It was an ordinary day for me at my college; I am Aisha, a 23-year-old medical student from Australia. I am a practicing muslimah and i am devoted to the islamic faith as I pursue my medical degree. The campus boasts an expansive college building, as well as a casualty department, an operating theater, and various other structures dedicated to conducting practical medical examinations. The campus is adorned with an abundance of trees, while the main gate is quite a distance away, requiring a lengthy walk.
It was hard time for exams and I had a ton of stuff left to cram, so I figured I'd hit up the library and cover up all my leftovers. Finally, the last lecture ended and it was already 5 PM. I hustled over to the library and got down to business with my exam preparation. I was so caught up in studying that I totally lost track of time, and when I finally glanced at the clock, it was already almost 9 PM.
Now, here's the kicker - my house was a good hour's walk from our medical college, and the whole area gets pretty empty at night. I was definitely freaked out to go alone, but hey, what choice did I have? So, I said my prayers, grabbed my bag, and hit the road.
Just like I said, the streets were totally empty and there were hardly any people around. As I was walking, all these crazy thoughts started flooding my mind - like maybe something bad would happen to me, like getting kidnapped or worse.
The first thing I did was read ayat al Kursi and then I said all the evening adhkaars. Then out of nowhere, my body started freezing and I felt a strong shiver. I realized I was walking on 'West Graveyard Street', the same road where a terrible crime had happened just a few days ago.
The street was lined with trees on both sides, making it feel like I was walking through a jungle. I was freaking out because I had read about the rape and murder in the newspaper. I said my adhkaars again and with all my bravery, I walked at a faster pace.
I knew I was halfway through the graveyard street when I saw two sketchy guys coming from the left side of the street, the same side I was walking on. My blood ran cold and I started silently reciting ayat al Kursi in my heart. I tried my best to ignore them, but they kept looking at me. Then, just when they were about 5-6 meters away, they switched sides and walked past me. I picked up my speed and finally made it home, adding an extra 10 minutes to my walk. I thanked God, said my prayers, and had a peaceful sleep.
The morning after, I had my breakfast and sat peacefully to read the newspaper because it was a holiday for my medical school. When I flipped the paper, I couldn't believe my eyes. Those same two guys I saw on the street the previous night were on the front page, handcuffed and everything. Turns out they raped and killed a girl on that very street. I was shocked and started reading the news story.
Thank goodness Allah protected me. I literally started crying. I made up my mind to go to the police station and see these guys for myself. When I got there, I asked the officials if I could talk to the men. They said yes. I saw them in the lockup, and they recognized me too. I told the police what I witnessed and everything that happened. Just when I was about to leave, one of the guys in the lockup called me and said, "We didn't harm you because we saw two bodyguards walking with you."
Hearing this shocked and relieved me. I know I was walking alone but Allah protected me from all the evils and i thanked Allah and cried so much. It made me think of the verse in the Quran that says, "And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him." Surah al Muddthair.
