An Unexpected Story of Hidayah

All the praises and thanks be to Allah,  the Lord of the worlds. May His Peace and Blessing be upon our Holy Prophet, Muhammad at all times.

This story is about a brother, who is a very practicing Muslim, even though he was not raised up in a religious family, neither does his education background is religious. He is an IT engineer.

At the age of 20, during his undergraduate studies, they used to compare the current development of technology at that time, with how developed technology can go in future. After thinking and reflecting, he realized that man has been inventing in technology but is yet to reach to the fullest satisfaction in invention, whereby Allah (High and Exalted is He) has created everything at their best quality. “Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, “Be!” and it is!”[Surah Yaseen: 82]. “O man! What has made you careless about your Lord, the Most Generous? Who created you, fashioned you perfectly, and gave you due proportion; In whatever form He willed, He put you together.” [Surah Al-Infitaar: 6-8]. “Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see. Then, He rose above (Istawâ) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty). He has subjected the sun and the moon (to continue going round)! each running (its course) for a term appointed. He manages and regulates all affairs, He explains the ‘Ayaat’ (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, that you may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord. And it is He Who spread out the earth, and placed therein firm mountains and rivers and of every kind of fruits He made two in pairs, He brings the night as a cover over the day. Verily, in these things, there are signs for people who reflect. And in the earth are neighbouring tracts, and gardens of vines, and green crops (fields), and date-palms, growing into two or three from a single stem root, or otherwise (one stem root for every palm ), watered with the same water, yet some of them We make more excellent than others to eat. Verily, in these things, there are signs for the people who understand.” [Surah Al-Ra'd: 2-4]. This is how Allah SWT granted him ‘hidayah’. “This is the creation of Allah. So show Me that which those besides Him have created…” [Surah Luqman:11]

Initially, his parents cared not much about religion and it’s practices. When Allah (High and Exalted is He) granted him ‘hidayah’, he [moderately] self-oriented himself (not self-radicalized); he became conscious about the “dos” and the “don’ts” in Islam. His behavior started to change. His way of talking to his parents and anyone else was observed to be very polite. Among other things, he started to be regular for ‘jama’ah’ prayers.

His mum did not dress Islamically, as she never prayed; his father used to perform his solat only at home and at his own convenience. At home, although they are Arabs, they barely speak in Arabic, and hence his first language automatically became French. French is his first language because his parents speak and write French better than they can do in Arabic. Oh sorry; I forgot to mention that the mother could not read nor write in Arabic!

When he started practicing Islam, he did so without engaging either of his parents in talks about religion. But the good thing is, he did never forget to make du’a that Allah (high and Exalted is He) granted them ‘hidayah’, too. “And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: “My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was young.” [Surah Al-Israa: 23-24]. Real challenges come at times like this though; his father refused to talk to him for more than a year because he (the boy) has started growing beard, mind you, they stayed in the same house under one roof!

As days pass by, after five years, his mum enrolled in Arabic classes for adults. Starting from level one, she has -at this moment- successfully climbed up to level six, Subhana Allah. Amazingly, the mother gradually started to dress Isalamically, and eventually has become punctual in her solat.

As for the father who had never knew his way to the mosque, and only performed his solat at his own convenience, he is now a regular “customer” at mosques and (Islamic) congregations. Taraweeh has since become a “must attend in jama’ah” for him! Subhana Allah.

Personally, the moral values (adaab/akhlaq) I have learnt from the story of this gentleman are few, but I am sure the readers of this story will be able to understand more than I could. The ‘adab’ of a ‘child’s approach to his parents’ shown by this brother to both his parents is something very rare nowadays. Some brothers (and/or sisters), once they start(ed) to obligate themselves to Islam, their attitudes might send a message that they have taken it for granted that they have secured the heaven. Thus, anyone else who does not accept their belief will get bad treatment, even if the person happens to be their parent. Allah (High and Exalted is He) orders us to treat our – non-Muslim – parents with kindness. “But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not, but behave with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and in obedience. Then to Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do.” [Surah Luqman: 15] If this is how we should be with our non-Muslim parents, what more if they are any ‘kind’ of Muslims?!

Another moral value that may be applicable to everyone here is the approach used here to make ‘da’wah’ which is leading by example. This is one of the most powerful weapons in reaching to the hearts of others. Although preaching may be effective (and it is required, too) in the process of delivering the message of Islam, it is only effective if the words of the preacher matches his deeds. Our beloved Prothet, Muhammad (May Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him at all times) is a good example; he (May Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him always) did set the best example whenever he dealt with anyone, as he also preached in the public and among his companions in Makkah and Madinah alike.

One more thing that I would like to highlight is, although the boy (the gentleman) might have taken the right approach  as he preferred the silence approach to advise (or call to practicing Islam) his parents, parents are not advised to take (alone) the same approach in reminding or educating their children. A parent (as well as an educator) is required to occasionally educate and remind his child on religious obligations and other social issues verbally, and take action when necessary. A parent is not supposed to leave his sons at home with the TV, and head regularly to the mosque. A parent should not be ‘blinded eyes’ to the wrong doings of his children and keep himself in ‘tahajjud’ or ‘qiyamullail’ seeking guidance for them. If these happen, his wish for their ‘hidayah” may be granted, but at a very late time. May Allah forbid that from happening.

May Allah (High and Exalted is He) make all kinds of ibadah to Him easy on us. And may He accept all our good deeds and grant forgiveness to our bad deeds, that we are overwhelmed with. Ameen.

Allah knows best.

Allahu Hafiz 🙂