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:
--------------------------
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.
Asalamualaykum i'm glad i caught up i was hoping i'd get it all finished but its not so waitin inshallah
“The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs is afflicted, the whole body responds to it with sleeplessness and fever”.
So now the story takes an interesting twist. I really want to see how this will end. Well, we know how it ends, but how does it get there? That's what I want to know...
When Bob arrived at the flat that day, the mood in the air was noticeably different. Rani’s family members were amused. They secretly hoped that Rani would marry Bob. However, their reasons were purely from the materialistic point of view.
Rani was very glad to see Bob again. Her heart found peace near his presence. They went up the terrace again to talk.
Rani didn’t want to mislead Bob. So she was quite frank with him about her feelings.
“I’m confused,” she said. “I think I am obligated to marry Dennis. It is for him that I came over here to Mumbai anyway.”
Bob tried to reason with Rani but it was no use.
The time flew by quickly yet again. It was soon evening. Bob would have to leave for his hotel in about an hour or so.
Grey clouds had gathered in the sky. It was going to rain. So they went downstairs to join the family.
Everyone sat in a circle in the living room. Bob was as usual a little nervous, not knowing what to expect.
They were all speaking in Hindi.
“So what have you decided?” Rani’s mother asked.
“I don’t know! I can’t decide!” said Rani.
“It isn’t right for you to keep calling him here like this... you know that, right?”
“Yes.....”
Outside there was lightning and then the sound of thunder. It began to rain. And suddenly there was a black out. They rose to get candles and then resumed their discussion in the candle light.
The weather matched Rani’s mood..... which was quite chaotic and in a whirl. She kept thinking about Dennis. How would he react if he knew of this peculiar situation? Shouldn’t she give him a chance, wait for him like she had promised she would, let him come, meet him and then make a decision? But wouldn’t Bob be gone by then? What if it didn’t work out between her and Dennis? Would Bob still be available or interested in her after he left India?
Somehow Rani knew that once Bob went back to America, she would never see him again. It would be very difficult to get in touch with him and even if she did, things could change quite a bit and Bob might even lose interest in her, find somebody else, perhaps?
The thought of never seeing Bob again was unbearable. But what was she to do?! She was thus torn apart, not knowing who to choose..... Bob? or Dennis?
So it was while Rani was having all these confusing thoughts swirling in her head that her sister asked her, “Can you please make up your mind?!!!!”
“I can’t!” said Rani. “I can’t help thinking what will happen to Dennis?!”
Her sister was annoyed. “Well, what about Dennis?!” she cried. “I will marry him!!!”
Subhanallahi wa bi hamdihi!!!
This statement of her sister brought Rani down to earth and she began to see the truth as clear as daylight! It struck her like a bolt of lightning. She suddenly realized that she didn’t really care if Dennis got married to someone else. With him out of the way, there was nothing to stop her from saying yes to Bob!!
Rani’s heart was aflame with joy! She knew that she could never find a man like Bob..... a man who had waited ten long years to get married to the right woman. What greater proof could there be that Bob was a God-fearing man?! And didn’t Rani want a man who feared God? Indeed, Bob was the answer to her prayer! It was as though God had put her heart-felt prayer into a computer and scanned the hearts of millions of men in order to find a match that was perfect!!!
“I’ll marry Bob,” said Rani in Hindi to her family members.
No sooner had Rani announced her decision than the lights came back on.
Rani’s mother turned to Bob with a big smile on her face.
“We have something to tell you.....”
All this while Bob hadn’t a clue what was going on. So he looked at everyone with a surprised expression on his face.
“She is saying yes,” said Rani’s mother. “She says she will marry you.”
Bob was supremely pleased. His happiness knew no bounds. A big, huge smile appeared on his face.
“Not like this! This has to be done properly,” Rani interrupted. “You will have to propose to me. You will have to get down on your knees and ask for my hand in marriage.... “
Bob was more than willing to do the needful. He got down on his knees, took Rani’s hand in his and said the magic words: Will you marry me?
Whereupon Rani said, “YES!!!!”
There was a huge relief after that.... like an enormous burden had been lifted. There was much cheering and joy. For Rani and Bob, peace and tranquility in their hearts.
It was then time for Bob to leave for his hotel. Needless to say, Rani and her siblings went with him to the railway station to see him off.
Bob and Rani’s brother walked ahead. Rani and her sisters walked behind them.
On the way, Rani’s sister asked, “Are you sure about this, Rani?”
Rani replied in the affirmative.
“I’ve never been so sure about anything in my entire life!”
-------------- might be continued.
It is pointless to watch other people's houses crumbling when our own house is in need of repair and attention.
Now I have to wonder, did the sister go through with her promise to marry Dennis...
Nah! That was a sign from Allah put into the mouth of her sister to make Rani realize the truth that she didn't care about Dennis. Had Rani's sister not said it, only Allah knows what would have happened..... and perhaps Rani might never have said "yes" to Bob. It was what I call "the turning point" statement. lol.
Besides, don't forget that Dennis was interested in Rani..... not her sister. So even if her sister wanted to marry Dennis, he would have to agree, wouldn't he? lol.
It is pointless to watch other people's houses crumbling when our own house is in need of repair and attention.
Nah! That was a sign from Allah put into the mouth of her sister to make Rani realize the truth that she didn't care about Dennis. Had Rani's sister not said it, only Allah knows what would have happened..... and perhaps Rani might never have said "yes" to Bob. It was what I call "the turning point" statement. lol.
Besides, don't forget that Dennis was interested in Rani..... not her sister. So even if her sister wanted to marry Dennis, he would have to agree, wouldn't he? lol.
Yeah, true, but then if I had travelled all the way to India to find a wife, I would be leaving with one, no matter if it was the one I set out to meet or not. I'm not wasting all that time and money for nothing.
Kit sighed. "So Bob and Rani got married two days later after Rani said 'yes'. Subhanallah! Just as it was written, it happened."
"Yeah, and that was the beginning of more hardships for Rani," said Kat matter-of-factly. "Alhamdulillahir rabbil al ameen. That Rani is a lucky girl."
"More hardships?" said Kit.
"Well of course!" replied Kat. "Look at the couple! From opposite sides of the world, coming from different cultures, accustomed to different ways of life. There are bound to be culture clashes between them you know."
"Culture clashes?"
"Sure..... culture clashes! Rani loves hot, spicy Indian food. Bob doesn't. He loves to eat sweets."
"And I suppose Rani doesn't like sweets?"
"Well, she doesn't love them to death like Bob does. And she doesn't quite fancy American food. Too bland for her taste, you know."
"I guess she is going to have to make a lot adjustments then."
"Lots of adjustments, Kit! Remember too that she wanted to marry a man who would take care of her?"
"Yeah, I remember. She didn't want to work and she wanted to stay at home... and have her husband take care of her needs...."
"Well, she isn't going have that wish of hers granted. You see, you got to look at the country Bob was raised in. The idea of women staying at home, looking after children, having the husband do the providing and all has become sort of out-dated... a thing of the past, in America. Most women that Bob knew were independent and worked to support their families. He is used to the idea of women looking after themselves. What did they need a man for? So if that's how he looked at women, then he looked at Rani in the same way. It would be a long, long time before he would learn to take care of her.... "
"Which means that even after marriage Rani would have no one to take care of her?!"
"Yeah, I'm afraid so, Kit."
"That's really cool," said Kit with a big smile on his face. "He who has no one has Allah."
"That's right!" Kat beamed. "Bob is a slow learner but he will eventually learn. Until then, Rani will just have to be real patient with him."
"They are just right for each other, despite all the differences in culture and upbringing," Kit commented. "Rani is hot-tempered. Bob's got a mild temper. Rani is down to earth and realistic while Bob lives in his own world."
"Over the years, Rani will learn a lot of things from Bob and vice versa," said Kat. "They have been paired to learn important things from each other."
Kit typed in some words in the computer.
"Look, here's a recent conversation recorded between them," he said in amusement. It shows that Rani has come a long way. Ha ha ha ha!"
Kat looked at the words on the screen:
---------------------
Rani: Sweetheart, are you listening?
Bob: Yes.
Rani: If you tell me that the sun is the moon and the moon is the sun, I will call the sun, the moon and the moon, the sun.
Bob: Really?
Rani: Yes, really. But I would really appreciate it and it would be real nice if you could call the sun, the sun and the moon, the moon!!!
Bob: (chuckles....)
-------------------
Kat roared with laughter.
"You know, Rani is the best thing to have happened to Bob."
"I think so too," said Kit. "She would one day lead him to the way of Allah - Islam!"
"And I also think that Bob is the best thing to have happened to Rani."
Kit and Kat looked at each other and put on a big grin. They said it aloud in unison:
"..... because he would teach her patience!"
----------------- End of story-------------------------
Alhamdulillahir rabbil al ameen!
It is pointless to watch other people's houses crumbling when our own house is in need of repair and attention.
Asalamualaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatahu,
Mashallah
“The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs is afflicted, the whole body responds to it with sleeplessness and fever”.
Asalamualaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatahu,
Mashallah
Walaykum salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.
I'm happy you enjoyed reading. This is the end of the story.... detailing how I got married to my husband. As you can see, it turned out to be a pretty long story.... 10 parts altogether!
Anyway, I and my husband have been married for 12 years. This year we'll be completing 13 years.
Allah has blessed us with 3 children. Two of them are fair and have sandy-colored hair. The middle one is dark-skinned with beautiful curly black hair. They certainly show that they have ancestors coming from 4 different continents: Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.
Alhamdulillahir rabbil al ameen!
It is pointless to watch other people's houses crumbling when our own house is in need of repair and attention.
I am more than please, u never disappoint us!!!
i envy your talent in writing hahaha, i am big jealous, i also envy your imaan btw
from your story
now i understand more why Allah send me my husband, i too do not have alot of patience
while he got mad once in 5years, i got mad once every minute lool what a sickoo hahah lol talking nonsense again
nite sister flame, time to bed, ill reply your private msg inshallah tomorrow, too tired to understand
nice story
nice nice nice
Masha Allah
The HIGHEST accomplishment I can achieve in this worldly life is to be a TRUE MUSLIM. (me)
brother dont worry too much
she is still younger than you
hahaha
just kidding
PS: IT IS NOT GENTLE TO CONFIRM THE AGE OF A RESPECTABLE WOMAN, unless she is in her 20s like me HAHAHAHAHAA
No, don't misunderstand, sister. I'm not trolling for her age. I was surprised to read that she's been married that long, is all. I had this picture in my mind of someone younger, that's all.
No, don't misunderstand, sister. I'm not trolling for her age. I was surprised to read that she's been married that long, is all. I had this picture in my mind of someone younger, that's all.
Maybe I shouldn't have said anything...
Hey, no sadness here. I can understand why you thought that way.... it's because of the story and the way it's written. I was actually taking you back in time...... 13 years. So you met the younger me. And suddenly I told you that it was so many years ago.......
Therefore..... it came as a big surprise.
I totally understand.
Now put on a big smile Just a Guy. No embarrassing or sad faces.
It is pointless to watch other people's houses crumbling when our own house is in need of repair and attention.
Yeah, see, I thought your story was more recent than 13 years ago. I was thinking maybe 4 or 5 years ago, so I was totally surprised when you mentioned the 13 years of marriage and 3 kids.
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Which means I am obligated to continue....
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