part 21: feverish of love
"I always fail. I could not find her, and I can't bear it anymore. Look at my delicate situation. What should I do, huh? Why don't you show up if you have that much power? Where did my Rose go? Please answer me." Some people started looking at him, and a girl in a bodycon dress came near him, placing her hand on his shoulder and asking, "Hey, why are you crying?" Zaim turned his head towards the girl, and she said, "I can help you, honey." Zaim gave her a dismissive look, jerked her hand off his shoulder, and walked away.
After spending a week searching for Helena, he returned to London for further studies.
°°°°
It was Sunday evening, and the sun was nearly set, casting a warm glow. The mansion shined, its beauty enhanced by the shades of the sky. Mr. Ali sat in the garden, deeply engaged in conversation with his close businessman friend. "Yes, yes, Durrani, you are absolutely right. I was also thinking about that project," he said.
Jessica approached and sat beside him, placing a tray with cups on the table. Ali glanced at her and Jessica saw he was enjoying conversation with his friend. She then placed a cup near him. Taking another cup, she started sipping her tea. Jessica kept looking at him with a smile and Ali continued. "Ok then, I'll meet you in Canada."
After Ali ended the call, he turned to Jessica, held his cup, sipped his tea, then placed it back on the table and said, "Ahh, your magical hands, Jess." Jessica laughed at his comment and replied, "Oh, thank you, thank you. I know that. You should value me." She took another sip. Ali continued to look at her lovingly. Jessica then asked, "Ali, we should invite Ahmed and his family to our house for dinner. What do you say?"
He placed his cup on the table and replied, "Hmm, as you like, Jess. Set the day and invite them, but inform me a day before the dinner, because I have meetings abroad. I'll reschedule my meetings." Ali smiled, and so did Jessica. They continued to enjoy their tea and gossip.
Helena came home from her Madarsah. After closing the door of her small house, she walked through the walkway and approached the lounge through her small garden. She heard Ahmed and Ayesha's voices; they were happily talking to Fatima on a video call. Helena approached, saying, "Assalamualaikum," and joined the conversation. She then went to her open kitchen, took a bottle from the fridge, and poured water into a glass. She turned off the cap of the bottle, returned it to the fridge, and sat on a chair, drinking the water.
Helena returned to the lounge and sat beside her father while smiling and wrapping her arms around his waist. Ahmed seemed happy as he talked to Fatima, while Ayesha was still talking to her. Helena and Ahmed both smiled widely at Ayesha. Ahmed then kissed Helena on the side of her head and asked about her Madarsah routine. Just then, Ayesha came and sat in front of them and said, "Ahmed, Fatima is insisting we come to her."
Both turned their heads toward Ayesha. "Rayyan also said that he will send his private jet to pick us up, and he invited Faris as well, but I told them that Faris couldn't join as Nura is on bed rest."
Helena's expression changed upon hearing that they were about to go to Canada to meet Fatima. Her excitement grew even more, then she sat up straight, her happiness was evident on her face. She said, "Mama, I'll talk to Faris, Please let's go there.
He will join us, and ask Rayyan to pick them up too." She made a dramatic look on her face. "I'm excited to meet Faris, Nura, and their twins, Aylin and Burak. Mama, please agree."
"This is not good, my child. You know it will cost too much. We should not put a burden on Rayyan like this; after all, he is our son-in-law." Helena made a sad pout again and looked at Ahmed with a pleading look on her face. Then Ahmed said, "Don't make that face, my child. Okay, I'll ask Faris to come. He will not deny me, okay?"
Helena was happy after listening to her father's suggestion and hugged him quickly and said in his embrace,
"My precious baba, I love you." Ahmed smiled then he looked at her with constant smile just as Ayesha saw Jessica was calling her. She looked at Helena and Ahmed, then picked up the phone.
"Assalamualaikum, Jessica, how are you?"
Helena made a neutral expression as she recalled Zaim through Jessica. Her expression then turned normal. Ahmed looked at Helena, and Helena glanced at her father. She shrugged her shoulders and made an "I don't know" look on her face.
"Yeah, sure, we'll come,"
Ayesha said while smiling, and then hung up. "What was she saying, Mama?" Helena asked out of curiosity. "Ali and Jessica invited us to their mansion for dinner on Friday night," Ayesha answered, while Helena made an "oh" face.
°°°
Zaim was engrossed in his project and attended a seminar regarding it. His university organized a few exhibitions, so his life got busy. But as it was Zaim, he didn't forget Helena for even a second. Despite his busyness, her memories were stitched into his mind, never giving himself a chance to unstitched. He didn't stop searching for Helena. However, he also dedicated his days and nights to that project, and because of this, he started to neglect his health.
It was the same night as the earlier days when the winds blew gently and fresh. The Mohammadi villa had its own beauty, shining brightly under the starry sky. The garden was filled with the scent of different types of flowers. Ahmed's family had already arrived, and they were all sitting in the garden with Ali and Jessica.
The air was filled with giggles and laughter. But Helena was quiet at that moment. She looked down at her bracelet, observing their conversation with a little smile on her face.
She wasn't very interested in the conversation because, despite not seeing Zaim for years and having good terms with Jessica and Ali, she still remembered the things Zaim had said earlier. She didn't want to stay there but also didn't want to hurt them by any of her actions.
Refreshments were being served by the Mohammadi maids while everyone laughed and giggled at each other's talks. Jessica observed Helena's face, smiling, then moved her eyes toward Ali, who was talking to Helena, making her laugh. Helena's sweet smile brightened the whole garden, compelling everyone to smile and be impressed by her gestures.
Jessica looked back and forth between Helena and Ali with affection, observing the bond they shared. Helena was happy and excited. She made a great bond with Ali in a short span of time.
"Uncle, you won't believe it. When I was in school, I went to my friend's house on a weekend. There were three of my friends as well and We were cooking BBQ in the garden I was not good at cooking BBQ, so they asked me to make sauces because I was famous for making delicious sauces. You know what, uncle?" She gestured with her hands. "I was walking on the walkway when something caused me to slip on the walkway. The whole bowl of sauces fell on me, but luckily my eyes were saved.
My another friend, who was bringing oil from the kitchen for the BBQ, didn't see me fall and slipped as well." Helena laughed so hard, and Ali did too. Jessica looked at her with affection and love while Ayesha and Ahmed also laughed. Helena's gestures made the story even funnier. "And you know what, uncle?" she continued, laughing again. "Another friend, who was bringing drinks, didn't see the situation and fell too."
Ali burst out laughing. "No way, Helena. Is that so? That's hilarious, girl." Helena tried to control her laughter, placing one hand on her stomach, which hurt from laughing, and gesturing with the other, still trying to continue her story but her story made her laugh again, then she said finally"Ahh, that's so funny. If you were there, uncle, you couldn't stop laughing."
She grabbed a glass of water and gulped it down, then heard Ali say, gesturing with his hand, "Ahh, Helena, you sweet girl. I haven't laughed this hard in years. You reminded me of my youth at this old age."
Helena giggled at his "this old age" comment and said, "Don't say this, uncle. You're still young like me." Everyone laughed again, and Ali said, "Hahaha, I can see you were energetic and funny in your school days, huh?" Then Ali poured water into his glass and gulped it down.
"Yeah, uncle, those were great times, the golden times I spent," Helena said. Just then, Clara, their maid in charge, came and informed them that dinner was ready in the dining hall. Jessica hummed in response and instructed Clara to check the arrangements again. She then turned to her guests and invited them inside for dinner.
Everyone stood up and headed inside while Jessica walked with Helena, holding her arm.
They reached the dining hall, and Jessica gestured for them to sit at the table. Helena remained standing, looking at the maids, then turned to Jessica and the others. "Let me serve the food to you all," she said. Ali said while spreading a napkin on his lap, "No, my child, you are a special guest in my house. I can't let you do this. Sit and let them serve us all."
Helena made Jessica sit, who was still standing, and said, "If you think I'm a stranger, then okay, I'll sit and let them serve. But if you truly consider me yours, then let me serve you." She said this in a dramatic tone that made Ali and Jessica relent.
Ali looked at her with playful, piercing eyes and a slight smile on his face, then nodded for her to serve. Helena smiled widely and began serving with love. As she served the food, Jessica said, "Now sit and eat your dinner. Clara will serve you hmm." Helena sat and started eating. Everyone was engrossed in eating, talking, and laughing a little.
°°°°
Zaim was with his friends at the racing tracks, where he had a competition with the best-known racer there. He was confident and competent, having always won at the Korea tracks. He had never lost a single race in his life because of his strong grip on racing tactics. Whenever he raced, he would try new techniques to win, and that always made him victorious. Today, he came to win the race and earn the title of "God of Racing."
He was on the track and had already completed two and a half laps when he heard the Isha adhan coming from the city. The sound was faint, but it captivated him. He got lost in that sweet, voice because he was familiar with that sound. While driving his sports car lost in thought, he nearly crashed into the rival car and saw the rival overtake him. Snapping back to reality, he tried to surpass his rival but failed. Everyone was shocked because Zaim never let anyone win at any cost. Although he was close to the finish line, he suddenly slowed down, lost in the adhan's voice.
When he reached the finish line, others were celebrating the rival's victory. He stepped out of his car, while he was pissed off completely , and walked towards the rival. He stared deeply into his eyes, looked him up and down, and then smirked sarcastically before looking away. The rival took a step closer and extended his hand to shake Zaim's. Zaim looked at his hand, then back at him, he kept glaring him for several seconds. Then said roughly, "Well, congratulations. I let you win tonight,"
Everyone started laughing at his statement unsure if it was a congratulation or an insult.
He then returned to his car, got inside. As he revived the engine, the sports car's roar echoed through the tracks and drove off swiftly. He followed the sound of the adhan, but it eventually stopped, he continuosly followed it but he couldn't find its source. He felt restless, placing his hand on his heart , he said. "What is this feeling? It's similar to the other day when I went to that small prayer area. I don't know the name of that place, but I'm sure it's the same feeling I experienced before."
He sensed that God was calling him but couldn't find the source. After roaming for an hour and not finding the mosque, he returned to his apartment.
They were all engrossed in conversation, sharing many topics with each other. Why wouldn't they be? They hadn't met in a long time, and this was the moment when Helena felt truly happy after her accident.
In Seoul's beautiful mansion, the giggles and laughter continued. The maids served special tea to everyone, while Helena preferred black coffee. After finishing her coffee, she asked Jessica, "Aunt Jessica, I want to perform my Isha salah. Could I perform it here?" Jessica smiled while caressing Helena's hand gently. "Sure, why not, my precious baby. Go with Clara; she will show you the room."
Helena smiled, stood up from her seat, and followed Clara upstairs. Clara showed her a room, and Helena smiled at her before Clara left. After completing her salah, Helena was about to leave when she noticed a beautifully decorated room with the door open. She couldn't resist its allure and went inside, her mouth wide open in awe.
She had never seen such a beautiful and elegant room in her life. When she saw a big picture of Zaim hanging on the wall, her expression turned to frustration. She quickly understood that it was Zaim's room, even though Zaim had never been there but Jessica had prepared the room for him just in case he ever came.
After a while, she heard Clara calling her. Turning her head towards Clara, Clara asked,
"Mam do you need anything? It is sir Zaim's room." She rubbed her head slightly with her index finger and replied nervously, "Ah, uh, n-nothing," and walked away after answering Clara.
When Helena reached downstairs, she saw Ahmed and Jessica intending to go home. Everyone saw Helena coming down the stairs. Ayesha said to Jessica, "Okay, Jessica, permit us, we should go now."
Helena reached her family and stood beside Jessica. Jessica looked at Helena with a smile and said dramatically, "Hmm, it's too early. I didn't get enough time to spend with my baby girl." Helena giggled, and everyone laughed a little at Jessica's baby tone. "I'll come again, Aunt. Don't be sad, okay?" Helena said.
Jessica held Helena's hand, caressing it gently. "Whenever you want, you can come here, Helena. I'll be here for you every time. Also, from now on, I'll prepare a room for you so that whenever you come, you can rest there. You are as precious to me as Zaim."
Helena looked at her hands, then hummed in response. Jessica continued, "There is no one here all day. I'm always alone." She looked at Ali, who was talking to Ahmed. Helena said with a thin smile, "No worries, Aunt. I'll come and accompany you from now on." Jessica and Helena hugged each other Helena rested her chin on Jessica's shoulder Jessica caressed her back gently, after they broke the hug then Ayesha, Ahmed, and Helena left in Ali's car.
Days passed this way. Zaim had been in Turkey for two days, continuing his search but hadn't found her yet. There was no one more foolish than Zaim. He was wasting precious moments of his life searching for Helena, even though she was nowhere to be found. But when someone is feverish with love, they are oblivious to everything else.
Just because of a hint written in Helena's diary, he had searched for her in various countries. However, he didn't realize that his destiny lay elsewhere.
He completed his search in Istanbul and Izmir, where she had wanted to go once in her life whenever she sad. His flight to Canada was tonight at 9 PM, but before going to the airport, he had to go somewhere. Someone had told him about a place called Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis. He was packing his stuff, ready to take the night train there.
When he reached there, he roamed the places and experienced the surroundings and the things there. One thing was clear to him, and because of that, his mind got confused regarding Muslims, non-Muslims, and atheists. In his mission, one more mission increased: he wanted to find the answers from the Muslims and non-Muslims about why they follow their religions and why they don't.
He had visited almost eight countries and noticed that despite being Muslims, even many people in Turkey went to bars and consumed alcohol, which is haram for them.
They also engaged in relationships without marriage that is strictly forbidden in Islam, where it has no forgiveness from God.
He got to know this because he had been learning about Muslim beliefs, particularly what is haram and halal. Helena often mentioned these terms, so he found it necessary to learn about them. Here in Turkey, he learned about everything that is forbidden for Muslims. Since he started learning about the Deen, he had stopped going to bars and consuming alcohol. The last time he drank, he felt a weird sensation and restlessness all over his body.
He finally reached Ephesus, the temple where he saw everyone, couples and singles, writing their names and messages. He kept staring at them with his hands tucked in his pants pockets. Suddenly, a man around 35 years old came to him with a smile on his face. He placed his hand on Zaim's shoulder, and asked, "Finding someone? Or got lost?"
Zaim turned his body completely towards him, looked at him with a questioning look on his face with furrowed eyebrows but said nothing.
The man, still looking at the others, patted Zaim's back and said,
"You know what, according to Roman beliefs, if a woman or a man comes here and writes their name on the wall of that temple," he gestured towards the temple, Zaim moved his gaze towards his finger, "they will reunite soon in their life."
Zaim, who had been looking at the temple, quickly turned his head towards the man with a slightly shocked expression. The man continued,
"I'm not kidding. Look at those people, coming from afar just for the sake of their love because they believe in it. He paused for a moment, then continued,
"But I don't," Zaim got confused at his words, still looking at his face with the constant expression. "I just believe in," he then looked towards the starry sky, pointing his index finger upwards, and said again, "Him, the King of everything. He alone has the power to reunite people. If something is destined for you, He will give it to you, even if it is hidden in the mountains. If it is not meant for you, you won't get it, even if it's within your lips. I don't believe in those foolish things. I believe in God, and I found my love after 10 years of separation."
Zaim's eyes widened, but he remained silent. The man continued, "yes it's true, I'm not joking, miracles do happen my brother, my life is a miracle nothing less than this, If you really want what you desire, go to Him and ask. He will surely hear you because He indeed is the All-Listener, All-Giver."
Zaim was left speechless and perplexed as the man patted his shoulder and walked away. He didn't go further and looked at his retreating figure with a lost thought as the man's words stuck to his heart like glue. He began to see the man's words as meaningful. Then he went straight to the airport since it was time for his flight to Canada.
Four years had passed since Zaim completed his graduation. He finally got his graduation hat and started his startup in London. He decided to live in London as Korea was no longer his favorite, and he hated Japan. London was his only option since he had always stayed there.
It had been a week since Helena completed her packing, and they were ready to go to Canada today. Rayyan sent his private jet to pick them up. Zaim had already been in Canada for two weeks because he had several meetings and needed to make connections in the business world for his new startup company.
His father didn't know about his startup; otherwise, he would have helped him. Well, even if Ali knew about it, Zaim would never accept his help. Despite his meetings and seminars, he continued searching for Helena. His stubbornness made finding her his top priority, no matter what.
°°°
Flashback starts.
The seminar hall in downtown Toronto was filled with curious faces, eager to learn about different cultures and beliefs. The speaker stepped up to the podium. He smiled warmly at the audience and started his speech.
"Bismillah hir Rehman nir Raheem."
"Start with the name of Allah who is the most beneficial and the most merciful."
"Assalamualaikum and Good afternoon, my brothers and friends. Thank you for coming today. There are many religions around the world but today I'm here to share with you the beauty and peace of Islam, a faith that over 1.8 billion people around the world follow.
One of the core beliefs in Islam is the concept of monotheism. We believe in one God, Allah, who is merciful and compassionate."
The Quran says, 'Say, He is Allah, [Who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent'
(Quran 112:1-4).
The speaker's voice echoed the hall with encourage.
"Islam teaches us about compassion, honesty, and kindness. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, "The best among you are those who have the best manners and character."
"Islam is often misunderstood, especially in the West. Many think it's a religion of strict rules and harsh punishments also violence, but this is far from the truth. Islam means peace and submission. Even smiling is a blessing, how can Islam be strict? I invite you all to explore Islam with an open heart and mind. Read the Quran and pray namaz.
Consider also the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who is a model of integrity and kindness. He advocated for women's rights, social reforms, and ethical business practices long before they were common in many societies."
Zaim was sitting on the executive couch with his hand resting on the couch's handle, listening attentively. When he heard about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he smiled unintentionally as he remembered that Helena used to love him a lot and talked about him so much.
A man named David raised his hand and then asked a question.
"As an atheist, I struggle with the concept of believing in something I can't see or prove. How can Islam convince someone like me to believe in God?"
Zaim took a glance at David because somehow Zaim wanted to know the answer to this question.
The speaker began,
"It's an important one. In Islam, Allah is not a being we can see with our physical eyes. He is not an object like us. If He were, then what's the difference between people and God? Instead, we understand and experience God's presence through His creation and the signs in the universe."
"Let me ask a question, can you see sun with your naked eyes?"
Everyone shook their heads in denial, and the hall echoed with their answer.
"No, we cant."
"Exactly, if you can't see that object with your naked eyes then how can you see the creator of it?"
Everyone whispered to each other as they got their answer, but the speaker continued.
"I'm not done yet, let me finish first I know it's not enough for you all."
"Consider gravity. We can't see it, but we know it exists because we see its effects everywhere. Similarly, while we can't see Allah directly, we see His signs and feel His presence in our lives and the universe around us."
Then a woman named Emily raised her hand, and she asked a question while standing up,
"But many scientists say the world was created from the Big Bang. How does your God fit into that? Can you prove it?"
"Hmm That's a great question. The Big Bang theory explains how the universe began from a single point and expanded. Many Muslims, including scientists, see no conflict between the Big Bang and belief in God. In fact, the Quran mentions that the heavens and the earth were once joined together and then separated, which sounds a lot like the Big Bang.
In the Quran, it is also mentioned that Allah created the world in six days. This can be found in several verses, such as Surah Al-A'raf (7:54): 'Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne.
"I hope you got your answer. Then the speaker smiled."
Another question asked by Benjamin.
"But how do you reconcile faith with science? Doesn't science disprove religious beliefs?"
"I like that question, Benjamin. Science and faith don't have to be in conflict. Science helps us understand how things work in the world, like how the universe began or how our bodies function.
Many people find that faith and science can actually complement each other. For example, there are many things mentioned in religious texts, like the Quran, which were written over 1,400 years ago. These texts describe concepts that science is only discovering now. For instance, the idea that the universe began from a single point is mentioned in ancient scriptures and is now supported by the Big Bang theory.
Certainly! One notable example is the development of the embryo in the womb. The Quran describes the stages of embryonic development in Surah Al-Mu'minun (23:13-14):
"Then We placed him as a drop of fluid in a firm lodging. Then We created the drop of fluid into a clinging clot. Then of that clot We created a (fetus) lump. Then We created bones and clothed the bones with flesh. Then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators."
Today, science confirms that this is how human development happens. The baby first attaches to the womb, then goes through stages where it looks like a small clot and later a lump, before bones and flesh develop. This description from the Quran matches what we now know from modern science about how babies grow before birth."
Benjamin smiled at the speaker, then settled on his seat after saying thanks.
The seminar was about to end just then a Christian named Daniel stood from his seat and asked,
"I have a question, if you answer my question I'll embrace Islam."
Everyone started whispering at his statement with shocked looks on their faces. Zaim, who had been listening attentively from the start, saw the man's face in disbelief. He straightened his body while gulping down saliva.
The speaker smiled at him, then continued listening attentively.
"We Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God who came to Earth in human form. This means that while Jesus lived as a human being, He was also divine. The belief is that Jesus became human to help save people from their sins. So, Jesus is seen as God living in a human body. We have a prove that our God has an object.
The speaker smiled at his statement again, then took the microphone from the stand and stepped a little then he answered.
"First let me tell you one thing.
The god you are referring to was a prophet of Allah, and Allah sent him to guide mankind. Allah is alone; there is no deity except Allah. He has neither a son nor a father. He is indeed the God of the entire universe."
The speaker noticed Daniel was about to say something, so he paused and said, "Yes, yes, my dear, go ahead. What were you saying?"
Daniel remarked, "But Jesus is God."
"This is what you said, but neither I nor the Quran says that. Tell me one thing. Daniel," Daniel kept listening him attentively" he continued. "You said that a human whom you referred to as a human a minute ago created humans, didn't you?"
Daniel nodded his head in agreement, and the speaker asked again, "Then tell me, who created your Jesus?"
Daniel paused for a moment and replied, "God, who else?"
The speaker smiled and said, "Exactly, my dear. But if you believe that there is a God who created Jesus, then how can you choose Jesus as your God? If Jesus is created, then he is fundamentally different from the Creator. In this view, Jesus would be a creature, not the Creator."
If God is all-powerful and all-knowing, isn't it possible for Him to forgive sins and provide guidance in any form He chooses, without becoming human?
The idea of a god becoming human to accomplish a divine mission raises complex questions about the nature of divinity and humanity. If divinity is defined by eternal, unchanging attributes, then the concept of a divine being becoming human might challenge our understanding of what it means to be truly divine.
It is also written in bible that God is one, and the Jesus is his messenger that sent by God to guide people. And there is a prove in Quran In Surah An-Nisa (4:157-158)
"And [for] their saying, 'Indeed, Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.' And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise."
This verse clarifies that the people who thought they had killed him were mistaken, and Allah preserved Jesus and Jesus will return in the future to save people.
Yeah, it's true that after the revelation of the Bible, it was altered by people and scholars, and changed it accuracy but nowhere is it written that God is the father of Jesus. God made Jesus to deliver His message to mankind. It's true that Allah blessed him with some miracles, but this doesn't imply that Jesus is God or that Allah is the father of Jesus."
He stopped speaking, then he pointed his index finger to a man, aged around 60, who was holding a small Ganesh idol, and said:
"Look at him. I can guess by his appearance that he is Hindu."
The man glared at him, then he stood up from his seat, but the speaker gestured for him to sit down while saying, "Ah, you don't need to stand up, my brother. Please sit."
He then turned his attention back to Daniel, who was still holding the mic, and continued, "So my Hindu brother is holding a little idol. He worships it, and as you know, Hinduism has many gods and goddesses. Is that right?" He gestured toward the idol.
Daniel responded, "Yes, we all know about this. What's the difference? It's his idol that they worship, like other religions."
The speaker smiled at his statement and said, "Haha, yes, they worship their god, but they worship the wrong god. Zaim chuckled because he knew the answer to this question."
Everyone began whispering to each other they wondered that how the speaker could say such things about another religion.
The speaker shushed them gently with a smile on his face and said, "How can you worship a god that you make their idols yourself? You mean you worship a god's idol that you create with your own hands? How can a god be dependent on his servants to make him, only for those servants to then worship that idol? Like in Buddhism, there are many Buddhist idols that came from Indian culture."
The hall echoed with the sounds of whispering then He continued, "The real God does not need anyone to create Him. You need to find the real God among the false ones. Jesus (Isa) is not a god; he was a messenger of Allah and a son of Mary."
He added, "And It is also written in the Bible that God is one, and Jesus is His messenger sent by God to guide people."
Then Daniel asked out of curiosity, "Then who was the father of Jesus? Because Mary was not pregnant at that time, as everyone saw; she was not involved with any man, nor did she adopt Jesus."
The speaker replied, "Jesus (Isa) was born miraculously to Maryam (Mary) without a human father. This event is considered a divine miracle, not the result of ordinary human processes. In the same way, Allah created Adam without a father and from his rib, He created Eve to be his companion. Indeed, Allah is the one who performs miracles."
He concluded, "It is mentioned that Jesus (Isa) spoke as an infant from the cradle. When Maryam (Mary) was accused of being unchaste, the infant Jesus defended her."
According to Quran
In Surah Maryam (19:29-30),
"So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child? He [Jesus] said, Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet."
Daniel asked again, "Then what was the religion of Jesus?"
It seemed that Daniel was not satisfied with the answers he had received; he was searching for any clue that might contradict the speaker's statements according to his beliefs. The speaker smiled at him and replied,
"My dear, Jesus was a Muslim too. We Muslims believe in all the holy books revealed by Allah, including the Bible. Every book reveals that Allah is the one true deity, and there is no deity except Allah. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the last prophet of Allah."
Daniel hesitated and said nothing, becoming speechless in response to his own questions.
The speaker continued, "I'm not pressuring you to make any decisions. It was your choice to choose that path. You have misconceptions about your religion, and I am here to show you the right path. If you didn't have any faith in Islam, you wouldn't have asked those questions, trying to find clues that could make me wrong. But somewhere, you had doubts about your own religion.
My dear, you are on the wrong path and lack knowledge about religions. I am not here to criticize any religion; I respect every religion as my prophet did. I am not as pious as He was, but I am here to guide those who have misconceptions about religions and their gods."
Just then, the man said, "I'm ready to embrace Islam. I am a man of my words, let me enter in the circle of Islam."
Everyone looked at him with awe, and Zaim's eyes widened in surprise. He was also impressed by the speaker's speech.
"You made a great decision, my brother. Now, repeat after me, okay?" The speaker said.
Daniel nodded.
The speaker smiled and began:
Ashhadu
Ashhadu
Zaim kept staring at Daniel's face.
An la ilaha,
An la ilaha,
Zaim felt his heart racing faster at an abnormal speed with each passing second.
illallah,
illallah,
wahdahu la sharika lahu,
wahdahu la sharika lahu,
Zaim was still looking at Daniel with intense eyes.
wa ashhadu anna,
wa ashhadu anna,
Muhammadur rasulullah.
Muhammadur rasulullah.
Zaim then took a sigh. Everyone clapped for him, and many more people embraced Islam along with Daniel.
After the seminar ended, Zaim saw his friend Dawood approaching him. Dawood asked some feedback about the seminar and handed Zaim a gift bag with a Quran inside it. Dawood then said,
"Please accept this, Zaim. I really want you to find the right path. I'm not saying you need to embrace Islam right now, but you should read the Quran and find your answers."
Zaim smiled, then he hugged Dawood, accepted the gift, and said, "Thanks for today, Dawood. I'll try my best to read it." He then left the venue.
Flashback ends.
Helena and her family reached Canada. The weather was a little cold. When they arrived, it was night, and everyone was sitting in the lounge. Just then, Ayesha asked Fatima while taking a coffee cup from the maid,
"Fatima, why did you call us here urgently? We were worried about you. You didn't tell us on the phone." Ayesha then took a sip of coffee.
Fatima, who was sitting beside Rayyan, glanced at him, and a wide, gentle smile appeared on her face. Rayyan also looked at her with a smile. Ayesha and Ahmed looked at each other, trying to figure out their smiling faces, but they couldn't. However, Helena was observing their lovey-dovey smiles at each other and making a weird, playful face. Ahmed asked Ayesha with a gesture, but Ayesha shrugged her shoulders with an "I don't know" look on her face. Then Helena asked straightforwardly,
"Yah girl, tell us already why you both are smiling and looking at each other. Why did you call us here suddenly?" She then turned to Ayesha and said, "Mama, I can say they both have gone crazy."
Helena then took a sip of coffee. "We are expecting a baby," Fatima said while looking at Rayyan.
Helena suddenly spilled a little coffee. She then looked at them with wide eyes. Just then, Ayesha stood up and went towards Fatima and Rayyan. They both also stood up, and then Ayesha gently hugged Fatima with a wide smile. Fatima rested her chin on Ayesha's shoulder with a warm smile on her face. Ayesha said,
"Aww, my little baby is going to be a mummy, Mashallah." Then they broke the hug, and Ayesha kissed Fatima on her forehead. Ayesha then hugged Rayyan and kissed him on the side of his head while saying congratulations. Everyone was happy and congratulated Fatima and Rayyan.
He was in the garden of his apartment, thinking about the seminar he attended that evening. Just then, he remembered that Dawood had given him a Quran. He stood from his seat and went inside the room. He then opened the bag where the Quran was placed, took it out, and sat at the edge of the bed. He remembered that Helena always performed wudu before praying namaz and reciting.
He placed the Quran on the nightstand and headed towards the bathroom to perform ablutions. He didn't remember the proper way of performing wudu, so he started but mixed up all the steps.
He went back to the room, grabbed his phone, and searched for a video on how to perform wudu. He placed the phone on the rag over the sink and followed each step. After performing ablution, he returned to his room, picked up the Quran, and opened it and started reading the translation written in English.
After some time reading the translation, he yawned and didn't realize when he fell asleep with the Quran placed on his chest while he grabbed it around his chest.
Everything was dark. The walls were red, and the floor was dark black. He was sitting in a bar where nothing was there but just a chair and a bar table. He was having his drink, and there were different types of several and worthy wines and alcohol placed on the bar table. Girls surrounded him; some were wrapping themselves around him, some were touching him, and some were dancing.
He was enjoying the moment and toasting his drink to them. Just then, the alcohol choked in his throat, and the glass fell to the ground from his hand. He suddenly felt his throat burning completely. He saw that the girls started laughing at him, but his throat was aching and burning badly. He clutched his throat, coughing, and tried to calm it down, but there was no one to help him while the girls were still engrossed in dancing and laughing at him.
He tried to call them, but no one heard him. He fell to the ground, still clutching his throat. Just then, his eyes fell on a river. The place was completely changed from where he was sitting. It looked like everything was brightening and shining like a diamond. There were trees of different fruits and flowers, a big river, and everything was decorated beautifully.
He struggled to stand from his spot, limping, and headed towards the place to get the water. As he approached, he fell into the river, and the river's depth was pretty long. He was falling for hours. He then saw the water in the river turn into fire. He was burning in the fire river, and every inch of his body started burning and melting. Just then, he saw the girls who were dancing there a moment ago also falling into the fire.
There were people who used to drink alcohol and associate other gods with Allah. They were also burning, pleading, but still burning.
He then saw Satan, a big red Satan, appear in front of his eyes and said while laughing,
"Look at the state you are in, hahaha. Come, come here, I'll save you. I'll serve you with precious wines and beautiful girls. I'm your God, I'll give you whatever you want. I'll give you every luxury, everything that a man desires in his life. Accept me and come towards me. I'm your lord." (Astagfirullah Nauzubillah).
After that, he saw his flesh start to peel from his skin, and his face began melting. He was in severe pain, a pain that he never imagined. Then the sounds of everyone echoed in his ears.
Allah the king of the entire world,
Asha du anla Ilaha,
There is no deity except Allah,
illallah,
Zaim choose your right path,
wahdahu la sharika lahu,
Truly, ALLAH defends those who believe.
wa ashhadu anna
And your Lord says, 'Call upon Me; I will respond to you.'"
Muhammadur rasulullah.
"Indeed, it is He who is the Beneficent, the Merciful."
Let me enter in the circle of Islam.
He neither begets nor is born,
Indeed, Satan is an open enemy to you.
He then started shouting, "God, please help me! You are my Lord! Help me, please, someone get me outta here! H...help!" He was still falling, and the river seemed never-ending. Just then, he saw a man whose appearance was completely white, shining like the moon, with a blurry face.
The man reached out his hand towards Zaim, and Zaim grabbed it tightly. The man pulled Zaim upward. As Zaim reached the top, he looked around and saw that no one was there. He kept looking back and forth at his surroundings.
Just then, he woke up. In his sleep, he had been continuously shouting and calling. His body was completely covered in sweat despite the cool weather. He experienced sleep paralysis and felt like someone was gripping his soul. His body didn't move for a few moments. He tried to move but couldn't.
His heart was racing faster than ever before, and fear gripped his spine. He then realized that the Quran was placed on his chest and remembered he had been reading the translation. Snapping back to reality, he sighed with relief but was still scared of his dream. He felt restless and had a weird sensation.
His heart ached, and distress consumed him. This fear was killing him. His throat was dry with thirst, but he didn't think of drinking water. Without wasting time, he got up from his bed, gently placed the Quran on the cupboard and went to the bathroom to take a shower. After showering, he performed ablution. He then grabbed his car keys and wallet from the nightstand and headed to the garage where his car was parked. He drove straight to the mosque.
This night had been heavy for him. As he reached the mosque, he went straight inside and got into prostration, crying out loud. After a while, he sensed someone patting his back. He got up from the prostration and turned to see a man sitting beside him, smiling with satisfaction.
Zaim's eyes filled with heavy tears. At first sight, Zaim didn't recognize him, but then he turned his body completely towards the man while his eyes getting widened he realized it was the man he had met in the mosque when Helena was in the ICU.
Zaim was still trembling just then the man said, "Assalamualaikum, my child. What are you doing here? What happened to you? As far as I know you were an atheist. Well You seem scared; I saw your body trembling."
He asked in concerned.
Zaim tried to speak but his hands trembled. The man grabbed his hand, calmed him down, and asked, "Tell me what it is."
"I... I... I...i had a dream," Zaim said, trembling and scared. He explained his dream in detail, "I don't know what it means, but I'm scared to death."
The man smiled, patted his back, and said, "Embrace Islam, my child. Allah is calling you. He wants you to stay close to Him and far from Satan."
Zaim felt goosebumps all over his body and said quickly, "I... I am ready. Please make me a Muslim. I'm ready, yes, I'm ready." Tears streamed down his face with fast nods.
The man said with a slightest smile, "That's a great decision, my child. Repeat after me." Zaim nodded his head while tears still filling his eyes, he looked deeply at the man. The man began,
"Ashhadu an la Ilaha."
"A... Ashhadu an la Ilaha," Zaim sniffed after repeating the words.
"Illallah."
"Illallah." Tears streamed down his face.
"Wahdahu la sharika lahu."
"W... Wahdahu la sharika lahu," Zaim's lips trembled with each passing word.
"Wa ashhadu anna."
"Wa ashhadu anna." He kept looking at the man while goosebumps appeared all over his body.
"Muhammadur rasulullah."
"Muhammadur rasulullah."
He closed his eyes tightly, and tears were still streaming down his face like a flowing river. He kept his eyes closed for a while, then started crying his heart out. He got into prostration again and pleaded,
"I----I---- am---- sorry---- Allah. Please accept me. I have been far from You. P...please accept me ya Illahi. I always denied Your existence. Please forgive me, ya Allah. There is no God except You. I believe in You and the last prophet, Muhammad (PBUH)."
He remained in prostration, seeking forgiveness. The man caressed his shoulder and said, "You are forgiven by Him, my child."
The man heard Zaim sniffled, he gently caressed his back then Zaim got up from the prostration, looking at the man with teary eyes, "W... What are you saying? How do you know?"
The man smiled and said, "When you came here, you were forgiven. He already chose you and forgave you, my child."
Zaim quickly hugged the man, resting his chin on his shoulder with a wide smile on his face but tears still in his eyes. After a moment, they broke the hug. Zaim raised his head and looked up at the ceiling then he said,
"Ahh, ya Allah, indeed You are the greatest. Thank You, my beloved Allah. I promise I'll serve my life to You. I'll be Your servant for the rest of my life."
Then he looked at the man, his pained smile indicating he wanted to share something. The man sensed his expression and asked, "What happened, my child? I see you have found peace, but I sense you are troubled with something."
Zaim looked at his lap, scratching his nail's skin. The man observed his every action and said again, "Speak up, my child. If something is bothering you, I'll help."
"I'm still restless," Zaim just said this.
The man replied, "I won't ask why you are restless, even though you embraced Islam, MASHA'ALLAH. But I'll advise you never to skip your Salah. Now that you are a Muslim, pray as much as you can and ask Allah for what you want in life. Don't give up on your prayers because He has the power to give His servants everything. He can do miracles. Whatever it is, just ask Allah. Go to Makkah and ask for forgiveness there if you are still not satisfied. Ask Him there; prayers are heard in the house of Allah."
Zaim suddenly raised his head, looking at him with wide, teary eyes, and said, "B...but I don't know about that area. How will I manage there all alone?" The man smiled and said, "You will not be alone there. First of all, Allah will be with you, and secondly, there will be people who can guide you. And if you still think you can't do this alone, then we will go together." Zaim furrowed his brows and looked at him with doe eyes, and said, "Then let's go tomorrow morning."
The man chuckled and said, "Hahaha, my child, we can't go like this. Then the man explained the whole process to him." Zaim then asked out of curiosity, "When will we go?" The man made a thoughtful expression and said, "Not now. Actually, I have something urgent to attend to. I promise I'll take you there soon."
Zaim nodded his head and said after several seconds, "Thank you so much," he then lowered his head again. "I can't forget what you did for me. I'm highly grateful to you." The man shook his head and replied, "No, my child. I'm just an intermediary. It was Allah who sent you here. I was just doing my job." Zaim raised his head again and looked at him with a smile.
After sharing some talks and having dinner with the man, Zaim headed home. It was already late at night, and he had to wake up early the next morning because he had come to Canada for work and had been attending meetings and seminars for his startup company since last week. He was quite popular because of Ali, so people from other countries invited him. Now, one more exhibition and meeting remained.
On the next morning, Zaim got up to the Fajr call. He took a shower and performed wudu, then he went to the mosque to perform Fajr salah where he had been the night before. The sky was completely dark as he walked there; the mosque was nearby, so he chose to go on foot. He started listening to Surah Duha with translation on his mobile while wearing headphones. Although he neither read the Quran nor understood Arabic, he decided to make this routine when he went for Fajr prayer because, for the first time, he felt a peace in his heart that he had never felt before.
After listening, he approached the mosque and started performing his namaz. Afterward, he returned to his house and slept for two hours before attending a meeting at 9.
Everyone was having afternoon tea and engrossed in gossip while Helena was playing with Aylin and Burrak in the garden. Nura kept looking at her from the hall's sliding door with loving eyes and a gentle smile on her face. Just then, Faris approached and looked at her as well. Then they heard Fatima call them while coming towards them:
"Faris and Nura, get ready for the exhibition. Rayyan called me to get ready; he is sending his driver to pick us up." Faris and Nura turned their heads back as they saw Fatima approaching. The exhibition was organized by Rayyan, and many renowned business tycoons and businessmen with startup companies were invited. Zaim had also started a company, but Rayyan invited him as a chief guest.
Fatima asked, "Where is Helena?" Faris gestured with his eyes towards Helena, who was still playing. Fatima smiled at her and then called out loudly, "Yahh Helena, come inside, girl. Get ready for the exhibition." Helena stopped in her tracks while looking at Fatima, then she grabbed Aylin in her arms and held Burrak's hand while saying, "Let's go, buddies." Then she went inside.
Helena had still been feeling restless since last night. She tried to address it but couldn't figure out the reason for her restlessness. Even though she performed Salah Tauba and other supplications for peace but it didn't help.
She went to the bathroom and performed ablutions, then returned to her room. It was not her Salah time; she had already performed Maghrib Salah, but whenever she went outside, she performed ablutions because she thought that being in a state of wudu keeps one away from Satan.
While getting ready in her room, she felt as if something was signaling her. She placed her hand on her heart and sensed that her heart was racing faster. She wondered what the feeling and restlessness were for. Pacing back and forth, she then stopped, poured some water into a glass, and gulped it down. She then took a deep breath, but it didn't help. She shook her head and let it slide, and went outside the room.
She was wearing a long, flowing silk cardigan in beige color. Underneath, she wore a long gown of the same fabric and color, covering her entire body from head to toe. On her head, she wore a hijab that covered her hair. The headscarf was a similar color to the cardigan. She wore mini heels that complemented her appearance and was holding a decent and simple chain clutch.
Everyone was ready to go; however, Ahmed and Ayesha were not going. They stayed at home because they thought they had no reason to go.
Fatima, Faris, Nura, and Helena settled in the car and left.
At the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) in Toronto, the large hall was filled with booths from many different companies. Each booth showcased products and services, with colorful banners and posters.
Visitors were coming and receiving brochures and maps at the entrance. The smell of coffee was in the air, adding to the lively atmosphere.
Zaim arrived at the exhibition and looked around. Rayyan's eyes fell on Zaim, who was engrossed in talking with businessmen. He smiled widely and approached him, saying, "Yahh man, I thought you would never come!" He opened his arms to hug him. Zaim hugged him back and said while breaking the hug, "How could I not come? You would kill me and feed my flesh to the dogs if I didn't come."
Rayyan laughed heartily at his statement, and Zaim laughed a little. Rayyan then gestured for him to follow. Rayyan introduced Zaim to the renowned business tycoons and presented his company. Many of them expressed interest in working with Zaim.
After a while, Helena arrived at the exhibition. Rayyan saw Fatima approaching and Fatima glanced at Rayyan with a smile on her face. Rayyan smiled back, then excused himself from the group and went to Fatima and her family. Rayyan asked about their wellbeing and then excused himself, saying, "Fatima, you go on a tour. I'll catch up with you after the meeting with the businessmen. They're all calling me."
Fatima blinked and Rayyan went on his way. Faris took the opportunity to gain experience for his job and went with Nura. Fatima said to Helena, "Helena, I saw my friend here. I'm going to meet her. If you want to come with me, let's go."
Helena looked around her surroundings, then declined Fatima's offer, saying, "No, you go. I'm already bored." She made a dramatic pout and added, "I'll stay here. You go and enjoy with your dear husband." Helena then pressed her lips into a thin with a sarcastic smile. Fatima looked at her with a playful but piercing gaze but said nothing and then left.
Zaim, engrossed in talking with businessmen, suddenly he spotted Faris from afar. He recognized him instantly and turned his head toward Faris, who was walking with his wife. Zaim quickly excused himself from the group and hurried toward Faris, thinking that Faris might know something about Helena. He was going fastly through the crowd, suddenly he bumped into someone and almost fell, but he managed to steady himself.
He apologized to the man and regained his balance. Zaim looked around, but Faris was no longer in sight. The hall was quite large, making it difficult to find anyone. He couldn't understand the emotion he was feeling.
A weird sensation started spreading across his body, and his heart began to signal something he couldn't what was that signal for. He stood there for a moment, scanning the area repeatedly in an attempt to locate Faris. His heart rate increased with each passing second. Just then, Helena passed by him; even the hem of her arm cloth brushed lightly against Zaim.
He felt his heart grow heavier, and mixed emotions gripped his entire being. He jerked his head around to look, but Helena had already moved on and lost in the crowd. Zaim followed the direction his heart seemed to be signaling, heading toward where Helena had gone. Although he didn't know she was headed to the bathroom, he felt compelled to go that way.
He went through the crowd, searching his surroundings, but by then, Helena had already entered the bathroom. Rayyan approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder, asking, "Zaim, what are you doing here?" He didn't realize that he was standing outside the bathroom.
He turned back toward Rayyan with shocked and lost in thought. Rayyan said again, "Yah man, this is the ladies' washroom. What are you doing here? Do you want to get beaten up your pretty face by the ladies at this young age, huh?"
_______________________________________
A/N
"And he found you lost and guided you."
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Love from Ann 💜