The road towards peace..victory...is only ONE..

My mind is wandering..back in time. Around this time last year, I was in Roscoe Hall, the University of Manchester, listening to a talk..by Brother Idris Tawfiq; entitled “From the Vatican to Al Azhar”.

This scribbling was what I managed to gather from my listening. And which I circulated amongst my friends in my maling list (did not have the luxury of spending time building my own blog back then..) And so, I would like to share it here with you too!

So here it is…

------------------------------------

Brother Idris Tawfiq opened his delivery with this, “How funny? A long time ago, I was the one sitting there in your place and listening to a lecture. And now, I am standing here in front of you, steadfast youths, eager to learn about Islam. And now, I am about to give you a lecture! Alhamdulillah!”

”I want people to know that Islam is a beautiful religion; pure and natural. A religion of peace, not a religion of war and terror and has got nothing to do with terrorists. Its sweetness and gentle message that was what has touched my heart very deeply. And it will continue to touch other people’s hearts every day. And as Muslims, we should always allow its gentleness and its deeper meanings to touch everybody’s heart and whomsoever that we meet. And that was the reason why I wrote the book, Gardens of Delight. To give a very basic understanding of Islam to a person coming from a western background.

There is an old English saying, “All roads lead to Rome” After reverting to Islam, I have this to say, “All roads lead to Allah!”

As Muslims too, we have nothing to hide and we have nothing to fear. Even though there were times when certain quarters had succeeded in blowing up a helpless old man bound in a wheelchair from up a helicopter. I have nothing to fear. And you have nothing to fear, my brothers and sisters. Because? We believe that Allah is the Most Powerful. Remember that Allah is always in control! Not men! Not the enemies of Islam. And if there are people who have bad intentions against me out here amongst you, then may you sit and listen first? Who knows? Allah might open up your hearts and let you see things that previously you do not and may not be able to see!

I have no regrets nor do I have any intentions of speaking ill of other faiths. More so of the people who shaped me. I am very indebted to the Vatican for the training that I have received during my seminary. How can I forsake them? After all, they were part of me! Part of my life before. They were good to me....

And a Muslim should never feel threatened by goodness. Respect goodness when you see it or receive it! And speak graciously of the people whom you love. And pray so that Allah’s guidance will reach their hearts eventually.

I was not happy with what I was doing. It's not that I was not doing my job well. In fact I was loved by the people and community who came to hear my sermons at the place where I was. .I just had to follow my heart. AND little did I know that Allah has already made plans for me!”

Let me share with you how Allah works things through your heart.

I was poor, but I wanted to get away. I decided to go for a holiday. Wandered around at the travel agencies. I saw adverts and the only holiday I could afford to go to was to Egypt. Stayed in a place which I did not like (gambling, casinos). Then, the next day, I decided to take the next bus to Cairo…AND that was the most extraordinary thing and the most extraordinary week of my life!

I have never met Muslims before in my life…but there…I met Muslims….not violent…not aggressive…but very sweet and gentle people AND very religious. Everywhere I go, I would hear…Assalamualaikum… which when I asked for the translation means…may peace be upon you…and words like Insya Allah, Alhamdulillah… .these marvellous people have religion constantly on their lips and at a drop of a pin….We British people…we do not talk and do not like to talk about religion with any man on the street.

What impressed me most was when I was at a restaurant, having a drink…there was a call for prayer…everybody left for the mosque…leaving me…a perfect stranger…a foreigner….they were entrusting me with a place that was what was supposedly their own possession…their own belonging…

After that, every morning, I used to wake up before sunrise and sit near the window…just to listen for this call for prayer…from one distant mosque to another….I would listen until tears come streaking down my cheeks…All in praise of this Allah….I was fascinated and I DID go into a mosque…but all I could see were simple things…except for the wall-to-wall carpet and intricate tile works on the pillars…. that was it….AND the rows upon rows of people worshiping this ONE GOD, Allah….

A week after that, I returned to London. I was jobless so I had to find something…I became a teacher at a state school and I had to teach about all religions…and one of them is Islam.

I had to learn…I got a book to read about Islam in order to teach it…The more I learnt, the more I liked the things that I taught. When I speak about Muhammad, tears would well up my eyes…I don’t know why…

I was teaching an inner city London school…many Muslim boys…naughty boys…but I know they are good inside, in their hearts…because this boys…they don’t and never swear like the other children...

Ramadhan came and the boys wanted a place to do their solat. And of all the people in the school, the boys approached me…Why? Because my office or room was the only one that was carpeted.

Didn’t I tell you that Allah has made HIS plans? Why is it that, of all the teachers’ rooms in the school, mine was the only room that was carpeted? I cannot answer. But anyway, the headmaster warned me jokingly to say that I had better keep an eye on the boys because who knows what they are up to…they might steal the carpet, he laughingly added…..

Actually when the boys asked my permission to use my room for prayers…I decided to join them in their fast…So….there I sat, marking my books…days went on…Until I ask myself…What were these boys doing?

While I sat there day in and day out…fascinated with these boys, I also prayed with them. During dusk, when they would break their fast, I would too…when they would sit reading their Holy Book…have sweets, fruits, praying through the nights….. and then the night of Lailatul Qadr (I did not know realize what it was then)…I was touched when I saw this beautiful light coming in through the windows…it was so beautiful…didn’t know what it was….or its significance…

I went to Regent’s Park Mosque, London. Listened to what was being said and I liked what was being said.

Finally, I talked to Brother Yusof Islam and asked him, “Could you tell me what you would have to do to be a Muslim?”

To which he answered very simply, “Believe! Believe in ONE god and in Muhammad, HIS messenger.”

“Then?” I asked again.

“Pray five times a day.”

“I know how to do that. In fact I know how to do the prayers and what to recite…I learnt after a week in Egypt!”

“Fast during the month of Ramadhan!”

“I did fast in the last month of Ramadhan with the boys at my school!”

Then Yusof Islam turned to me and said, “Brother! Whom are you trying to fool?”

And then the call for prayer came. I sat there and cried and cried and cried. Everything that he had said has touched my heart very deeply.

Not long after prayers, Yusof Islam asked me,”Repeat after me…La ila ha illallah..," which I did and followed right through the kalimah syahadah…

And then everybody in the mosque embraced me. I have never felt so happy in my life. There was a certain peacefulness in my heart…

I have lived in Cairo since then, writing every Friday on IslamOnline.net,” his voice trailling away...

There was stillness in the air. Not even the sound of a drop of a pin in the hall. Then the silence broke. Someone blew his/her nose with a piece of tissue. Little did I realize that tears were streaming down my cheeks too. Tried to brush them away with the tips of my fingers as fast as I could.....

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

What are we waiting for? How long more and what else is there for us to think?

As clear as crystal….the only road towards peace… is the road to Allah…just like the serenity of greenery and foliage…the tranquility and stillness of night where the full moon shines…lending its silvery touch..

Choose Islam..the way towards peace, harmony…..victory…as promised by Allah in this world as well as in the hereafter…