After Shahadah

halah

Junior Member
:salam2: :hijabi:
Asslamu alaikum all I have a simple question to all my brothers and sisters ,particularly the reverters:

How was their first year after shahadah?What were the difficulties they faced and how did they overcome them?

I hope the answers will help those who are still hesitating to take this step in being muslim.:hijabi:
Jazakum Allah khairan
 

jabba

Salafi Dawah is the best
:salam2:

For me the first year of being Muslim was alhamdulillah great because everything was so new and exciting. But at the same time kinda difficult because I lost a lot of friends. I had a tuff time wearing hijab (still do) which made it ALMOST impossible for other Muslims in my area to accept me as a Muslim. The first yr for the most part wasn't easy, but inshAllah it was all worth every single moment.
 

halah

Junior Member
:salam2:
:salam2:

For me the first year of being Muslim was alhamdulillah great because everything was so new and exciting. But at the same time kinda difficult because I lost a lot of friends. I had a tuff time wearing hijab (still do) which made it ALMOST impossible for other Muslims in my area to accept me as a Muslim. The first yr for the most part wasn't easy, but inshAllah it was all worth every single moment.

:salam2:
Jazak Allah khair sister and may Allah make it easy for you and keep you and us all on the straght path.:hearts:
 

Rosheen

Sister in Islam
Hi there;

I took shahadah about 3 months ago. It has been difficult because i am so used to acting westernised, speaking westernised and looking westernised.

The first day I tried hijab i got laughed at by this jewish bloke who works in my building....i was so angry i wanted to whack him one (see westernised thinking)

I have sadly abandoned hijab for now but will take it up full time come Ramadan.

I have had difficulties with socialising, there is no muslim group or community in my area of London...and twice people have promised to look things up for me (on another site) and never got back to me. I can't go to pubs so my work colleagues have been funny except for a few decent intelligent ones! lol! My mates are funny with me aswell cos I no longer go to pubs and clubs....i'm 26 why do they still want to do that anyway? Time they settled down IYKWIM

However..I am trying to remain positive and hope that one day Inshallah me and hubby can move to a more Muslim populated part of london! Also I want to live in a borough where there is a mosque! That would help spiritually and socially!

I am actually looking forward to Ramadan and being out there as a true muslimah...and i intend to salaam all those I meet...so watch out!
 

jabba

Salafi Dawah is the best
Hi there;

I took shahadah about 3 months ago. It has been difficult because i am so used to acting westernised, speaking westernised and looking westernised.

The first day I tried hijab i got laughed at by this jewish bloke who works in my building....i was so angry i wanted to whack him one (see westernised thinking)

I have sadly abandoned hijab for now but will take it up full time come Ramadan.

I have had difficulties with socialising, there is no muslim group or community in my area of London...and twice people have promised to look things up for me (on another site) and never got back to me. I can't go to pubs so my work colleagues have been funny except for a few decent intelligent ones! lol! My mates are funny with me aswell cos I no longer go to pubs and clubs....i'm 26 why do they still want to do that anyway? Time they settled down IYKWIM

However..I am trying to remain positive and hope that one day Inshallah me and hubby can move to a more Muslim populated part of london! Also I want to live in a borough where there is a mosque! That would help spiritually and socially!

I am actually looking forward to Ramadan and being out there as a true muslimah...and i intend to salaam all those I meet...so watch out!

Salam Alaikum Sister

You are allowed to keep your western culture as long as it's halal and fits with Islam. You remind me of me when I was a very new Muslim. I wore hijab, on and off and then finally off and promised myself I would wear it permanently once Ramadan came......for me that never happened :(. InshAllah it will for you though. As for the people that said they would look things up for you, I had a simular thing happen, I had people that were so into seeing a new convert saying they would be there for me, but one day they were gone. So my advice is just research things on your own, this site is good to get the basic information but go to the library ( and if you can mosque every once in a while) to do a deeper research. I used to think Muslims were perfect.....Islam is perfect not it's followers, we all make mistakes. Just because you don't wear hijab doesn't mean your not a true Muslim. I pray that you stay strong in the deen inshAllah ameen.
 

halah

Junior Member
Hi there;

I took shahadah about 3 months ago. It has been difficult because i am so used to acting westernised, speaking westernised and looking westernised.

The first day I tried hijab i got laughed at by this jewish bloke who works in my building....i was so angry i wanted to whack him one (see westernised thinking)

I have sadly abandoned hijab for now but will take it up full time come Ramadan.

I have had difficulties with socialising, there is no muslim group or community in my area of London...and twice people have promised to look things up for me (on another site) and never got back to me. I can't go to pubs so my work colleagues have been funny except for a few decent intelligent ones! lol! My mates are funny with me aswell cos I no longer go to pubs and clubs....i'm 26 why do they still want to do that anyway? Time they settled down IYKWIM

However..I am trying to remain positive and hope that one day Inshallah me and hubby can move to a more Muslim populated part of london! Also I want to live in a borough where there is a mosque! That would help spiritually and socially!

I am actually looking forward to Ramadan and being out there as a true muslimah...and i intend to salaam all those I meet...so watch out!

:salam2:
May Allah strengthen your faith and remeber that Allah the almighty said in Surah Al Mutaffifin;

''Verily, (during the worldly life) those who committed crimes used to laugh at those who believed.''83:29

and He also said at the same chapter''But this Day (the Day of resurrection) those who believed will laugh at the dis believers'' 83:34
 

farhopes

No God but Allah
Assalamo alikom

Dear sisters, Jabba and Rosheen,:hearts:


I'm very happy for your returning back to Allah :) . That's great bounty to be guided to the Truth in such a very difficult circumstances.

I'm sooooooo sorry for the people who disappointed you both. Be sure that Allah will never disappoint you, all you have to do is to call upon Him asking for firmer and deeper faith and knowledge.

May Allah strenghten your faith and pave the way for you to please Him more by wearing your Hijab forever inshaa Allah. :tti_sister:
 

jabba

Salafi Dawah is the best
Dear sisters, Jabba and Rosheen,:hearts:


I'm very happy for your returning back to Allah :) . That's great bounty to be guided to the Truth in such a very difficult circumstances.

I'm sooooooo sorry for the people who disappointed you both. Be sure that Allah will never disappoint you, all you have to do is to call upon Him asking for firmer and deeper faith and knowledge.

May Allah strenghten your faith and pave the way for you to please Him more by wearing your Hijab forever inshaa Allah. :tti_sister:

InshAllah. Thank you. :)
 

MubarekMuslimah

Junior Member
Salaams

My first year was a mixture of easy and tough. I soon learnt to take each day as it comes. I really concentrated on trying to learn and do the 5 pillars and then, when I had done that, I went off the boil a bit for about 6 months. I think I needed a bit of a break - not from Islam, no way or Allah swt (astifrugallah) but from putting myself under pressure. Then I started to teach myself again all about different areas of Islam and increase my knowledge alhamdulillah.

My advice is take each day as it comes and dont worry and dont put yourself under unneccesaary pressure. You can do it - never think that you can't - you can because Allah swt is with you, alhamdulillah. You will surprise yourself if you haven't already but you will feel the best you have ever done!

As for losing friends - you soon make new ones and those that drop you because of your deen - they are not your true friends anyway! I lost some - I dont miss them, not now anyway because they showed my their true colours...

If you cant immerse yourself in a muslim community - i.e go to the mosque every now and then and have some muslim friends - then make your muslim friends on sites like this! Alhamdulillah!! :muslim_child: Don't ever let go of the rope of unity. All you have to remember is Allah and strive for him in all that you do and you will be blessed insha'allah.

4 years on for me and it feels like yesterday in one respect and a lifetime ago in another. I have come so far alhamdulillah but I have so far to go still insha'allah. I truly have been blessed for His guidance and I cannot answer the question as to why I reverted. I know why, because I believed in Allah but I cannot answer why me, and not my sister,mother,father (insha'allah.) It is a mystery that only Allah swt knows but I thank him every day of my life for giving me a new life in His shade, insha'allah.

Salaams
 

DOC_BRO

Junior Member
Asalam o Alaikum sister

Well i just have posted thread today about the website www.irf.net
the thread is .. really good info website..do visit so sisters do visit the website it has a Question & Answer section on the right and in that u will see at the bottom .. Question asked by non muslims .. question asked by Christians.. and so on so check out those q & A and u will find some answers to common question with great explanations. THere is another site askimam.com there u type a keyword like hijab or salat or laptop and u will find the question and answers people have asked abouth different topics. But over all I would suggest u to buy some books Like . Life of Prophet , Quran and Islam I mean i u go on to the following websites u can order them... by ur choice...
1)Info about Prophet
http://www.prophetmuhammadforall.org/webfiles/library.php?topicref=010&langref=
2)Translation of Quranic Surah
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/SURAI.HTM
3)Toys for Kids
http://www.hamzathemuslimboy.com/books.html
http://www.noorart.com
4) Islamic book
http://www.al-basheer.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=0
www.soundvision.com
http://www.rumibookstore.com/

If u have some Islamic book store that will be great as u can choose for ur self.

InshaAllah we will pray that may Allah show us the straight path. AAmeen

Ma'Salam
 

DOC_BRO

Junior Member
"I used to think Muslims were perfect.....Islam is perfect not it's followers, we all make mistakes. "
U are right sister Bernard Shaw once said ' ISLAM IS THE BEST RELIGION AND MUSLIMS ARE THE WORST FOLLOWERS'
And i do agree with it when atleast I see myself but InshaAllah May Allah Strengthens our Imaan Aameen.
 

Isra

aka Tree2008
Salamo Alaikome........

I just wanted to say this post is very inspiring to someone like me! I have no doubt about taking my shahada but I am a little concerned about what will happen once I begin to really live my life as a Muslimah. Its nice to know that I am not alone in my fears and to hear how others have concurred their fears is very helpful.

I had to smile at the post by Doc_bro and what Bernard Shaw once said
'ISLAM IS THE BEST RELIGION AND MUSLIMS ARE THE WORST FOLLOWERS' that is too cute!
 

hassana elkoussi

Junior Member
"I used to think Muslims were perfect.....Islam is perfect not it's followers, we all make mistakes. "
U are right sister Bernard Shaw once said ' ISLAM IS THE BEST RELIGION AND MUSLIMS ARE THE WORST FOLLOWERS'
And i do agree with it when atleast I see myself but InshaAllah May Allah Strengthens our Imaan Aameen.


:salam2: Excuse me Doc , but generalisations cannot be taken as a rule. The statement could've been acceptable if it had said " Some Muslims are bad followers", because some others are trying , if not doing their best , to adhere to Islamic rulings.

Salam
 

Mixedup

Junior Member
Salaam.,

Well for me a whole 2 weeks. I have decided to take it real slowwww
I would find it too overwhelming after 34 years to change overnight. I am a good person and do not do haram things but to suddenly declare my faith, don a hijab and go to Mosque everyday etc I would set myself up to fail.
Inshallah I will one day but right now I have enough on learning the basics.
The key is to not overwhelm and take each day as it comes.
Jo
 

Hellen

New Member
Assalamu Alaykum,

Its so nice to see that there are others!!!!
I reverted 4 months ago and the hardest part was learning the words of prayer, I actually really beat myself up about it so I spent weeks in turmoil, I think the best advice I got was to take it one step at a time and not to pressure myself. I raced through reading the Quran cover to cover then realised I'd overwhelmed myself so Im taking the slow approach now and just taking each day as it comes. I found that the people I thought that would be really excepting werent and the ones I thought wouldnt be excepting were. Its bought me and my mum closer together which is nice and we have some great talks on religion and she really likes Islam and my Muslim friends although shes not ready to jump her JW ship Inshallah in time.
I was anti anti Hijab I thought it was opressive wrong and all the typical western views youd expect and yet once I understood it I actually found it one of the easiest things to do and I wear it with pride everyday in the face of adversity and its actually the most liberating thing ever, people know immediately when they see me where the line is and I feel so so protected by it. I have a little girl whose 3 and she points out women in the street without Hiijab and says "mummy they are not safe" sureal as it sounds she made that statement without any prompting.
Im a single mum and work full time and I worry about the world and the future of all our children Islam for me is an investment in my childs future and the future of the world so whatever anyone wants to say about me I know in my heart its the right path so Im sticking with it Inshallah more people will start waking up!
Wa Alaykum Assalam
 

halah

Junior Member
Assalamu Alaykum,

Its so nice to see that there are others!!!!
I reverted 4 months ago and the hardest part was learning the words of prayer, I actually really beat myself up about it so I spent weeks in turmoil, I think the best advice I got was to take it one step at a time and not to pressure myself. I raced through reading the Quran cover to cover then realised I'd overwhelmed myself so Im taking the slow approach now and just taking each day as it comes. I found that the people I thought that would be really excepting werent and the ones I thought wouldnt be excepting were. Its bought me and my mum closer together which is nice and we have some great talks on religion and she really likes Islam and my Muslim friends although shes not ready to jump her JW ship Inshallah in time.
I was anti anti Hijab I thought it was opressive wrong and all the typical western views youd expect and yet once I understood it I actually found it one of the easiest things to do and I wear it with pride everyday in the face of adversity and its actually the most liberating thing ever, people know immediately when they see me where the line is and I feel so so protected by it. I have a little girl whose 3 and she points out women in the street without Hiijab and says "mummy they are not safe" sureal as it sounds she made that statement without any prompting.
Im a single mum and work full time and I worry about the world and the future of all our children Islam for me is an investment in my childs future and the future of the world so whatever anyone wants to say about me I know in my heart its the right path so Im sticking with it Inshallah more people will start waking up!
Wa Alaykum Assalam

:salam2:
Mashaa'Allah,alhamdulillah who guides to the right way,may Allah firm your heart on the straight path.I'm really amazed of this statement of your little daughter,mashaa'Allah. I ask Allah to protect her and bring her up as righteous muslimah:tti_sister:
 

palestine

Servant of Allah
I thought i'd post this story. this basically sums up what i would say to all of you. or at least what i think you all should do. but one suggestion : Do not let others who laugh, tease and taunt you delay you from wearing the hijab or from practicing your faith. You all chose to be Muslims MashaAllah, and that in it self has a price we all must pay. Everyone is tested with some form of difficulty. Whether it's war, poverty, discrimination or love, we are all tested. and if we fail to see it ourselves that we must distinguish ourselves from the disbelievers, then who are we to blame on judgement day? i understand that wearing the hijab can make you the target they're shooting at, but that's no execuse to abandon the hijab. Although it's ironic, the more difficulties you face the stronger your faith. Like it has been said before in a hadith : the World is a prison for the believer and paradise for the disbeliever.
here's the following story which i thought was interesting. this man was in a time of difficulty but for the sake of Allah he returned that which belonged to the other. read it and weep. salam

Qazi Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Abdul Baqi Ansari is an illustrious personality of Islamic History. He was the most pious person of his time. Even after the lapse of nine centuries, his exemplary life is a source of guidance to Muslims. His biographers tell a number of tales of his honesty and reliability but the one that affected his whole life is full of strange and unique events. He has narrated this story in his own words and it adorns the pages of history books.


"In the middle of the 5th century Hijri, I was a student of the Holy Quran and Hadith in Makkah. During that period, I once became jobless and my means of income came to an end. I managed, somehow, to subsist for a few days but soon it became hard to obtain even two square meals. My studies were discontinued and I had to sell a few of my books to support myself. I was at the edge of starvation but my feelings of self-respect did not allow me to borrow or beg from anybody.

One day, I was hungry, as usual. I went to the Holy Ka'bah to pray to Almighty Allah to save me from my sad plight. On my way back, I saw a velvet cloth pouch lying near the road edge. I picked it up. It was nicely sewn and neatly tied with a silk cord. I looked around to find its owner but the road was deserted and nobody was in sight. I carried the pouch to my house.


I was curious to know the contents of the small bag. As I untied the cord, a very precious necklace of pearls slipped into my hand. The luster of the spotless pearls almost lit my room. The pearls of different sizes were nicely put together in a string of crimson colored silk. It was a radiant beauty and I was thrilled to hold the valuable ornament. For a moment, I altogether forgot the hungry and pitiable state in which I was. My thoughts went to the unfortunate owner who had lost the precious jewelry. He must be unhappy and very worried due to his great loss. The course of action which I instantly decided on was to look for the owner and give him back his necklace to relieve him of this mental suffering. It never came to my mind to keep it wrongfully in my possession. So I set out to search for him. Leaving the bag behind, I went straight to the place were it was found.

A group of excited men were standing there and were busy in anxious conversation. I went close to them. Their topic of discussion was the missing pouch of pearls. An old man whose nobility and magnanimity was evident from his imposing personality, was standing amidst them. He was explaining the loss of his pearls to the attentive audience and was announcing a reward of five hundred gold coins to the person who could help him in recovering the lost necklace.


I listened to his account of the loss very carefully. When I was sure of his ownership, I held his hand gently and requested him to come along with me. He looked at me very hopefully and without asking any questions, he followed me. On the way back to my house, I was delightfully thinking that a handsome amount of five hundred dinars would be mind after a short while. The very thought of getting a reward of that much money was very pleasing. I was wondering whether my miseries would be over. I would no longer be a hungry or poor person. With such happy ideas in my mind, I entered my house and also invited the old man to come in.


When we sat down, I asked my perplexed guest about some marks of identification of his lost bad, so that his ownership could be established beyond doubt. He readily explained the shape and color of the pouch. He told me about its contents and gave an exact count of the pearls. He even described the tying cord. It convincingly proved that he was the rightful owner of the bad and the necklace of pearls. I silently rose and brought out the necklace pouch. As he saw it, his gloomy expression at once changed. His shining eyes beamed with joy and he looked at me with sincere gratefulness. His pleasant glance of thanks impressed me, and my own mode of thinking suddenly changed.


A little earlier, I was enjoying the idea of getting a good reward but now my mind was reasoning as to what I had actually done to deserve it. It was by sheer chance that the bag had came into my possession. I had exerted no efforts to obtain it. Therefore, why did I expect to get a reward for returning it to its rightful owner? But I was actually in dire need of money. My poverty and the grim realities of life were looking me in the face. Why shouldn’t I accept the reward? It was absolutely legitimate and surely there was no harm in taking it. A painful conflict of indecision was going on within me and I was in an uneasy state of double mindedness.
The noble old man was looking at the necklace again and again as to assure himself of its recovery. He then looked at me and said, "O dear me, you are a virtuous person and I thank you from the core of my heart. I am unable to express fully my feelings o fgratittude for your act of praiseworthy conduct. Nevertheless, I offer you a purse of five hundred dinars as a humble present and request you to kindly accept it."


He then placed in front of me a purse full of gold coins. A conflicting struggle of ideas was still going on in my mind. The sight of money which was within my easy reach was very tempting but I checked myself and said, "Sir, I thank you for offering me a substantial amount as a reward but it is impossible for me to accept it."

"Why not?" asked my noble guest, "You justly deserve the reward because I am giving it entirely of my own free will. I gladly give it to you as a humble token of my gratitude. Please do not dishearten me by refusing it." I replied, "Sir, I cannot even think of being rude to decline your kind offer, but iti is certainly improper for me to take it without doing anything to earn it. The necklace is yours and I happened to find it only by chance. Its restoration to you does not entitle me to take anything in return. Please do not insist on me to accept what is not morally due to me."


He was rather surprised by my firm refusal. Normally people yearn for money but I was adamantly declining it. He said, "My son! It is a virtue to be an honest person but the money is which is being offered to you is not disallowed by our faith. It is not prohibited to offer or accept such presents. Therefore, I request you to reconsider your unrealistic stand and keep that purse for the sake of my pleasure if not for anything else."

I said, "Sir, I do not at all intend to displease you, but the pleasure of Almighty Allah is more important to be reckoned with than your or my pleasure. If there is any good in my action, I will prefer to leave the matter to His Grace for compensation, which I do not wan tot risk for all the riches of this world. Kindly do not insist because I am determined not to accept any undue reward." My guest collected his pouch and purse and stood much dejectedly to leave. He patted me on the back and left without a word.


After a week or so, I got back my previous job. My days of deprivation and hunger were over. I rejoined my classes and forgot all about the incident I my busy schedule of daily routine. I exerted all of my energy to acquire knowledge of the Holy Qur'an and Hadith. My main subject of interest was Islamic Jurisprudence. I completed my studies with a distinction.


On the recommendation of my tutor, I was offered an appointment as Qazi of Qurtaba, (Cordova) the capital city of Haspaniyah (presently known as Spain). I readily accepted the post and started to prepare myself very happily for the long journey. I took leave of my colleagues and went to the port of Jeddah to embark on the ship for my destination. I boarded a merchant ship to carry me to the land of my future hopes.


For the first few days, the voyage was smooth and very enjoyable. Then suddenly a violent storm of severe intensity overtook us and the ship was engulfed by stormy waves. The mountain high waves tossed the ship around like a tiny toy. The masts were broken and the sails torn. A mighty wave crushed the ship and wrecked it completely. A few screams were heard and it was all over. I saw some floating boards and a few victims of the crash swimming around trying to save their lives. They were the only survivors of the hapless ship who were drifting over the ocean surface. When I recovered from the shock, I found myself clinging to a plan and moving with it at the mercy of the waves.


After drifting for two days, in a semi-conscious state, the waves tossed me upon the shore. I thanked Almighty Allah for saving me from the jaws of death. I was so weak that I couldn’t move. I helplessly lay there exposed to the scorching heat of the burning rays of the sun. I crawled to the dim shadows of a thorny bush. I lost track of time and was in a state between dizziness and heavy slumber.


After some time, I slightly opened my eyes and saw a few strange faces staring at me. They poured a few drops of water into my mouth and I came out of my oblivion but was still unable to speak. They made up a stretcher and carried me to a nearby town. When we approached near it, the first man-made thing which caught my eye was a towering minaret of a Masjid. I thanked Allah for being among my own brethren of faith.


They took me to a house belonging to one of them and laid me on a comfortable bed. With proper care, feeding, and treatment, I soon regained my lost energy. I told my kind host all about myself and the mishap of the ship wreck. My host, whose name was Faleh Hasan, informed me that I was in Hodeida, a coastal town of Yemen. The tract where I was luckily found was a desolate region and was a less treaded part of the coast. Faleh Hasan and his friends noticed a few vultures circling over the area, so they went to investigate and found me there in an unconscious state. He introduced me to his friends and I expressed my heartful thanks for saving my life. Due to their loving concern, I was soon normal, both mentally and physically.


I began to attend Masjid to offer my regular prayers and there I came to know many persons of nobility and of high-ranking positions. They all knew my unhappy episode through my host and treated me with understanding and respect. One of them was the aged and pious Sheikh Ahmad bin Suhail who usually led the prayers. He always greeted me with fatherly affection which touched me to the heart.


One day, he was a little late to arrive to the Masjid, so the people requested me to lead the prayers. My hesitation and excuses proved to be useless before their sincere appeals. That day I performed the duties of Imam. I did my best to recite clearly the Verses of the Holy Qur'an during the prayer and afterwards delivered a brief sermon on Islamic Law. Everyone seemed to be highly impressed. Sheikh Ahmad bin Suhail came forward and congratulated me on my excellent performance. I thanked him for his appreciation and encouragement. I came back to the house of my host filled with delight and self-confidence.


But later, I had sometimes thought that I had overstayed my welcome. So after the evening prayers, I stated my intention of leaving, but my host disagreed with me. He wanted me to stay for a few more days to recoup my health fully. At night, when I was going to bed, Sheikh Ahmad bin Suhail came with a few respectable people of the town. The friends of Faleh Hasan, who were my saviors, were also with them. When the preliminary formalities of greeting each other were over and all were comfortably seated, Sheikh Ahmad turned his eyes towards me and said, "Dear Abu Bakr, I have been honored by these gentlemen to speak to you, on behalf of them, about their commendable wish. I expect, you will please assent to it."


I was perplexed by that kind of address. So I said nervously, "Sir, you are very helpful and kind to me. I cannot disregard any of your commands or wishes. You can order me to do anything and it will be an honor for me to obey it."

He said, "Dear son, we all earnestly desire you to stay here with us forever. The regular Imam of our Masjid had died last year. We still mourn his death and perhaps will do so forever. His respect is deeply rooted in our hearts. He had enlightened our lives with the torch of knowledge. We wish you to take his place and consent to be our Imam. We may not be able to offer you a better paid position than that of the Qazi in Qurtaba, but we will surely give you our love, affection, and respect."

"But Sir," I protested, "I am a fresh, inexperienced student and feel small to carry out the sacred duties of the high office of Imam." The Sheikh said, "My son, do not underestimate yourself. We all have heard your recitiation and sermon, and are fully convinced of your ability to fulfill those responsibilities."

Before I could think of any evasive answer, my host, Faleh Hasan, and his friends vehemently backed up the proposal. I was left with no other alternative but to nod in affirmative. Everybody was pleased with my decision, especially Sheikh Ahmad who thanked me and kissed my forehead. They all rose to leave and thanking me individually, departed very happy.

They left me thinking how the secret hands of fate change the course of destiny in a secret manner. Circumstances secretly take such a turn that they altogether change the plans made up by man. I had cherished the hope of being a Qazi of Qurtaba and had taken steps to attain that goal, but preordained events made me an Imam of the Masjid in Hodeida.


So a new phase in my life began. I took charge of the imposed position and shifted to the assigned house of the Imam. I restarted the primary school that had closed due to the sad demise of the former Imam. I also commenced evening classes to impart lessons to explain the meaning of the Holy Qur'an.

I completely adjusted myself to the new environment and people generally accepted me as their religious leader. I was very contented and never for a moment regretted my decision to settle there. All the people, young and old alike, were happy and respected me. The feelings of any estrangement all faded away and I became as if I was one of them for ages.


One day, Sheikh Ahmad came to me and after enquiring about my welfare, said, "Dear Abu Bakr, your services to or townsmen are praiseworthy and beyond our expectations. I am glad that you had accepted our offer of staying with us. Now have come to you to ask one more favor."

I said, "Sir, I am at your service. Please tell me and I will comply with your order."

He said, "Dear son, a man is not perfect without his partner of life. I want you to marry and take full advantage of life. Marriage is also a sacred Sunna of our Holy Prophet. The sweet marital responsibilities are a real blessing which have been conferred onto man."

I replied, "Sir, you have always advised me in my best interest. I take you as a father to me and in this matter also, I will follow you counsel."

The Sheikh said, "Your predecessor, the late Imam of this Masjid was a very close friend of mine. He had a daughter, and when he was sure of his end, he entrusted her to my protection and care. Since then she has been under my guardianship. She is a lovely and adorable girl of good manners. Allah has endowed her with physical and mental beauty. She is virtuous and is a suitable match for you. I wish to give her in marriage to you and I feel sure that it will be a marriage of true minds."


I had no objection to the proposal whatsoever. A few days later, the bonds of marriage united us. After the festive ceremonies were over, Sheikh Ahmad escorted her to my house that was in fact her old abode where she had lived with her late father. I looked at her and my gaze was concentrated steadily on her. I forgot to even say welcome to her. I was not only looking at her beautiful and charming face, and at her downcast eyes; but my glance was riveted upon her pretty neck, which was ornamented by precious pearls. I at once recognized that necklace. It was the same necklace that I once found on a deserted road of Makkah. I looked at her in silent and open-mouthed wonder.


Sheikh Ahmad noticed my confused condition and thought that her beauty and the luster of the pearls had enchanted me. He politely said, "Dear Abu Bakr, that necklace and its wearer, both are yours now and you can take all your time to behold them. It may, perhaps, interest you to know that the necklace has a strange story of its own. Five years ago, my friend went to Makkah for pilgrimage and took that necklace with him to get it re-polished. There, he lost it. But due to the goodness of an honest young man, he recovered it intact. That commendable young man refused to sell his honesty and declined the pressing offer of a handsome reward. He left a lasting impression upon my friend who always remembered and talked about him. He once confided to me that he had a mind to go to Makkah again and ask that virtuous young man to accept the hand of his daughter, but time did not allow him to do so. Anyhow, it was destined differently. His daughter was to become your wife instead of his. The decreed decisions of fate are strange and beyond the understanding of man."

An emotional storm erupted within me. The strange happenings of the fateful events which were unfolded by the hidden hands of destiny agitated me and drops of tears rolled down my cheeks; I looked towards Sheikh Ahmad through misty eyes and said, "Dear Sir, you are very right to say that insight into the unknown mysteries of fate is not possible. It would perhaps be a pleasant surprise to know that I am the same person who found the necklace and restored it to your friend. He, in return, offered me an amount of five hundred dinars. Although I was a pauper and was suffering from the agonies of hunger in those days, my conscience did not allow me to accept anything that was not my due. I pinned all my hopes and expectations of Almighty Allah for any reward. And here I am with His gracious and greatest reward of all."


Sheikh Ahmad was amazed and without saying a word, he held my hand and shook it was a passion. My newly wedded wife lifted her eyes and looked me full in the face. Her eyes were filled with enthusiastic love that any husband ever could desire for. Almighty Allah had bestowed upon me His favors by giving me a considerate and loving wife and nothing in life surpasses that bliss."
 
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