~ The right path~
Mohammed Raheem came to fix the satellite service. I had seen him driving
through the gate while playing with our canine friends. Initially, I thought he
might be one of John’s Mindfulness guys, coming for more coaching from
John. I headed to the chalet and got busy with my own thing.
I was cooking my special Spinach Rice, a dish Sumaya loves. The spinach was
already cooked, and the Jesmin rice was boiling in the pot, filling the air with
the soothing aroma of cloves and cardamom pods. As I pondered how to blend
the spinach and rice perfectly, I heard the familiar hurried footsteps of John on
the deck and then a knock on the door. I glanced at the door and saw John’s face
through the glass panes. -
"Can you come to the house for a moment? He needs to explain
something about the Internet connection," John said.
I followed John to the kitchen. - - - -
"This is Rayhan, and he knows all about IT issues. And this is Ray…"
John started.
"I am Raheem, Mohammed Raheem," the man interrupted with a smile.
"Ah, you’re Mohammed Raheem, and I am Mohammed Rayhan. Come
on, give me a hug, brother," I said with my usual widespread smile.
"Ahem," he chuckled a bit, "I am not practising…" he said hesitantly.
He then started explaining the issues with the Internet, going over the details
many times and specifying the equipment we needed for a better signal.
Nothing was really registering with me as I was waiting for a chance to ask why
he was so against his deen*.
After a while, we explored many options and looked at various devices. Finally,
he wanted to show me the device he had in mind, which was perhaps stored in
his car. As we stepped outside, I thought it was a good time to ask.
He opened the side door of his van and started searching through his bags,
ladders, rolls of wires, and toolboxes. - - -
"Why did you say that you don’t practice, bro?" I asked, filled with
extreme curiosity.
"Look at the mullahs, what they have done to my country," he
responded angrily, sounding very annoyed with my question. I gathered
he was from Iran.
"But we don’t follow deen* because of Imams or someone special. It is
our connection with our Lord—Allah. We do it to please Allah," I tried
to reason with him.
He seemed to be searching for words to respond. -
"Allah never helped me," he suddenly burst out.
I realized my rice might burn if I didn’t go back. I left him looking for the
device and rushed to check my rice. Alhamdulillah, it was simmering nicely. I
turned off the flame and went to speak to Raheem one last time.
Raheem, in his usual manner, showed me something similar to what I had, and
we decided to get a more powerful piece of equipment. Honestly, each had their
own logical explanations behind their decisions, which could also be a
marketing or selling gimmick.
Zara stepped in to ask him for payment for the initial task of fixing the
satellite, and we settled it through Revulot. John thanked him for his work and
said he would call if needed. -
"Bro, don’t say that Allah never helps. Our existence, our being, is
because of His mercy. Please don’t say that," I begged.
As he was reversing his van, he smiled. - -
"Assalamu Alaikum, Rayhan," he said, seeming very happy.
"Walaikum Salam," I replied with a smile.
I felt good that at least his default system kicked in, finally. I made a quiet
prayer for him: May Allah help him to understand the deen* and guide us all to
the right path! What a blessing to have this engraved in our souls! Protected and
well-guided. Alhamdulillah!
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8 July 24 – Glenasmole, Bohernabreena, Dublin
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* deen – religion, in Islam it means the lifestyle formed in line with the faith, shariah
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