This is part of the story "How I Became a Muslim"...... it is that separate story-telling session I spoke about that features how I met my husband.
Yup. It's a TRUE story. Only the names are changed.....
Here it is:
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Allah The Best Match-Maker
Out there somewhere in the vastness of infinity is The Preserved Tablet (Lahw-i Mahfoos), strictly guarded on all sides by angels.
It is the Divine Book of Allah, the Book of Decree, where the entire story of mankind is written, the contents of which Allah has full knowledge of.
In this Book is recorded the story of two people, a man and a woman, living in opposite sides of the world, thousands of miles from each other, destined to meet and marry....... all because they both had taken Allah as their match-maker.
This is their story........
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Allah blessed Rani with many gifts. In short, she had it all: beauty, brains, foresight, insight, wisdom, a profound imagination, incredible writing talent, a keen sense of humor and compassion. She was systematic, orderly and ambitious. She achieved whatever she set her mind on. Her determination was made of steel.
He wasn’t blessed with brains or talent. His imagination was wanting, his sense of humor, not as keen. He wasn’t systematic or orderly. He was frequently a victim of procrastination. But he loved to travel. And he possessed the only intelligence that counted. Fear of God.
She lived in India, in a land that was full of polytheists, tradition and culture. A land of arranged marriages, where parents and relatives had a big hand in deciding who their daughters would marry. A land where daughters obeyed their parents and preferred their choice to their own. A land where respect and family honor is placed on a high pedestal.
Bob lived in America, the land of opportunity. The land of Hollywood.... the land of comfort, luxury, affluence, prosperity and abundance. A land with high divorce rates, deteriorating family values, where each man looked after his own self interest. In this land marriages weren’t arranged. One had to seek out his or her life-partner without the aid of parents and family members.
Thus he and she lived on opposite sides of the globe. Conditions were such one would declare that it was an impossibility for these two to meet, let alone get married.
But it was ordained that they would certainly meet. Allah had made them for each other.
Hence, how they met and got married can be described as nothing but miraculous.
Rani’s family members though Indian weren’t going to look for a husband for her. They were different from typical Indian parents who laid emphasis on tradition, culture or religion. They were very much westernized and didn’t even care for marriage. For them, it was no big deal if a couple lived together and had kids out of wedlock.
But for Rani, it was a big deal. To her, the concept of having a boyfriend and living with him like they did in the west disgusted her.
She used to read fairy-tales when she was a child and in all the stories, the princess had always gotten married with the man she loved and the story had always ended with them living happily ever after.
She liked to daydream and she never lost her fascination and delight in reading fairy-tales. She wanted the story of her own life to be like a fairy-tale as well......meeting Prince Charming, getting married and then living happily ever after.
But she was a very realistic person. She knew the difference between a dream and reality. She knew that it was going to be extremely difficult to find Prince Charming in the area where she lived. Nobody spoke good English for miles around. And even if he did speak English, what man would be able to impress her enough to make her desire to marry him, she wondered.
She pondered over the problem of finding a suitable soul-mate. Just what sort of man was she willing to marry? And how on earth was she to find one she liked?
She considered men in her town who were rich and wealthy. Nope. She wouldn’t marry any of them no matter how much wealth they had. The last thing she wanted to marry was a snob, someone who was puffed up with pride about his wealth and upbringing. Such men revolted her.
“Don’t care how handsome. And I don’t care how wealthy!” she thought to herself.
She was a college professor and herself earned a good income. She knew there would be men who would desire to marry her just on those grounds. No, she didn’t want those sort of men.
She searched her heart and enquired: “Just what sort of man would satisfy you, O heart of mine?”
Her heart responded, “Marry a man who fears God. For only such a man can be trusted. For only such a man would be faithful to you for eternity.”
She felt profound peace with the reply given to her by her heart. She now had an idea what sort of man to look for. The question was, how was she to go about finding him?
She knew of her family’s unconcern for her marriage. There was no point in turning to them for any help. They would have simply laughed at her.
She also knew that the chances of her getting married while she worked in the town that was far away from the metropolitan city were very slim.... next to nil.
She had to make a fast decision. She didn’t fancy the life of a single woman living in the middle of nowhere, no matter how good the money was. True, it was hard to get jobs in India. People even paid huge amounts of money to secure one. She had got her job without paying a single dime.... or paisa, as they say in India. Her career looked very promising indeed. But let’s not forget she was blessed with insight. She knew what was more important in life. And it wasn’t her job, her career, money, wealth or worldly riches. Her true wealth would be her husband! A God-fearing husband!
So she took a very bold step towards this end. She shocked everyone by resigning from her job. People thought she was crazy. She didn’t care one bit.
She went back to her home town and made preparations to go to Mumbai. During this time, she would go up to the terrace and look at the stars. She would then say to herself, “My Mr. Right is out there somewhere. I don’t know who he is. But God surely does.... God knows exactly who he is and what he is doing right now. I put my trust in God and wait for Him to lead me to him.”
Her brother had a flat in a suburb of Mumbai. She went to stay there. She had pictures of herself taken, responded to advertisements in Times of India and she got herself registered in a marriage bureau in Mumbai. Then she returned to her home town, for the city life of Mumbai didn’t appeal to her. She was most definitely a country girl.
…............. to be continued.
Last edited by Flame of Hope; 05-31-2011 at 08:15 AM.
I was only saying that the heaven is absolutely not imaginable, it's beyond our thoughts. Nevermind, I didn't mean to criticize, if you understand.
lol. Sis, I do understand. Actually it's a good thing to be wary of anything that is false.
If you don't mind my saying so.... there are two types of stories:
1. A story that is made-up, fictitious but which explains a universal truth. Such as the story of the fox and the grapes. We all know that foxes don't talk. We know they don't eat grapes. Still, we buy that story. Why? Because it teaches a moral.... we tend to scorn the things we want but can't have. Although those things are sweet we would call them sour just because we can't have them.
2. The second sort of story is told by a liar or hypocrite. He will begin by telling you the truth. And somewhere along the way, he introduces something that is false. This sort of story is the one we should be wary of..... but it's a big topic... which we need not discuss here.
Sis, I'm sure you didn't mean to criticize. I think you were afraid that I was introducing something false in the story ..... and were just concerned about me and feared for me...... and so I appreciate your concern.
It is pointless to watch other people's houses crumbling when our own house is in need of repair and attention.
Rani told her sisters that Bob had proposed to her. They were amused.
“You refused him and still he’s coming to see you today?” they asked.
“Yes.....”
Rani wondered why she had invited him to come again. Maybe because one day wasn’t enough to come a decision.... and perhaps it was because she wanted more time to get to know him. But it was clear that Bob felt the same way. He hadn’t been discouraged by her negative answer to his proposal.
That morning Rani’s heart and mind were in a state of confusion. She took out the letters of Dennis. She kept looking at his photograph. He was a white guy. Average looks. Rich businessman. Traveled the world. She would live in comfort, surrounded by luxury. She didn’t know what Dennis’s religious beliefs were but she figured he was probably Christian. Most Europeans were Christians..... if what she read in books and saw in movies was correct. She assumed that Dennis believed in God.
Then she thought about Bob. He had had a cold and running nose. She played over in her mind his visit the day before. He was so simple! He didn’t put on any pretences. There was an honesty about him which appealed to her. He wasn’t much of a talker but she could tell that he was nervous. That could have arisen from some sort of fear...... the fear of being rejected, perhaps? He had kept wiping his nose with the sleeve of his shirt as he talked to her. Rani had recently bought some handkerchiefs. She had rushed to get those to take care of his runny nose.
Rani felt protective about Bob. He seemed so vulnerable. He needed someone to look after him otherwise he was going to be devoured by wolves and sharks. She could already see how greatly he had been robbed and taken advantage of by greedy, unscrupulous beasts of Mumbai.
But how could she marry him? She barely knew him! It didn’t occur to her then that she didn’t know much about Dennis either.
Such were the thoughts in Rani’s mind that morning....
She waited with eager anticipation for Bob’s arrival. He was again late. Supposing he didn’t come at all? Then it might mean that he wasn’t interested in marrying her any more. That wasn’t such a bad thing. That would mean she could go ahead dreaming about Dennis.
But Bob was a determined young fellow. He wasn’t going to abandon the opportunity to see Rani again.
He had lost his way but had managed to reach the right station. Then he had found his way to the flat with the help of some young lads of the neighborhood. He had kept the map Rani had given him very safely indeed.
Rani was happy to see Bob. Needless to say, Bob was pleased to see Rani as well. Here was an opportunity for them to talk and get to know each other more.
“You’ve got beautiful eyes,” Rani remarked, marveling at their light brown color.
“I got my mother’s eyes,” was Bob’s reply.
Rani hadn’t thought that Bob was a great looking guy when she had first laid eyes on him. But as she spent more time with him, she had to admit that he was rather cute. He was actually a mix of different races, not completely African. When he rolled up his sleeves, Rani could see that he was really fair-skinned.
“My dad is fair and has green eyes,” Bob explained.
They went to the terrace to talk. This time Rani was very frank with Bob. She told Bob about Dennis. “I’m waiting for him. I got his letter expressing his interest in me before you came on the scene.....”
“But I got to see you first,” said Bob. “He isn’t here, but I am!”
Bob revealed that he did have some sense of humor. Rani laughed. Bob sounded very optimistic.
Bob tried to persuade Rani to marry him again. “You will like the US,” he said. “It’s a beautiful country.... there are mountains, nice places you can visit......”
Rani had no desire to go to America or live there. She knew how materialistic a country it was. And judging from what she had seen of American life in movies, she didn’t quite fancy being part of such a life.
Still, she had to admit that Bob was very different from the typical American guy depicted in Hollywood movies. It was almost as though he belonged to The Ancient Age!
Was Bob even real?! She wasn’t sure if she was dreaming.
Bob continued to talk. Rani learnt that Bob’s military leave was almost up and he would be leaving India soon... in less than two weeks.
It was evening and the street lights had been lit. Time flew by. Soon it would be time for Bob to go.
Nothing had been said about tomorrow. Bob did talk about taking Rani to the movies. But no specific day was set. It was just an expression of his heart’s wish.
Bob didn’t speak of tomorrow and neither did Rani say anything about meeting again.
The day had passed by too quickly. Rani wished Bob could stay longer. But she knew that this was not possible.
So this time, Rani, her brother and sisters went with Bob to the railway station to see him off.....to say farewell. It was understood that this might be the last time they saw Bob.
They waited for the next local train. They made small talk..... but there was a heavy sadness looming in the air. Rani was not sure if her siblings felt it so intensely as she did.
The train finally arrived and Bob boarded the train.
They waved him good bye..... and they all returned home.
Upon reaching his hotel, Bob prayed to God.
“Please God! Please don’t let me return to America empty-handed.”
…............... to be continued.
Last edited by Flame of Hope; 06-07-2011 at 11:18 PM.
Reason: typo
It is pointless to watch other people's houses crumbling when our own house is in need of repair and attention.
I have to admit that Bob sounds a bit like myself. People have told me and I have said myself that I don't belong in the 21st century. I have a very un-modern attitude about a lot of things.
I do admire his persistence though. At least we know that this story has a happy ending...
Flaminator comes on the scene with her pen loaded with ink.
Ah! So everybody wants Part VIII?
They're gonna get what they asked for.....
Here it is..... Flaminator fires ink from the pen in staccato fashion.....
Part VIII
Bob prayed to Allah. Allah responded to his prayer pronto. Rani said yes to Bob. They both got married.
Allah rules and proves He is the bestest matchmaker. Alhamdulillah!
End of story.
Mwah ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!
bwahahahaaha
I know you are joking, this is not your style
WE HAVE FAITH in you, I know while ending your story... cute women like me will dream and imagine ourselves in your shoes LOOOL
so pls we demand for proper ending!
The HIGHEST accomplishment I can achieve in this worldly life is to be a TRUE MUSLIM. (me)
bwahahahaaha
I know you are joking, this is not your style
WE HAVE FAITH in you, I know while ending your story... cute women like me will dream and imagine ourselves in your shoes LOOOL
so pls we demand for proper ending!
By popular demand..... part VIII coming right up. lol.
It is pointless to watch other people's houses crumbling when our own house is in need of repair and attention.
Allah is The All-Seeing, The All-Hearing, The All-Knowing and The Aware. He listens to the prayers of all people, especially people who believe in His power and might and in His ability to rescue people from their deep distress. People like Bob.
The night of October 7 when Bob prayed to Allah to not send him back to America empty-handed, Allah was most certainly listening. Allah had full knowledge of Bob’s long wait of ten years. Bob had guarded his chastity since the age of 19. He was now 28 years old. He had spent the best years of his youth in abstinence and in a country where fornication and adultery was a normal part of life.
Does not Allah know what He has created? Does He not know who has been true to his vow? Does He not know who is worthy of receiving His guidance? Most assuredly, Allah has knowledge of all things.
Allah turned to Bob in mercy. He was going to end Bob’s ten year wait and He was going to give Bob a woman who would prove to be worth every minute and second of that wait..... a woman He had created two years before Bob was born!
It was easy for Allah to cast love for Bob in Rani’s heart.
When Rani had waved Bob good bye at the railway station, her heart was full of grief. She returned home devastated by the strength of pain she felt deep within her. It was a horrifying emptiness. That night she tossed and turned and tried to sleep. But it was impossible.
“Oh, the silly goose!” she thought. “He didn’t even say when he wanted to see me again! He just left.... just like that!”
“And he will be leaving India soon too....”
“....and I’ll never see him again!!!!”
The thought of never seeing Bob again broke her heart. She was overwhelmed by a strong feeling of attachment towards Bob. This was of course the power of Allah at work.
Rani wasn’t able to sleep even a blink. All she could think of that she had to see Bob again. Bob didn’t have any way of reaching her by phone. So the possibility of him calling her was nil.
The only way that she could see him again was if she called him. And thank God she had the number of his hotel!!
Rani couldn’t wait for the morning to come. She raced to the STD booth to make her phone call.
Of course, nothing was going to go wrong with that connection. Allah made sure of that. This was all part of His plan.
Bob picked up the phone.
“Can you come to see me again?” said Rani. “I think I have become attached to you.”
Bob was extremely surprised.
“Yes, I’ll come!”
“Can you come today..... please?! Say you will come today!!”
Now both Rani and Bob were excited. This time when they talked they felt a sweetness in the air. The anticipation of meeting each other again was a feeling too lovely to describe.
Bob was ecstatic. His prayers were answered. He began to get ready to visit Rani once more.
After the phone call Rani returned home. She felt a lot better now. That clumsy, gentle giant was coming. She was happy.
But the thought of marrying Bob wasn’t on her mind. All she knew was that she had to see him again.
Rani informed her sister that Bob was coming to visit again that day.
“Are you going to marry him?”
“No. I just want to see him, that’s all.”
“I don’t think it’s fair to call him all the way when you have no intention of marrying him.”
Rani had to admit that her sister was right. It wasn’t fair. But what was she to do? She was obligated to marry Dennis..... he had more right over her, didn’t he? He had expressed his interest first. Not Bob. But now, things had changed.... her heart had changed.
Rani was in a state of utter confusion.
…........... to be continued.
It is pointless to watch other people's houses crumbling when our own house is in need of repair and attention.
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: Well, doesn't matter, it's Allah's will. 
. Where is part VIII :grumbling.
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