On Wednesday, my husband Shahid got a call from Umair Siddiqui, Ahmed Siddiqui’s son, that Baba (Dad’s) condition had worsened. We rushed over there to say a prayer, and as we left, we knew it was a matter of time. The following morning, Samena (his wife) called to tell us that Ahmed had departed his body and this universe very quietly and in a peaceful state with his family by his side.
Our whole community went into mourning, and sprang into action. MAQ or Ahmed, as we affectionately called him, was one of those people that your mind just cannot grasp, as their talents are so multi-faceted but your heart adores them, because they are so brilliant and humble, famous and kind- a combination of incredible values and qualities. MAQ has created new scientific fields and is recognized globally as an authority in the field of cellular biology. He also was our leader when we were trying to organize American Muslims politically in the 80’s and 90’s. I was fortunate to work closely with him and always respected his amazing qualities as a leader. He made time despite his role as a world-famous scientist to travel all over USA to support the American Muslim Alliance.
In his book “Seven Dollars in my pocket” he starts with his birth story; below is a partial family tree which he proudly shares; his great great grandfather Mohammed Omar Siddiqui was renowned in the Mysore Army, and earned the coveted title of Sardar Bahadur, and the family enjoyed a privileged life until upheavals changed the tide in his father’s generation. He paints a beautiful immigration journey, with its challenges and celebrations. Ahmed shares his love for his home country India and how he struggled as an immigrant emotionally yet drawn to the potential career as a scientist here in the USA. He literally had seven dollars in his pocket because that is all that was allowed for immigrants from India to US in those days! His journey to America took him 36 days via ships, trains and planes, and he was expected to teach the very next morning as a graduate student in Chemistry after his final arrival in Houston, Texas. As his brilliant research got recognized more and more, he finally made it to prestigious institutions- the final one being Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York- and socialized with Nobel Laureates all over the globe. At the same time, as the eldest son and darling of his father, who he never got to see again after leaving India, he took care of his 12 younger siblings and mother, whom he sponsored to USA. As close friends, we also loved the values that Ahmed and his wife Samena imbued in their children; I share Ahmed and Samena’s beliefs in globalizing cultures which was evident in their children’s beautiful multicultural weddings!
In the book, he describes some of his research, which is mind-boggling, and it made me feel so proud again of the imprint he has left on this planet. I was trying to find a quote that might help us understand the profound nature of his scientific inquiries, and the simplest one I could find is that “molecular biology is the study of biological processes at the molecular level, and his research focused on the very heart of life, the study of genetic information and how it is stored at the DNA level to allow organisms to live”. Scientists continue to unearth the mysteries of life and specifically human life and Ahmed not only led but founded some of these fields.
His funeral was serene and peaceful, and Samena and family truly honored this luminous star very fittingly. I believe we come from the stars as Allah breathed divine life into us, and we return to become stars when we depart from Earth. So, with sad heart I bid farewell to my star friend, MAQ Siddiqui. May Samena and his family find peace and comfort in his memories; may his children Umair and Norain continue his legacy in their own ways; Umair is already a distinguished space scientist Mashallah; and may our community always treasure his immense and multi-faceted contributions as the scientific community surely will continue to do so as we all continue to pray for his soul to be at peace twinkling in the stars.
Beautiful tribute to a special man, mama. Love to Auntie Samena and family💚