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Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim

 

 

~*Aishah's Journey Continues…A Day in the Life of a Servant of Allah*~

 

May 18, 2003

 

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh[1]

 

This morning I awoke with a plan, Insha'Allah[2], to venture out and make my way to the Islamic Center.  The library of the Center is open on Sunday, and anywhere from, say 1:00 until maybe 5:00 or 6:00, you can stop in to look for a book, or join other brothers and sisters who have dropped by to assist in an ongoing dawah[3] project.  It is during this time that volunteers read letters from prisoners, make a note on each letter as to what the writer is requesting, address return envelopes, and stuff the envelopes with literature to match the requests from the letters.  The blessing in this comes from the fellowship of being amongst fellow believers…and from whatever else Allah subhanAllahu wa ta'ala[4], has planned…wallahi alim[5].

 

Today was a perfect example of the way Allah subhanAllahu wa ta'ala works.  The volunteer group was small, Al-hamdulillah[6].  I was sitting solo at a long, narrow table with a stack of letters and envelopes, and a box to put the addressed envelopes in that could be passed along to the "envelope stuffers" once it became full. (see "inquisitive brother" reading letters and "handy-man" with a package sealing tape dispenser…smile)

 

Shortly into our group's Sunday adventure, a couple wandered into the library and began curiously looking around.  As I observed the couple, I quickly remembered my first visit to the Center and how I felt so lost that particular day…wishing someone would greet me…or offer to guide me.  The couple ventured down toward where our small group was gathered and asked if we had any literature about Islam.  Well, I thought to myself, looking around the tables stacked with literature to be sent to the prisoners, "Do we have literature?"  The brother leading the group stood, and approaching the couple, led them back towards the entrance of the room.  I saw the brother pick up a pamphlet (or two) that he handed to the couple.  I was too far away to hear the subsequent, brief conversation, but then the brother exited the library, so I assumed perhaps he had gone in search of someone else who might be able to assist the inquisitive couple. 

 

A few minutes passed and the couple still stood in the front area of the library, sort of aimlessly gazing around.  Suddenly, I could not help myself!  I arose from my seat, approached the two brothers at the envelope-stuffing table, and asked, "Isn't there something from these materials that we might also offer this couple other than just a pamphlet?"  One of the brothers pointed back up to the front corner of the room and directed me to a table that held some other books and literature.  I thanked him, walked up to the table, picked up a book, and turned to approached the couple, smiling, and asked them if there was anything else I could help them with.  I instantly recognized the familiar look of appreciation for having been approached by someone interested in helping…(see new Muslim wishing for same upon coming to a mashed for the first time…)!  I was astonished by their reply!  Apparently the first brother approaching them had told them that if they had additional questions they could "ask Sister Aishah[7], she's the expert."  Al-hamdulillah!  (see totally baffled Muslim!)  I smiled and shook my head vigorously, saying, "No, no, no!  I am certainly not an expert!  But, Insha'Allah, I will do my best to help you in any way I can!"  The couple both smiled and said they would be happy to know whatever I could share with them about Islam.  Thank goodness I was armed with the just-picked-up book, "Understanding Islam"!!!  The couple gladly accepted the book and from there I was on autopilot (see new Muslim winging it!), with Allah subhanAllahu wa ta'ala as my guide, I preceded to attempt to respond to the couple's questions.  And boy, did they have questions!  For the next 20 minutes or so we talked about prayer, greetings, manners, Hajj, and differences between religions.  I happened to be able to step up to the plate a little bit on that subject because of my previous religious affiliation.  It turns out that the couple, visiting from Venezuela, was of the Catholic faith.  They seemed so eager to listen and to question me…Al-hamdulillah…I can only pray that whatever I was able to share was helpful to them…and most of all…that it left the best impression on them…Insha'Allah…for the sake of Allah subhanAllahu wa ta'ala.

 

It was during this time, also, that I was thankful that I had taken the time to put together a few simple things on my website that could speak volumes above what I was able to on my own.  The site is simply designed (and growing…) and put together to offer some useful resources for anyone who, like myself, came to Islam from the tiniest seed of curiosity.  The couple wrote the website address on one of the pamphlets, thanked me profusely for my assistance and time, and also left a gift in the sadaqah[8] box for dawah projects.  Al-hamdulillah!

 

Al-hamdulillah, it was almost time for Asr[9].  Left to ourselves again, the little dawah group spent a few more minutes working on the literature project, and then parted company to head inside the masjid in preparation for prayer. 

 

Having come fresh from such a wonderful afternoon experience in the library, I found myself giving many thanks to Allah subhanAllahu wa ta'ala for blessing me that afternoon.  With prayer finished, I found myself preparing to leave the masjid…and yet feeling not quite ready…wallahi alim.

 

I slipped through the doorway to reetrieve my shoes and noticed as I turned around, that there were two young girls sitting on the floor just outside the little area set up for the women to pray.  (see light-bulb flashing upon quickly detected visitors!)  Al-hamdulillah, my work was not yet finished!  The young girls had been given courtesy scarves to wear for entering the masjid, and they cordially complied with the request that they wear them.  The scarves were tied securely under their necks, and I could see from how the girls were nervously tugging at them that they were trying to be very contentious about if they were wearing them properly.  Subhan'Allah![10] They glanced up and our eyes met at the same time.  (see Allah subhanAllahu wa ta'ala firmly pushing servant forward…) Al-hamdulillah, there I found myself, sitting on the floor together with the two girls…who instantly latched onto me with eager eyes and equally eager questions!  I noticed that there were still several brothers that had arrived later than the others and that they were still praying, so I suggested to the girls that we move around the corner of the partition to continue our conversation.  They quickly agreed and we proceeded to make our little circle on the floor in the women's prayer area.  (I had been one of only two women previously in the area for Asr, so we weren't disturbing anyone.)  Al-hamdulillah, I found myself, once again on autopilot!  (see Allah subhanAllahu wa ta'ala working overtime…)  It was such a joy to talk with the young girls!  They were so bright-eyed, and inquisitive and I suddenly felt my mothering instincts kick in for assistance.  Subhan'Allah!  I learned in our brief conversation that one of the girls happened to be the daughter of a Baptist minister!  Al-hamdulillah, could I relate to that!  (see New Muslim, f/k/a  youth raised in Baptist environment, including Baptist High School and Baptist College…)  The brothers that had arrived late for prayer seemed to be disbanding, so the girls and I came out from our little cocoon and they asked me to take pictures of them together standing against the beautiful tiles of one of the masjid's walls.  They hugged me and thanked me, and asked me where they needed to take their loaner scarves before leaving the masjid.  I offered to return the scarves myself, but they insisted that they wanted to thank the person who had given them the scarves to start with…(see mother appreciating well-trained teenagers!)

 

Al-hamdulillah, it was a blessed daay…and all I had to do was show up…