MyLifeDump

Imagine for a second that you were returning home from a visit to your 3 weeks old granddaughter and on your way back you see a car that just crashed into the center divide of a freeway. It is 2 am, very dark and most cars are passing by at 75 to 90 MPH. You see that the driver is still alive and needs help. Most people would hesitate on what to do next. Continue driving? Call 911 and continue driving? Or call 911 and standby for help to arrive?

For Tariq Khanzada it was a split second decision to risk his own life in order to help a stranger. He parked his car in the shoulder lane and ran across the highway towards the center divide. The driver of the car was attempting to get out of the car when he realized another car was heading straight towards them. So he did what few others would do: Instead of fleeing to safety, he stood there to instruct the injured driver to remain in his vehicle. Within fractions of a second, two cars crashed into him, violently ending his life. But his noble actions that night saved the life of a man whose name he didn’t even know.

To many, the actions of Khanzada that night were not surprising. During a recent camping trip, he similarly came to the rescue of a few kids when he jumped into the water to help with their jet ski problems.

Khanzada is survived by his wife, Ruby Khanzada, his eldest son, Hasan, daughter, Hira, and youngest son, Amil.

For me, Tariq Khanzada is an inspiration. In a world plagued with daily news of murder, violence, and selfish agendas, it was an ironic consolence to hear that there is still such a thing known as humanity and selflessness. Although I personally did not know him, his actions on the night of January 12th, 2011 deeply touched me. In an age where Islam is misconstrued too often, Tariq Khanzada’s actions emulate what it is to be a true Muslim. The Holy Quran states in Chapter 5, Verse 32:

if any one slew a person… it would be as if he slew the whole of humanity: and if any one saved a person, it would be as if he saved the whole of humanity.

Tariq Khanzada: Son, Husband, Established Career Man, Father, Friend, Grandfather, Community Activist, and a Good Samaritan.

May he rest in peace…

San Jose Mercury News published two Articles related to Tariq Khanzada; “Man killed in series of collisions on Highway 237 in Sunnyvale” and then followed up with another article after the funeral “Sunnyvale: Man who died in Hwy. 237 crash had just visited newborn granddaughter”

Please head over to Legacy.com and sign the Condolence Book.

Photo Credit: Haq’s Musings