HIS Subtle Plan

It was sizzling that Friday noon – typical of the gulf summer. I left my house to attend Jumah prayer at the masjid in the next neighborhood. When I started my car, I could see mirage at the end of the road ahead of me. I turned on the AC with desperation. Just as I was about to drive, I saw a man walk pass our lane. He was small, thin and was carrying a couple of grocery bags in both hands. That the bags were very heavy was evident from the stiff and brisk manner of his walk.

He wasn’t from my neighborhood, so I knew he had a long distance to cover to reach his destination on foot. I had a convenient mode of transport. I had shelter from the heat of the blazing sun. I had plenty of space in my car. I wanted to help him; to lighten his load; to shorten his difficult tread; to offer some cool respite from the sweltering air, but, I didn’t. I couldn’t. ‘If only I was a man, or was not alone in my car, ya Allah, I would have assisted your servant,’ I said earnestly in my heart.        

I drove on towards the masjid. My heart still restless and anxious for the man I didn’t help – or couldn’t help – my mind still imagining him walking with his heavy load in the sun. ‘Ya Allah, you know what is in my heart and you know my intention and limitation,’ I conversed with All-Hearer.

The nagging feeling didn’t go away. I reached the neighborhood block where my intended masjid was. About half a km away, I took a turn into the service-lane. Suddenly a black shrouded form caught my side-vision. I don’t know why or what prompted me, but I stopped and reversed till I could see clearly. Dressed from head to toe in a black khimar, was a woman who was walking briskly and purposefully in the direction of the masjid. This was most strange. Women dont usually walk to the masjids here and that too during the middle of the day. Now, I’ve never done this before (i.e. stop or talk to strangers on the streets and offer them a lift), but because I was so conscious about what I was unable to do a couple of minutes ago, I grabbed this opportunity.

I rolled down my tinted window to show her that I’m a female, offered  my salaam and asked if she was heading towards the masjid. She was a bit stunned but replied in the affirmative. I asked her to join me in my car. She readily accepted. In two minutes we were both inside the masjid, alhumdullilah.

She was thankful for the lift. I had another Being to offer gratitude to. So overwhelmed was I that I had to offer the sajda as-shukr (prostration of thankfulness). I was in awe of how Allah listened to the words of my heart that didn’t even reach the tongue. I was touched by how beautifully HE removed my restlessness by providing me with another viable opportunity. Never before have I seen women, in this area, walking to the masjid during the day time. HE created this situation for me.

We are all expertly woven with each other in a complex network, spreading outwards and inwards, merging, entangling, so that the path taken by one, opens the way for another and subsequently opens the heart of yet another. And the intricate chain continues to link our lives according to HIS master plan i.e. destiny.

I realized then, the meaning of His Name – Al-Lateef.  The Most-Subtle, the Most Considerate. One whose knowledge encompasses all the secret and hidden matters and HE understands the most subtle things. The One Who is Kind to his believing servants, guiding them to that which would benefit them and taking care of their interests through means that they are not even aware of.        

That unknown man, that stranger woman and I did not begin our day knowing how we would affect each other. But Al-Lateef knew and planned.

Alhumdullilah.

Our Temporary Companions

As close friends we are comfortable with talking about anything under the sun. Yet, it’s understood that if we decide to pray taraweeh in the same masjid, we would pray in two opposite corners (or at least not close together).

Why? Because we seek the uninhibited freedom & comfort that is afforded by the company of total strangers, to immerse in & relish the prayer experience. Strange? Perhaps.  

As strangers, standing so close, side by side, shoulder to shoulder, feet to feet, motionless, for the lengthy periods of qiyaam – you share a different, almost unique, bond with the individuals on your right & left.

In unison, the hearts sway with the tempo of the recitation of Quran, quivering in fear at the mention of Hell, fluttering in delight at the descriptions of Paradise, awed by the manifestation of Allah (SubbhanaWaTaAla)’s Names & Attributes and humbled at the eloquently cited examples of His creation.

 Diversified through various languages, age & social status they seek the same ultimate goals, have the same hopes, and pray for the same successes. As the eyes flow, noses run & tongues move in unison with ‘the Ameen’s, the amazing bond that unites them – the strangers – transcends beyond this world & time.

As the imam calls salaams, the unique relationship comes to an end. Worldly strangers once again, they disperse, sometimes with a polite greeting & sometimes, without even a side glance – at their temporary companions.

 The close friends meet again at the door and talk….. about their Eid plans.

A tiny part of them left behind with the nameless companions they will probably never meet again.