Ramadhan Muslim [COMPLETED]

Chapter 19: Flashback

It had only been a year since Farra started practicing Islam, albeit quietly. If her mother were to find out about her, she would have been disowned and thrown out by her mother. Her mother was another definition of vicious.

People from the past, knew her past. As a child, she would run away from people who donned the hijab, because she hated Islam. Her father, who was a Muslim, left her family in a limbo. Her mother despised her because of him. Her family shunned and hated Muslims. Bearded males and hijabi females were her staunch enemies.

She was a Muslim, only by name. She always tried her best to not reveal her Muslim identity. As such, she loves it when people calls her 'Jo', not 'Farra' or 'Farra Johara'. She never made friends with Muslims. She hung out with a big bunch of Non-Muslims friends, and lived just like them to fit in.

Her tastebuds have tasted all types of alcohol. Her limbs have swayed to the beat of rock and jazz music booming at nightclubs. Her full, red lips have chanted songs of all genre, of different beats. Her long, perfectly wavy tresses are the centre of attraction. Her beauty had always caught the eyes of men, yet she had never witnessed the beauty of hijab. Life was good, yet something always felt amiss.

What is life
When lived for other than Allah

Is there a point to sight
Which does not read
The divine verses of the Quran

Is there a point to speech
Which does not remind
Of the power of Allah

Is there a point to hearing
Anything other than good and useful speech

Is there a point to beauty
Which is not covered in hijab

Is there a point to life
If not lived
For the sake of Allah

Her life slowly changed when Falisa came into her life. Her presence was as light as the breeze, yet as strong as the Sun. She was her first Muslim friend, and also the Muslim who changed her perception about Islam. A true friend, she assisted Farra on her path to Islam. Allah changed Farra through Falisa, slowly but firmly. Farra was completely bowled over by the beautiful teachings of Islam, yet she faced boulders and prickly thorns on her path to Allah.

No one believed Farra, as she once used to openly hated and bad-mouthed Islam. Her brave face of change was torn apart by those who claimed her to be a 'hypocrite'. Her presence at the masjid, with her hair dyed brown, was ungodly. Farra earned stares from men and women alike beneath the majestic dome of her neighbourhood mosque. People never answered her salaam, giving excuses like "We need not answer the salaam of a hypocrite". The Muslims, or the so-called Muslims, shunned her away.

Falisa was the only one who understood her. She welcomed and encouraged her change. Heck, she even went as far as to shield Farra from the mockery of her Muslim friends. Falisa too, was shunned, for helping a 'munaafiq'.