Life is beautiful (A muslim story )

Chapter-18-Reviving faith and inevitable fate.

"He who keeps his heart near God will find peace and tranquility whilst the who gives his heart to the people will find restlessness and apprehension"- Ibn Qayyum.

Shiraz POV

Life had been nothing less than a thriller series for me.At every turn there were so many twists and many more questions to be answered.The peculiarity about mine was I had certain clues unlike the reel thrillers.I kept roaming the dark alleys of my soul to sought peace.Today I was someone I could never think I'd have ever become.I was a passenger on a journey to discover myself, surviving all the thorny paths.

For years,a major part of my soul hovered over the madness of human superiority until a day when a certain someone influenced me with so much depth.It made me ponder, reflect down on my niggardly existence.My granny's wise words added to the spark which had ignited the moment I learnt the meaning of surah Ad-dhuha.She would always try conveying the true message to me but I was rather immune to every single word she uttered.My parents never cared if I was a good muslim or not.My studies and career mattered more to them.I cant blame anyone for my less interest in religion and spirituality.I was taken over by the worldy amusements.

I always felt like I was born to enjoy,build a career and earn millions.That was the prime reason for my lacking behind in the very purpose of being a muslim.I can't be guilty any less because I never made any attempts to learn more about my religion, my identity.I was drowned in the glory of this virtual world which would come to an end any moment.

I would pray occasionally on Fridays when dad took me along to the mosques.And also on eid-ul-fitr and eid-ul-zuha.Those were the few ocassions I acted like a muslim. The other days my life was more of enjoying the luxuries of my inheritance or indulging myself in studying for the wordly struggle of obtaining a degree.

I vowed to myself that I would change. I knew it wasn't easy as changing the way you look.I knew it would take days of struggles, a strong faith and above all,Allah's help.I didn't knew where to start from so the very first person I approached was a friend who was quite close to me.The one i felt was a near perfect follower of Islam.

Mikael was my answer and my only option. He understood me more than my blood relatives.I still remember his reaction when I told him that I wanted to change.

I heard an ayah in the masjid that day.

Quote from the Holy Qur'an: An-Nahl (16:65)

وَاللَّهُ أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ

WaAllahu anzala mina alssamai maan faahya bihi alarda baAAda mawtiha inna fee thalika laayatan liqawmin yasmaAAoona

And Allah sends down rain from the skies, and gives therewith life to the earth after its death: verily in this is a Sign for those who listen.

It was a rainy day and the clouds were roaring loudly. I didn't care about the weather for the only thing on my mind was where to start from.I had called up Mikael to meet me urgently as this was something which couldnt be discussed on a call.I was praying Allah to help me through Mikael.He agreed to meet me in the mosque near his house at the dhuhr time.As my car was in the service station for a yearly service I rode on my bike'-The Harley Davidson.Going out on a rainy day in a bike didn't sound like a good idea but I didn't wanted anyone else to know about it.I reached my destination even before the call for prayer started .My body was drenched completely but weather was the last thing on my mind.After the salaah,I waited impatiently at the parking lot for Mikael.