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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| The Sory Part 1 Chapter 2- condensed |
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| Kathy |
| 05/03/02 at 13:11:57 |
| "He's very critical, but he's stable and with a lot of rest and care he will recover. You may see him now." Betsy thanked the doctor and went into the room. As she walked towards her husband lying helpless on the bed. She thanked Allah for saving him and her family. Betsy went over to her husband and held his hand. "My dear," she said "I've found the path. The path which you wanted me to follow for so long. Now we can follow it together." With tear in his eyes her husband replied "... "Allahu Akbar!!!" Her husband was weak, so she made herself comfortable on the seat beside him and started reciting from the Qur'an. Her favorite verse "Verily after hardship comes ease, Verily after hardship comes ease". She caught a beautiful glimmer of a smile on her husband's face as they drifted off to sleep... She found herself in the garden, wow! How luscious, how beautiful. As she walked along the banks of the stream she saw beautiful green birds fluttering around with beaks of gold...Then she heard it, again...the most beautiful, melodious voice, blending in with the bubbling stream, the chirping birds, the rustling leaves..blending in, but still distinct in its melody. Her heart beat faster, and the longing returned, she felt like somebody was tugging her heart. This incredible love! This yearning! She walked slowly towards the voice...and in the middle of the perfect meadow, sat a man, engulfed in a surreal light, engrossed in his recitation...She was mesmerized....she walked ever so slowly until she was a bow length away and sat humbly, her heart weighed by the sweetness of the moment. Tears started pouring down her eyes, tears of understanding, love, tears of purification, tears that dropped from the recesses of her soul...calling her to the One, The Only.... The man quietly stopped reading and raised his head for the first time to look at her.... his eyes were big brown ,welcoming soothing. her heart softly missed a beat..she was staring. She knew it should not be so, she tried to look away but her gaze remained fixed. he sat , in front of her yet she could not discern his features..only his eyes , his smile, her skinny body shivered in the noon day sun. there were no shadows across her heart. she felt fragile yet strong .She heard words of love whispered into her ear. her eyes closed yet she could not lose the vision, it was real she could reach out to touch him.,but she did not , her heart silently sang with his. A lonely tear ran to the corner of her lips, the bluebirds flew above , the poppies stood upright and the world stood still..she was not alone yet she was. she was afraid yet she was not she was in love yet she was not.. He was tall ,he was short, he was thin, he existed yet he did not. She did not understand, he did not try to explain. So on it went like that...when all the sudden it was just a dream! Betsy got up and remembered her daughter. Let me see my husband's brother how he's doing with my house. "its Betsy open up." she said to Sam (husbands brother) when he said who is it. the door creaked open slowly as she stepped in and did her salaam." She took off her shoes near by. She slipped into the house, happy to smell food in the kitchen. She loved when Sam. visited he was a chef after all! Over dinner they chatted about her husband's dying condition, and her dream! She couldn't pinpoint the tangible feeling she has had since about wanting more out of her life...more serenity...She reflected about the Qari in her dream "That light he had about him came from an inner dimension that just irradiated his whole being"...How do I achieve such enlightenment Sam.? Sam., looked at her, and began speaking, slowly measuring his words..for Sam. did not know how to describe what he felt, he finally admitted to her that he had the same dream!!! He told her u his heart felt tight and pure, and peaceful from the recitation.(Sam was not Muslim, but his brother was a revert) all of a sudden the phone rang...... It was the Doctor who treats Betsy’’s husband. Sam picking up the phone, with no response in his face, except shock. All of a sudden he finds him self saying Inalillahi wa ina ilihi raj3oune. he was shocked on how he could say such thing while he never spoke one word of Arabic. But he recalled it from his dream. Betsy's husband was long gone to the road that will take us all, while Betsy was listening to him. she knew arabic but she was out of her mind. after Sam. hung up he was so yellow. "who called?" asked Betsy playing with the baby. "uuuh-welll-mmhm (clear throat)" Sam. wailed around for a while. "WHO WAS IT" asked Betsy out of tone. "I don't know!" said Sam. he got up and left the house with out his coat. "well whoever that was." Betsy dialed the *who called last #* and waited. the operator answered and said the number which called last. "the last number that called your line is 414-567-2287" Betsy dialed that number and asked what they just called about. "oh", said the woman who answered the phone. "we just wanted Betsy hatstach to know that her relative has died 1 hour ago after operation. could i help you for that?" Betsy shut the phone before she could blink. (weeping) it was a sad story but Betsy knew life was that way. What Betsy also found amazing was how she could one minute be in the hospital, the next at home, the next she suddenly has a baby to play with and never mind the fact her bebzi supply was running seriously low, since Sam the Bebsi guzzler came to stay... All of a sudden she heard a loud banging...BANG...BANG...BANG.....Betsy's head felt heavy and she dropped onto the floor ....opening her eyes, Betsy found herself in bed...BANG...BANG...BANG...."What the She jumped out of bed and looked out the window. "Hi honey..!" said her husband waving up at her. He was in the back yard chopping wood. Betsy was overjoyed..."It was all a dream... " But one thing remained with her from the dream, and that was the beautiful feeling she had while reading the Qur'an. She resolved to buy a copy that morning and to start reading it again...Betsy bought the Qur'an that day, Sam became Muslim that day and everyone lived happily ever after. End of love story. After the brief diversion where an outside intruder tried to take over the story continues........ Betsy kissed her husband goodbye. He was going away to a business conference and wouldn't be back for four days. She held up her little baby, Belinda, for him to kiss goodbye. Waving until the car drove out of sight, Betsy considered the tasks she had set herself for the day. First things first, she really needed to go shopping, firstly to replenish her Bebsi supply and secondly to finally buy the Qur'an. She strapped her young daughter into her car seat, started the car and drove down the driveway. Betsy was feeling depressed about the situation of Muslims in the world, and how they were being oppressed, especially after September 11th. She remembered visiting London a few months ago with her husband, and remembering how passionate the Muslims were there especially one brother who started a business there called Mujaahid Enterprises. She remembered the phone number for Mujaahid Enterprises and decided to give it a call. When she dialed the phone number there was a welcome message that said: Press 1 if you are a brainwashed American. Press 2 if you would like an autographed photo of me. Press 3 if you would like to join my training camp. Press 4 if you would like to discuss the Taliban Press 5 if you want to hear the latest news from Azzam. Or press 6 to leave a general message. So Betsy pressed.... .was what Betsy mumbled to herself, she easily gets sidetracked (perhaps a side effect of too much Bebsi), she then remembered that she was on the phone and had to press a button. so she pressed.... Six!!! She would have loved to discuss the Taliban but there was no time now.... "Assalamu Alaykum, My name is Betsy and in exchange of a few Bebzis I would really love to get a copy of the Qur'an!!! Please help if you can. My number is 555-5555. I am looking forward to hearing from you..as soon as possible." She hung up, feeling excited and relieved "I can't wait to read the glorious words that seeped so deep into my essence". She put Belinda to sleep and started dinner, suddenly the phone suddenly rang! Her heart skipped a beat...Could it be? It was Mujy, himself, from Mujaahid Enterprises. He wanted to know if she wanted a signed photograph too. Betsy was a bit taken aback by the offer. "Assalamu Alaikum?" a man's voice came down the telephone line...."Umm..hello...Mujy??" said Betsy nervously.... "HEY! How did you get my number.." Mujy demanded.. "this is my private line okay!!.. But never mind that now, what do you want?" "I was wondering if you could tell me something..." Betsy ventured. I have been suffering from low self-esteem of late and, since I notice you have got sooooooooo much to go round, was wondering whether you wouldn't mind lending me some, (just for the evening, mind) together with that pretty pink dress you were wearing at the party last night. Oh, and some mascara too. Thanks, I'd be ever so grateful. "Huh" Mujy sounded perplexed, the silence was deafening...Betsy couldn't hold it anymore, she burst out laughing~! "I was just kidding, sheesh must you take everything so seriously? Just trying to break the ice, brother ." Mujy seemed to relax, albeit momentarily, and he prodded with a gentler voice "what can I help you with?" Betsy tried again, seriously this time "I was really wondering if..." she hung up again. She was too nervous to ask. She wanted to... She redialed the number.... this time she pressed - 0.... jovial old woman picked up this time, "Ladoo making services, May I help you?" Betsy chuckled, might as well, "Can I place an order of ladoos please for pick up"... She couldn't wait to treat her husband with a nice order of freshly made ladoos...mmm... The lady said cheerfully "sure thing, anything else I canhelp you with?" Betsy mustered up the courage, this lady seems nice..."Yes, uhmm, actually, I was wondering if.... " Yes.. I was wondering if you can tell me just why *are* women so oppressed in Islam? I mean I've read some of the holy Qur'an and it didn't have anything there about females being of secondary status to men, so maybe you could tell me what it's like to be a Muslimah? " The old woman cleared her throat, looked at her watch, realized she should be finished work by now, but for Betsy's questions she had all the time in the world. "Well Betsy..." she began." I wasn't always Muslimah you know I used to be a brother, called Brian, then one day i felt i was trapped in the wrong body, so i went to see my local surgeon who.... *sigh* its happening again. The voices in my head. Where did I come up with that idea that I used to be a man named Brian? It was probably due to watching all those talk shows like Oprah and Sally Jesse Raphael and the Jerry Springer Show. I don't know why I'm so confused. These crazy thoughts have been happening recently, I don't know what to do. Mujy said, "Betsy, even though your a Muslim, you are an American and that means that you are brainwashed". This is why I recommend that you stop washing your brain and let it be free. Also i would like you to tell my work colleague who sits next to me to stop telling me about his transsexual cousin!!! Then their was a knock on the door "IDF DEFENSE, YOU ARE SURROUNDED, LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS AND COME OUT" Mujy: Well 'ard Its show time!! IDF: What? Your gonna fight back? Mujy: Yes IDF: GUYS, get outta hear, their gonna fight back, run, THEIR GONNA FIGHT BACK!!! HELLLLLLLP!!!!! Anyway Mujaahid goes back to phone, "hello, Betsy, you still their?"?....... ummmhh yes?" Betsy was confused as ever, whatever happened to the nice old lady? Why was she all of a sudden talking to Mujy again!!! "You called me brainwashed!!, that's not very nice, considering you don't know me at all. Is that what Islam teaches you to do? Plus fight all the time?" Betsy waited, his answer was going to determine her fate. Mujaahid croaked .Yep Betsy Islam teaches us to fight the daily battle against those who oppress others and to lead a good life according to the Qur'an and Sunnah. I'd fight for your rights as well whether you are Muslim or not. Wow exclaimed Betsy tell me more about this beautiful way of life, so Mujaahid then explained about how Islam is a way of life from the cradle to the grave, that's right Betsy even eating and drinking, sleeping and walking, social conduct, talking and yes even marriage all laid out. Even marriage claimed an excited Betsy, yep even marriage said Mujaahid. There was a long pause before Betsy popped the 64 million pound question: "So Mr Mujy are you married?" because I know somebody who's looking for a husband and that person is,well I hear Beth wants my hand in marriage, but I've told her i will only marry a Muslim., also i aint married!!! But their is one issue, whoever married me, would have to accept the possibility that i may have to leave and go to my destiny, war in defense of the Muslims against oppressors, and the call to arms could come anytime!!! Well? Betsy: Well what? I was just gonna say, Besty, paused and thought, all of a sudden she said BRING IT ON!!! Then Mujaahid hesitated he wanted a way to get rid of her. He then told her but that's not his only rule. Betsy with a face didn't know what to expect. she told Mujaahid to say them all. Mujaahid started on his list, it was longer then a novel. ( Betsy was not Muslim yet) he started by first telling her she has to become Muslim, to wear niqab, no work, no tv, no music ,he went on and on. Betsy couldn't believe what she heard, since she was not used to this kind of way. She had no choice but to say...... your just like all men, you don't listen to a word a woman says do you? Why are men like this? Thinking that they are always right and have to have the last word. Open your ears and listen to what a woman has to say for once in your life. First of all I am a Muslim, as I mentioned a little while ago, and secondly I am happily married to brother Bob!!!! Mujaahid was speechless, apologized and then said i think I'm trapped in the wrong body....err....i meant...to ask "why the heck are you wasting my time then?" he was angry "i could’’ve distributed 10 signed Mujy pictures by now and maybe converted the ignorant of the world into Mujaahid ìs world view!" He thought to himself. What a loss indeed. He made a mental note to add another category to his phone directory——option #7 -> hang up if you are a female and married or female and born Muslim and over 18(greater probability of dodgy past) or ……and so was he lost in his thoughts when... The doorbell rang. Mujy hung up on Betsy and went to open the door. Who was it only..... Beth! "What do you want?!!!" Said Mujy harshly... "Nothing, I came to pick up some pics many people have been requesting them at the dart club" This day is endless! Thought Mujy...."The day will come when Jihad will set everyone on the straight path" Proclaimed Mujy, "For now, please leave so I can pray". Beth left bristling...Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Betsy was coming to terms with the fact that Mujy would never learn humility, and that try as she might, she could not stop him from jacking in his well-paid job at the bank to become a part-time mujaahid with the newly-regrouped Talitubs. He would just have to let Mujy go, pray he learned from his mistakes and didn't get himself killed along the way. Still, she thought, at least he'll get a nice tan, but wait maybe she was wrong, maybe she was too worldly. Wasn't it better to live your life for Allah [SubHana Wa Ta`ala] than for this world? Oh if only she could put away her own ego and also submit...but just as she was about to ponder this unified theory of life some more, Beth grabbed of her shoulders and shook her roundly "get a hold of yourself, woman - you're never wrong!" She took the Shahaadah, and it was a feeling like she never had before!! "God be praised!" she exclaimed, "that hole in my heart is now filled with the truly divine light of truth! Now I can finally..." find the peace I have heard so many speak of." Alas, she did not know how soon Allah SubHana Wa Ta`ala was going to test her.Peace? Beth asked herself, what on earth does that mean? So she thought that she'd go over to Swaziland and ask Betsy since she had heard the story of how Betsy had already had gained a semi-peaceful/enlightened state of soul. So Beth packed her bags and got on to a great big Tugboat and sailed the seas to meet Betsy. On the way there the boat sank. Beth was flailing in the water trying to find something or someone to cling onto. Then a hand plunged into the water and pulled her out and into a lifeboat. It was Mujy "Beth!!" he said, breathless from exertion (despite several months hard training for Jihad) "Beth there's something I have to tell you, and I have followed you here to tell you this..And before he could speak Beth interjected "If it's to tell me you love me, save your breath. You ain't the first, you won't be the last, and I've heard it all before anyway. Besides, didn't you tell the world and its uncle all this last night?! If its to ask my blessing for the jihad, it won't be forthcoming, you little fool. If its to ask for you sega consule back, (which is the likeliest option) well you can whistle for it, son. " And with that, Beth was satisfied. THE END Mujy was taken aback by her vehemence."I just wanted to save you the trip" Mujy began gently."I wanted to give you a glimpse of the peace you are searching for. I came bearing the gift of Submission to our Creator, The Most Merciful, The Most Beneficent. I came to invite you onto the path of righteousness, the enlightenment of your consciousness, and the taste of faith's sweetness. I came bearing the gift of tranquility, asking you to fulfil your destiny, and become the best you can ever be. I came bearing the gift of Islam." Beth was quiet, letting his words seep in, she breathed and began slowly, tears streaming down her eyes, she just couldn't let this story end... it was just the beginning for her. As Robert Frost had once wrote... " Two roads diverged in the woods...." She saw the road split... which path was she going to follow.... Beth sighed. She was sick of her name being taken in vain and she instructed her alter ego Nelly to capitulate. Across the sea Betsy was assembling her ladoos, her pots were simmering with delicious dishes, after all her husband was coming home today! She was so excited. She couldn't wait to share her spiritual adventure with him. She couldn't wait to describe the indescribable peace she had felt since her shahada. My life truly just began! She went to lengths to beautify herself, after all it was actually rewarded in Islam to enhance yourself for your spouse. She felt complete. Inside and out. As she scurried around putting the last minute touches, a dash of salt here, rose petals carelessly strewn around the house, candles lit...She was almost done when... sister jannah showed up!! |
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