannot take your life
for granted and be ignorant.
I know my destiny, and it is hard adjusting to everything coming
my way: the agents, trying to trust coaches, dealing with so much
pressure, even million-dollar contracts. But I have found myself
and I need not travel any other path.