12 years ago today, on Thursday 5 August 2004, I made my last journey to work before I was arrested to spend the next 11 years of my life in prison.
The other day I was going through all my belongings from my life before prison when I found an “Oyster” London transport travel card.
I took it to the Underground station hoping that there might be some unused credit on there, but to my amazement I found something else when I clicked on the “Journey history” tab.
As shown in the journey history, my last journey to work was by London Underground from Tooting Broadway to South Kensington where I worked at Imperial College London. The journey ended at 10:42am on Thursday 5 August 2004.
But there never was a return journey. I was arrested outside the Science Museum in South Kensington later that day as I left Imperial College to walk to the Underground station.
It would be another 11 years before I returned home in July 2015.
The days leading up to my arrest show a normal routine of me commuting to and from work. In these days I was no idea that I was sleepwalking into a situation that would last 11 years and change my life forever.
Looking back, I can see that despite the pain, it changed my life for the better.
One unexpected event can change our lives forever. so we should always appreciate our blessings and be grateful for what we have because we never know when we might be deprived of them.
Read about why I went to prison in the interview I gave to The Guardian newspaper here.
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Babar Ahmad 
sounds like you have some incredible stories! thanks for sharing
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We plan and Allah (swt) plans….and He is the best of the planners, keep writing brother….you are teaching us through your writings. WS
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Thank you for reading my posts, Luke, and for your feedback. I am trying my best. 🙂
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Jazakallahukhayra.
Such is the reality of this life, for all of us.
No one knows or can imagine what is around the corner for them, although we do walk around thinking we know what is coming next.
This is why our prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, ‘Remember often the destroyer of pleasures’.
There is always that single moment, where life changes forever.
Alhamdlillah we take comfort in knowing with absolute certainty that Allah the most kind never oppresses His slaves, and what He has decreed for us is best for us. Sometimes we see some of the benefits during our lifetime, and sometimes, we don’t see them until in sha Allah we enter paradise.
May Allah make us all of those who have unshakeable trust and certainty in Him, especially when things ‘seem’ to not be going well. Aameen.
Jazakallahukhayra.
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Waste of good life but Allah’s Qadar. Allah will reward you for it. Amin.
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Personally, i wouldn’t call it a waste. We did not wish for it to happen, nor would we wish it for anyone else. But if it was such a waste, we wouldn’t see these inspiring stories of wisdom and experience.
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