Jumu’ah with the Indigenous Community: Faith, Friendship, and a Message of Hope
An emotional encounter in the hills brings together hearts and cultures under one prayer
A Journey to the Hills
By the grace of Allah, the Costa Rica Waqfe’Arzi team set out on Friday to visit an Indigenous community living in the remote highlands—about an hour’s drive from the capital. These humble people, struggling with poverty, lack of clean water, and unreliable electricity, shared stories of their land being forcibly taken over by farmers for coffee cultivation. The atmosphere turned serene as Murabbi Silsila Arif Daud Sahib explained the significance of the Friday prayer and began with the Adhan. The entire community sat quietly, observing the sermon delivered in Spanish before joining in respectful silence as the team offered the Jumu’ah prayer..
For many, it was the first time witnessing Islamic worship—a moment of peace and unity that transcended language and background.
Bridging Hearts Through Dialogue
Following the prayer, a simple table was set up for introductions. Mrs. Esmarelda, the community’s spokesperson, warmly welcomed the group and shared aspects of their traditions. In response, Haider Hameed Sahib highlighted the importance of mothers and education in Islam, leading to an engaging Q&A session. The interaction soon turned joyous as Rafique Sahib and Waheed Sahib began writing the names of children—and later, women—in Arabic script, sparking excitement and laughter throughout the gathering.
“Seeing their names written in Arabic brought smiles that needed no translation.”
Gifts of Kindness Amidst a Storm As a sudden thunderstorm roared over the tin roof, refreshments prepared by the community were served. Despite the heavy rain and thunder, the moment was filled with warmth as the team presented 30 gift bags—each containing educational materials and dental hygiene kits—donated by Ansar members.
Children were called one by one to receive their gifts, their faces glowing with gratitude and joy.
Witnessing Lives on the Edge
Once the rain subsided, Mrs. Esmarelda guided the team up a rugged trail to show where her people lived—simple huts perched on cliff edges, housing just five of the 22 local Indigenous groups, around 1,200 people in total.They collect rainwater for drinking and survive on unstable power connections, yet their dignity and hospitality remained unwavering.
“Our short visit was a small act of kindness—but their hope for sustained support was written in their eyes.”Spreading Islam’s Message on Airwaves
Meanwhile, earlier that morning, another team had finalized a radio interview opportunity at the National University of Costa Rica Radio Station. Murabbi Silsila Marwan Sahib, Arif Daud Sahib, and Usman Sahib represented the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, introducing its peaceful message to a young audience of approximately 550,000 listeners nationwide.
By Allah’s grace, the interview aired later the same day as the field team returned—broadcasting Islam’s message of peace and compassion across Costa Rica. Alhamdulillah.
A Day to Remember
As Day 5 came to an end, the Costa Rica Waqfe’Arzi team reflected on the blessings of the day—faith shared, hearts connected, and new friendships formed under the banner of humanity
“May Allah open doors of prosperity and guidance for these Indigenous communities and grant us the strength to continue serving mankind.”
Ameen.