Sayyed M. Anwar Waseq Waezzadah was Ayatollah Waez’s first son. He was born on1945 in Behsud, a town about 150KM west of Kabul.  The early years of Anwar and Jafar are very similar, hence there is a common history in the first half of their lives as summarized in both biographies. It is worthy to note that these two close brothers shared many physical and personal characteristics that sometimes people mistook one for the other even though they were few years apart.  

Sayyed M. Anwar Waseq Waezzadah was an intellectual genius who was continuously enclosed by personal tragedies and unruly public events that did not give him the opportunity to fully blossom. Constant chaos that surrounded him from Afghanistan to eventually America never allowed him to take sigh of relief. Yet, even with all that he endured, he was able to serve as a being that aimed to serve and unite people. He never strived to gain political status or social admiration, lived very modestly and never tried to use his influential reputation for personal gains. To everyone who knew Waseq, he was an example of patience. He never complained about the tragedies that constantly circled him and in the darkest days of his life, he praised Almighty and prayed for patience. His lectures, speeches and sermons instilled peace and hope in the hearts of his audience, which proved he was truly the son of Waez. His passing was a severe loss in the scholar and Islamic intellectual society. It is a unfortunate that Afghan communities in America were not able to fully benefit from his knowledge. As read in a tribute by one of his close friends, “He burnt like a candle to illuminate his surrounding in the darkest days, it is unfortunate that his surrounding was not aware of his illumination.”

Anwar took advantage of the educational opportunities in the big city and started to study pharmacology and found job at a pharmacy. On the side he continued other studies in theology, philosophy, literature and other humanity subjects. Aside from his father, Anwr studied under prominent Afghan figures such as Ayatollah Mir Ali Akbar Hojjat and Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Alamolhuda. It did not take long before he began to teach and speak publicly throughout Kabul. His passion for learning led him to Qom Hawza (seminary) and to continue advanced studies he went to Najaf, Iraq.

 After several of years of studies abroad he returned home and worked alongside his father in Mohammadia. He took on various administrative responsibilities as well as teaching and resolving people’s disputes and issues. He did not take a salary from Mohammadia to avoid potential accusation of nepotism working in his father’s institution. To make a living he did various freelance and independent jobs such as selling books and other trades.

Anwar displayed genius level traits due to his ability to self study to expert level in various areas that were not taught in the Hawza at the time, such as economics, history and political science. However, among all his academic achievements he was very well-known for his masterful grasp in poetry and literature. Among his peers he was known as the poet and during academic debates, Anwar would respond with poetry which left everyone speechless. His sermons and speeches were always full of poetic rhythm that mesmerized the audience. He had memorized hundreds of poems from famous poets like Rumi, Sa’adi, Ferdowsi, and his favorite Hafiz. This is a good point to mention that Waseq is Anwar’s poetic pen name. His friends asked him to choose a pen name. He picked up a Hafiz book of poems and said , I’ll take whatever this book chooses. When he opened the book, it opened to this poem:

سحر با باد می گفتم حدیث ارزومندی

خطاب آمد که واثق شو به الطاف خداوندی

The rough translation is:

 With the breeze of dawn I spoke of desires

It replied to be Waseq with the grace of God

Waseq means unwavering, steadfast, firm, and resolute. From then on he became known as Waseq. Hafiz couldn’t have picked a better name for him—Anwar was a walking and breathing illustration of the word. He never allowed the harsh realities of life displace his hope and desire to help others.

Waseq arrived in Iran when the volatility of the 1978 revolution was still quite evident. Various Afghan and Iranian religious, educational and political organizations were eager to recruit him. He maintained diplomatic relationship with all while not dedicating himself to a particular organization. Even the Iranian Revolutionary Guards asked him to teach at their exclusive school. He was very sensitive to the plight of the Afghan refugees, therefore he dedicated most of his time in resolving their issues. With all the chaos and turmoil around him in Iran, he still managed to continue to be student. He spent the nights catching up on reading and research after everyone went to bed. After five years of working in various cities of Iran and failing to find peace, he decided to pickup his family and head to Pakistan 1985.

When he arrived in Pakistan, as previously, various Afghan political organizations operating out of Peshawar and Islamabad were eager to acquire his services. He made his independence well known and never tried to manipulate party politics for personal gain. In fact he aggressively worked to resolve differences and unify efforts for the common good. He worked and collaborated with many notable Shia and Sunni figures in the struggle against the Soviet occupation. In 1989 after the Soviet occupying forces left Afghanistan, he was offered several ministerial positions in the newly formed government. Waseq's effort and dedciation to the human cause was not limited to the Afghan community. He worked in the rural Pakistani communities of Islamabad and Peshawar to establish social and religious centers. His sermons in various Pakistani mosques and educational institution were focused on unity and aimed to resolve the Sunni and Shia issues.