A story which happened during Ramadan 2010 as a blessing from Allah and a sign for those who believe..
" My name is Jannah, I am a revert to Islam from France for little more than three years now. I was a Christian and the first thing I have been told was that after embracing Islam I would become clean and pure as a baby born and that Allah will help me to keep me firm on the religion of Islam. I was far from expecting such an amazing nurturing from Allah! By His grace, each step I took after accepting Islam was backed up by His guidance and care.
Here I would like to share the unique experience I went through during the first year of my reversion to Islam. Even though I was already Muslim, this event is the turning point of my life which I needed in order to fully turn to Allah and submit peacefully from the bottom of my heart. May this story touches your heart as it was able to touch mine and allows you to increase in Iman and Yaqeen. Ameen
This is the story of Julie
I met Julie for the first time in May 2010 in Australia few weeks after moving there. I believe the decree of Allah was for me to become deeply attached to her from our first meeting. We do not truly choose our friends but Allah’s plan is always perfect. When I first invited Julie to share dinner at my place I did not expect anything else than having a nice time with a French girl living in Australia like me. I was indeed really lonely and I took the opportunity to meet her even though she was not Muslim. At that time, my faith was challenged by the fact of being a new Muslim and living in a non-Muslim country.
What comes next, astonished me!
After talking to Julie for a few minutes I mentioned that my French name was indeed Julie, just the same as hers. She questioned me about the reason why I had decided to change my name for Jannah and I told her I had become Muslim recently. This left her totally surprised as she had never talked to a French girl like her who would choose Islam as her way of life. But what troubled her more was the fact we had the same first name!
After few more minutes we also realized that we had exactly the same age…
While exchanging more information about our lives then also discovered that our family backgrounds were similar with divorced parents and no brother and sister…
We finally found out that both our mothers were called Dominique!!!- Subhanallah!
At that point, I remember her sitting back in the sofa and looking at me, her eyes full of tears…
The picture became clear and we now knew that we were meant to meet each other! She could have been me and I could have been her! SubbhanaAllah!
She then informed me that she was sitting in front of me; seeking for help. Julie had recently found out that she was suffering from skin cancer and that her life span was for only 1 year (according to the doctors…)
I could not believe what I had just heard! But what surprised me more was when she asked me to teach her about Islam. She was sincerely looking for the truth and now knowing that I was a Muslim, she wanted to know all about it.
My first reaction was to stand up and grab the French translation of Quran that I had. I really felt deprived as my knowledge was so limited and I barely knew anything about my religion. That is when I also secretly decided to study Islam and Allah’s book.
I invited her to join me to the Islamic classes that were held in the Gold Coast Mosque every Saturday. This way she could ask questions to the Imam who was teaching there and I could also learn from him. She attended two classes, and stopped- but I believe that Allah had other plans, those which we never expected.
Our journey as very good friends continued and I remember her calling me very often to talk about Islam with me. I was still going for classes and my knowledge was growing every day more, gradually bringing me closer to Allah. As days went by, Julie’s eagerness to learn about Islam also grew. For the next few months we both stayed very close. She needed me to hold her hand during the visits to the doctors, to give her a smile when she was closing her bank accounts and waiting in long queues at the health care center for paper works. Julie would keep smiling and preparing her last day with so much courage! She thought I was a helpful companion for her in these difficult times, but she did not realize that she was indeed the best person I have ever met in this life!
I needed her more than she needed me…
Later on, when she started becoming weaker, we used to gather at her place, eat sushi and ponder upon the beauty of nature, overlooking at the Australian’s flowers and birds from her balcony. Our minds were on the same line, travelling together hand by hand and constantly in the remembrance of Allah. We now loved each other for His sake!
Unfortunately, one day she smiled and gave me back the French translation of the Qur’an with no conviction in her eyes… I remember being so sad and upset with myself, to not have been able to show her the truth. But once again, Allah had planned something even better for the two of us.
In July 2010 she announced me her wedding to a French men who used to be her boyfriend. Obviously, I was invited along with all her family members who travelled from France for this occasion! A simple ceremony was organized in a rush with the only French pastor she found in town. Of course I never stopped praying for her to become a Muslim but she had decided to get married under Christianity as her family members told her to do so.
This wedding was again part of Allah’s plan for us.
After her wedding Julie travelled for her honey moon. And I got busy with the approaching month of Ramadan.
I turned to Allah trying my best to focus on my ibadah. I remember making a lot of dua for her- for her guidance. During that blessed month of Ramadan she continuously stayed in my mind. When I would recite Quran, and come across any ayah of guidance or anything which would remind me of her, I would send it to her through email. But I never received a reply…
One day during the last ten days of Ramadan, seeking for Lailatul Qader, my phone rang. It was Julie’s husband. My heart skipped a beat and prayed that I hope all is well-Inshallah. He informed me that Julie was very sick; she had been admitted to the hospital waiting for the last day of her life. He also mentioned that she had read all my emails and that she was now ready to become a Muslim!
I can’t even describe how I felt hearing this news! I was between extreme happiness and deep sadness…
I rushed to the hospital and when I entered her room, I almost chocked to see how the doctors had wrapped all her body in white. The tumors had spread all over her body that even her head was covered with a white bandage. I though into my mind, that Allah had given her the best hijab on that day. I was told she had very little time now. I could not recognize her at all… it was hard to believe that in few weeks she had become so affected. When she saw me, she smiled at me and asked me “how do you become a Muslim?” I tried holding my tears and explained her about the shahada (following the instructions given to me earlier by the Imam of the mosque). She was ready! Yes, she was ready to repeat the shahada after me in French!
Julie struggled a lot to stay awake and repeat each word after me… It was for me as if I was giving my shahada for the first time! After a lot of effort, from her, she did become Muslim! I was myself exhausted and crying. She then asked me; “Are you sure I am Muslim?” this is where; I understood that she had truly accepted the truth! Allahu Akbar! Deep down my heart, I also felt I had accepted it as well for the first time…
I was asked to leave her as the doctors informed me she needed to rest now. I decided to come back the next day, to teach her all about Ramadan and its blessings. But sadly, there was no next day for her!
Julie passed away two days after becoming Muslim… Her husband stayed beside her until the last beat of her heart. She had a strange but a very beautiful smile on the face No one in the hospital could believe that a patient whose brain was so affected could be smiling that way. Allah had the best plan for her! And so for me!
She lay there, eyes closed, as if she was only sleeping, like a new born baby… Completely covered with white bandage, lying on this hospital bed, waiting to meet her Lord…
All part of Allah’s plan. SubhanAllah!
The story did not end there. Julie’s husband continued seeking for the truth after her death and recently in June 2012, he became Muslim as well as his new wife Marie who is now called Maryam…
May Allah increases all the Muslims in Iman and Yaqeen and grant all of us the highest level of Paradise.
Ameen "
Source : http://www.islamicic.com/list-of-articles/the-perfection-of-allahs-plan
Allah has a key for every problem , a light for every shadow , relief for every tear and a plan for every tomorrow...
So , you have to believe in Allah's (SWT) plan for you .. you can be a fighter but your strength comes from your faith in allah's plan :)
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