A Muslim

A new worker came to the office. He was a handsome, tall young man and he immediately became an object of regard for all ladies. Girls competed with each other to win a heart of an eligible bachelor. Every lady tried to attract his attention with her own unique feminism way.

But unfortunately for them he ignored all women’s tricks and they came to the conclusion that either his heart was busy or he was not interested in women.

A young man always tried to avoid them and explained to them that he had much work and no time for idle talks and gossips. He used to leave during the lunch break and to come back when they were finishing tea and started returning to their working places.

One lady was very curious about his absence everyday during the break and decided to follow him. Her name was Ann. She followed him and saw how he entered the meeting room and closed the door. “What is he doing there?” she thought but did not dare to come in and see.

The next day she followed him again and found him entering the same meeting room. That time her curiosity won the field. As if accidentally she opened the door and looked inside the room. What did she see?

Nothing special. A young man was performing his afternoon prayer. But the lady was astonished:

“Is he a Muslim? How come?” she thought, “What a surprise?”

Since that moment she began to watch every step of him. And she pointed out that he never used to say anything bad about others, even about his manager, that she had never seen him drinking and smoking, she had never heard him swearing and spreading gossips but he had been always polite and tactful, and tried to do as much work as he could during his working hours.

Once during a break ladies opened a topic about Muslim men. One lady was telling about her new love story with a Muslim guy:

- He pays so much attention to me, always presents flowers; we often go out to visit pubs or restaurants. I spend a great time with him,” she told.

Ann was surprised, “Pubs? But Muslims don’t drink alcohol.”

“Oh, come on… Who is following all religious rules today? Only “wahhabits” or something like that. He is not a fanatic; he does not break his forehead five times a day. He is normal. He leads the same lifestyle like you and me: goes to clubs, drinks a little, sometimes he can eat pork even.”

“And how can you call him a Muslim then?” – asked Ann.

The girl thought for a while.

“I think… because of their traditions, you know. He says that a man is a supporter of a family and a wife’s duty is to run a house and to deliver babies. I think he expects his future wife like this.

Another girl asked, “Aren’t you afraid that if you get married to a Muslim he will treat you as a rag, as nothing. You know, they treat women like this. I read that their religion allows beating women, there is no respect to women at all. Hijab, it is already something.”

“Yes, and he can bring a second wife. It is legalized among Muslims too.”

“And what if he wants you to wear a headscarf?” and all ladies giggled.

The conversation continued. Ann was listening and a lot of questions appeared in her head. Their new colleague Yusuf was a Muslim but he was different from what secular ladies considered Muslims to be. He performed his necessary prayers, he disapproved bad habits, he was against all evil things; at the same time he was neither a fanatic, nor a terrorist. He was a noble, honest person. And it was an amazing thing that only some time ago she would consider all practicing Muslims to be fanatics, woman-haters, polygamists etc. She decided that even being a Muslim he was a suitable person for her and she would win his heart by any means.

The next day she put on a very sexy dress, put a bright make up, and dressed her hair. Her plan was to go to the meeting room before Yusuf and wait for him there; and when he came she intended to seduce him.

When Yusuf entered the meeting room and saw Anna he was struck blind with her beauty for a moment. But he collected himself, turned his head away and left the room quickly. Somehow her intentions were clear to him.

In fact he liked this girl very much. And he considered her one of the prettiest girls in the company. But he ignored all her attempts to flirt him because he did not want relationship with a woman whose views and lifestyle was far from his believes. Some of her habits and behavior were not acceptable for him.

Immediately he remembered the story of Prophet Yusuf when he was the victim of seduction. And he smiled as he had not ever imagined himself in the same situation.

“But she in whose house he resided wished to seduce him and, closing the doors, said: "Come into me.”God forbid!" he said; "he is my master who has approved my stay. Surely those who act wrongly do not prosper.” But the woman desired him, and he would have desired her but for the indication he received from his Lord. This was so that We may avert both evil and lechery from him, for he was one of Our chosen devotees. Both of them raced to the door, and she (grabbed and) rent his shirt from behind. They met her lord outside the door. "There is no other penalty for a man," said she, "who wanted to outrage your wife but imprisonment or grievous punishment."(Joseph) said: "It was she who wanted to seduce me." And a witness from her family testified: "If the shirt is torn from the front then the woman is speaking the truth, and he is a liar. But if the shirt is torn from behind then she is a liar, and he speaks the truth." (27) When the husband saw the shirt torn at the back, he said: "Surely this is a woman's ruse, and the wiles of women are great. Ignore this affair, O Joseph; and you, O woman, ask forgiveness for your sin, for you were surely errant." (Quran, Sora Yusuf, 12:23-29)

Allah saved Prophet Yusuf from committing indecency and protected him from the evil plots of a woman.

And immediately he remembered a hadis in which Prophet Mohammed said:“There are seven whom Allah will shade in His Shade on the Day when there is no shade except His Shade: a just ruler; a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic; a man whose heart is attached to the mosques; two men who love each other for Allah's sake, meeting for that and parting upon that; a man who is called by a woman of beauty and position [for illegal intercourse], but he says: 'I fear Allah', a man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity; and a man who remembered Allah in private and so his eyes shed tears.” (al Bukhari, Muslim)

An idea came to him that Allah protected him that day from evil plots of a woman and his heart was full of love to Almighty God. He raised his hands and thanked Allah. And he knew how to act with Ann then.

Ann was struck dumb with such turn of events somehow and followed him.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Hey, I was waiting for you”

“Why?”

“I wanted to speak to you.”

“Why did you choose especially this time?” Yusuf looked extremely displeased.

“Because the break is the best time. Don’t you think so?”

“Why are you wearing such clothes?” he looked at her with reproach.

“This is a normal dress.”

“If you consider this as normal then there is nothing more to be said. Put on respectful clothes first and then come to speak.”

Ann was bewildered. It was first time in her life to hear such words from a man. He continued:

“Listen, I am a MUSLIM! Do you understand what it means? I doubt so. So I will explain to you.

I am a Muslim, it means I believe in Allah and that Prophet Mohammad is His messenger, I believe in the Day of Judgment and that each person is responsible for his deeds. It is sinful for a Muslim to look at a woman if she is not his wife. “Tell the believing men to lower their eyes and guard their private parts. There is for them goodness in this. God is aware of what they do.” (Quran, Sora an-Nur, 24:30)

I came here to perform my afternoon prayer. Do you know what a prayer means for a Muslim? This is a sacred action for the sake of Allah. Did you think that I would abandon my prayer because of your sweet speech? You had made a fine mistake. I love Allah most of all in the world and nothing can make me leave prayer for the sake of a woman or any other worldly wish.

You wanted to seduce me with your beautiful face and an ideal figure? I am a Muslim! I value other things in women. Do you think that face, body and clothes make a woman beautiful?  No, it is her modesty, mild nature and religiosity. But you have no idea about it must be. Our Prophet (PBUH) said:“A woman may be married for four reasons: for her property, her status, her beauty and her religion, so try to get one who is religious, may your hand be besmeared with dust.” (al Bukhari, Muslim)

I am a Muslim. I am not of that kind of men who follow “short skirts” like dogs. But I am the one who cares about his honor and dignity. I am the one who remembers and keeps moral values. But I think you don’t understand what I am talking about. You wanted to bark up the wrong tree, Anna. Allah says in Quran:

"Bad women deserve bad men, and bad men are for bad women; but good women are for good men, and good men for good women, for they are innocent of what people say. There is forgiveness for them and a gracious provision." (Quran, Sora an-Nur, 24:26)

I hope you understood. Leave me and don’t distract me anymore, Ann.

And he left her to continue his afternoon prayer in the empty meeting room.

His words were like a lightning stroke for the girl. She felt offended first, then her soul was seething with anger, and suddenly she felt ashamed. Something happened inside her but she could not explain what exactly. On one side, she felt humiliated and hated her offender, on the other side, there was a deep respect to Yusuf. She knew that it was a big thing for a man to refuse a woman and she could not esteem the degree of his righteousness. She could not imagine that such kind of men still existed on Earth! She was confused. After this case she often asked herself a question, “Who are Muslims and what do I know about them?”

To be continued...