Short Story Contest ’08 3rd Place – “Whomsoever Allah Guides…” by Amira Khan

We finally get to the interesting part :D

Yes, ladies and gents, we introduce to you our THIRD PLACE WINNER! A round of applause and “māshā'Allāh”s for Amira Khan, for her prize-winning story: “Whomsoever Allāh Guides, None Can Misguide.”

As one of the top 3 winners, sister Amira has just landed herself with the book: “Towards Understanding Our Religion – collected articles from al-Basheer, the magazine” edited by Sheikh Jamal Zarabozo AND 1 Free AlMaghrib Registration!

Congratulations!

————

Whomsoever Allāh Guides, None Can Misguide – Amira Khan

Once upon a time, in a city called Karachi, there lived a sixteen-year-old girl who had been blessed by Allāh(swt) with loving parents, comforts and luxuries to enjoy. Allāh(swt) had also given her intelligence whereby she excelled in academics and a heart which had an innate inclination towards good. She had grown up in Saudi Arabia and here also, you will agree, she had been given a treasure in the form of Umrah opportunities or even just the chance to be raised amongst the dunes of Arabia.

A life of such ease and blessing, you'd say. Who could ever be ungrateful or disobedient to One Who gave so much and that too without ever asking for it? Can you imagine yourself in her place? Can you imagine her gratitude and her especial reverence for Ramadan, as the month of the Quran – the direct Words of Allāh(swt)?

Now you're interested – what did Ramadan mean to her?

Sting. The Backstreet Boys. Celine Dion. Bryan Adams. Ricky Martin. Avril Lavigne.

Sounds familiar? All these and more blared away in her headphone throughout the night. These were the sounds that lulled her to sleep, so much so that she often forgot to switch them off and was awakened at Suhoor with the same poison still flooding her ears. What gratitude and Ibadah were, she had absolutely no idea. And if that's not enough to disgust already, there were other un-Islamic practices that she willingly indulged in, not even pausing in the glorious month of Ramadan.

Once I said to her, “You know, the Hijab is…”
“Yeah, yeah! I know…” she brushed me off impatiently.

Another time, I said, “You know, I heard that musical instruments aren't permissible…”
“Whatever!” she snapped back at me.

I'd known her ever since she was born. I knew her so well that I'd almost given up on her totally, as I noticed her dressing style also subtly changing for the worse. One who had so much to be thankful for and yet was lost in her own pleasures… who could help such a person?

But I was wrong and Allāh(swt)'s Knowledge, I discovered, transcends all the boundaries and barriers that our minds are locked up in. When she was eighteen, Allāh(swt) blessed her with Hidayah – guidance from Himself to His Way. And whose guidance can be better than the guidance of Allāh(swt)? This girl, who I'd been helplessly watching stray about in darkness with no way out, slowly began to rediscover life.

Can you imagine my delight? The big change (that is, the Mercy of Allāh(swt)) had come when she came to study under a teacher at her college who also invited her to the Words of Allāh(swt). I saw her hurried steps towards the Quran everyday at college – towards the light. In reality, I was watching her walk out of her miserable existence. Not believing my eyes, I saw her nervously taking the dupatta on her head one day – then off the other day! I knew she was struggling with her Nafs but the very fact that she was trying made all the difference.

The music folders eventually found themselves in the 'Recycle Bin'. Deleted. Of course it took time! But oh, what joy it was to watch that cleansing process! Allahu Akbar! And one day, after two years of effort, supported and guided all along by her loving Creator, she took the Hijab with great joy and relief. Her peace of heart and mind was written all over her – it enveloped her in a sense of security that she had never experienced before.

My dear Muslims, I can account for all this and much more about her. Her attitude towards Ramadan has now completely changed, by the Grace of Allāh(swt). This year especially, she was a mixture of joy and excitement in her anticipation for the month. Her Ibadah, her efforts and her most importantly, her Niyah are known only by Allāh, for close as I am to her, even I don't claim to know the true nature of her heart. Only Allāh(swt) knows the deepest secrets of our hearts.

The Prophet(saw) very truly said, “When Allāh intends good for a person, He gives him understanding of the Deen.”

Writing this has reminded me to be grateful for her Hidayah again and continue to pray for more. If it hadn't been for her Hidayah, I couldn't have been guided either. Brothers and Sisters in Islam, I sit here writing this today at the age of twenty-two because Allāh(swt) guided her… and well, she eventually grew up into… me.