Sarah got up early in the morning at 5 o’clock. It was time for prayers and she wanted to go for her walk. Today at work there was a presentation for which she had worked on the past one month. It was an important day for her. After saying her prayers and reading her Quran Shariff, she wears her track suit, wraps her scarf around her head and picks up her mobile. Jogging down Madison Avenue, she reaches Central Park and starts her run. Oh it felt good to run and exercise her body. At twenty eight she looked eighteen. The face had the youthful look of a young maiden but if one glanced twice, her eyes held more than the number of years one assumed.
Reaching the lake, she let herself jog on spot. Soon, her heart beats calmed down and she sat on the bench taking in the beautiful view. Closing her eyes she meditated. Today, Today was very important. A lot of things held at stack. It was a million dollar deal. If she got this account, she was going to be a partner. A partner!
Looking back on how she started, she remembered going in for a receptionist job at the consulting firm of Ronald’s and Partners. She had always worn her scarf. Being a convert to Islam at the age of sixteen, she had faced much discrimination by her ‘friends’ in school and family. If it hadn’t been for her Muslim friends, she would have turned back. They had held her hand and asked her to persevere. She remembered sharing her fears with Mehrun-nisa, her close friend who had helped her in understanding Islam. Mehrun-nisa told her one line that changed her attitude forever. “When Almighty Allah is with you, do you need to be scared of anything?” That had done it. Truly, when God was with her, she didn’t have to be scared of anything or anyone.
She boldly wore her scarf and walked to school the next day. It hadn’t been easy. She was jeered, her friends abandoned her and her teachers also started behaving differently. She had come home that day in tears. She shut herself in her room and asked herself if being a Muslim was really worth it. “was being a Muslim really worth it?!” she thought. “How can I even think of it after understanding the beautiful religion and after my heart has truly acknowledged it to be the way of life God has chosen for all” No, she had not given up. The next day she went to school with her head high, proud to be a Muslim. She would be kind to those who didn’t know and were teasing her out of ignorance, but if any malicious person tried to harm her, they will know never to mess with a black belt.
She walked in class confidently. The previous day, the math’s teacher had ignored her questions and answered her with contempt. That day, she asked him all her doubts confidently. She ignored his tone at the first few questions and spoke in a friendly, eager to learn student tone. After the fifth question, the math’s teacher quit his judgmental tone and genuinely started answering her. She had done the same with all her other subjects. She had been a popular student. She had been one of the cheerleaders for their school. Everyone had envied her; the girl thought either she was too beautiful or too proud. After accepting Islam, Sarah left all her false pride. She became approachable; everyone would turn to her for help. They couldn’t help but notice the change.
She graduated high school with an A. Her parents had never accepted the fact that their daughter had left their catholic faith for Islam. At seventeen, they told her clearly that they would not sponsor her university studies if she did not give up Islam. She had tried to reason with them but they were adamant.
She left home at seventeen; single, penniless and with just a small suitcase. She called Mehrunnisa. She did not like being at someone’s mercy but then she didn’t know where to turn to. Mehrunnisa came immediately to pick her up. Her father was the grocer and she had known them since she was a child. He told her he would get in touch with his brother who stayed in Queens in New York State. “He will be able to help you get a job. He has a car garage and he knows many people there”. They paid her bus fare for her. When she reached New York she was overwhelmed by the large buildings. Everyone was so busy and so impersonal. They all seemed in a world of their own. They didn’t smile and say ‘Hi!’ on the streets like they did back home. No, New York was the place for people with a goal. No one cared about who you were, were you were from or what religion you followed. All they cared was your work. Sarah felt herself safe in the anonymity, lost in the millions of people.
She had worked for a month at the garage. It was a jack of all trade kind of a garage. Car wash, repair and mechanic and sale of used cars. Mehrunnisa’s uncle was kind and he had even let her stay with his family in their one bedroom apartment in Queens. His wife, Nisreen had taken care of her like a daughter and even taught her how to read Arabic.
It was in the second month of her job that she came across the advert of Ronald’s and Partners. They needed a receptionist. The next day she went in for the interview. As she got down from the train and walked into midtown, she was scared they might not give her the job because she was wearing a long grey skirt, a white full sleeved shirt and a grey scarf that matched with her skirt. She dressed smartly in the Islamic way. As she pushed the doors of Ronald’s, her heart beat accelerated but once she stepped in, she heard Mehrunnisa’s words: “When Almighty Allah is with you, do you need to be scared of anything?” An inner confidence lit in her heart as she confidently went to the receptionist and smiled at her “Hi, I’m here for the receptionist job. Whom shall I see?” The receptionist had given her a dismissal look and asked her to be seated. She was finally ushered in; her interview was taken by none other than Mr. Ronald Beacon. He was the captain of the ship and he had been surprised to see such a young beautiful American girl dressed up like a nun. He was a righteous man. He had never discriminated anyone based on their religion. His grandfather after all had been persecuted by the Nazi’s for being a Jew. He knew how horrible it felt. As he started talking to Sarah, he couldn’t help but notice her confidence and the way she carried herself with poise. He liked her and he believed she was an honest girl. She looked terribly young and he felt a fatherly instinct to protect her. Somehow he didn’t want to see her going up and down looking for a job. He knew how bad the city was and God only knew what would happen to this young girl. He hired her. A decision he would be happy for many years to come.
That was ten years ago. Sarah had worked each day sincerely and with hard work. One day, one of the junior consultants had left for his vacation and his client file was not closed. The client was waiting to meet him and Sarah didn’t know what to do. She quickly went through the existing file, came up with a few suggestions and talked to the client herself. The client was very impressed. He told her he would like her to be his consultant from then onwards. When Mr. Beacon heard about how she had handled the situation, he had been extremely pleased and promoted her as a junior consultant. That was the only leap Sarah needed. From then onwards, it was the success of one project to another that got her where she was today. From Queens to Manhattan and from a receptionist to may be a partner, should she get this account.
Today, Today was an important day. She got up from the bench feeling fresh and ready to face the day. Reaching her apartment, she got ready for work. She decided to wear her cream formal dress. It was a long cream skirt and jacket with a matching scarf. She looked professional and serious. Yes, this was the look she wanted.
As she pushed the doors of Ronald and Partners, the same kind of fear came over her, when she had come the first day, ten years ago. She smiled to herself and remembered her dear friend’s words “When you have Almighty Allah with you, do you need to be scared of anything?”
She walked with quick steady steps to the conference room and set up her laptop. She saw to it that the machinery was working and then went over her file. The client arrived. She welcomed them with a warm smile and after they were seated, she began her presentation. She was confident and direct. She had done her homework and had the answers to all their questions. She told them clearly what were the advantages plus the risks. That had been one factor that her clients admired her. She was honest to the point. As she closed her presentation, the client opened the contract file and signed it. He got up and handed it to her saying “We want you to work with us on this”. She had got the account!
After they left, she went to see Mr. Beacon. He had aged considerably in the past five years especially after the cancer. He smiled when he saw her. “Needless to say you have done it”. “Yes Mr. Beacon and here are the agreement papers. Congratulations.” She smiled at him. He pulled out the partnership papers from his draw and handed it to her. “Congratulations to you to young lady”. “You had already signed them?” she asked in disbelief. “Irrespective of whether you got that account or not, I was going to make you a partner. You have earned it and much more”. Sarah was touched. She was left speechless seeing the kind of trust Mr. Beacon had in her. “Thank you” she said with gratitude.
As she left his office she truly understood the meaning of how if one puts their trust in their Lord, He takes care of them. She had been young, homeless and vulnerable ten years back and today, she was a partner of a million dollar firm. As she opened the door of her cabin, she smiled with happiness. “Thank you Lord. Thank you so much.”
Reaching the lake, she let herself jog on spot. Soon, her heart beats calmed down and she sat on the bench taking in the beautiful view. Closing her eyes she meditated. Today, Today was very important. A lot of things held at stack. It was a million dollar deal. If she got this account, she was going to be a partner. A partner!
Looking back on how she started, she remembered going in for a receptionist job at the consulting firm of Ronald’s and Partners. She had always worn her scarf. Being a convert to Islam at the age of sixteen, she had faced much discrimination by her ‘friends’ in school and family. If it hadn’t been for her Muslim friends, she would have turned back. They had held her hand and asked her to persevere. She remembered sharing her fears with Mehrun-nisa, her close friend who had helped her in understanding Islam. Mehrun-nisa told her one line that changed her attitude forever. “When Almighty Allah is with you, do you need to be scared of anything?” That had done it. Truly, when God was with her, she didn’t have to be scared of anything or anyone.
She boldly wore her scarf and walked to school the next day. It hadn’t been easy. She was jeered, her friends abandoned her and her teachers also started behaving differently. She had come home that day in tears. She shut herself in her room and asked herself if being a Muslim was really worth it. “was being a Muslim really worth it?!” she thought. “How can I even think of it after understanding the beautiful religion and after my heart has truly acknowledged it to be the way of life God has chosen for all” No, she had not given up. The next day she went to school with her head high, proud to be a Muslim. She would be kind to those who didn’t know and were teasing her out of ignorance, but if any malicious person tried to harm her, they will know never to mess with a black belt.
She walked in class confidently. The previous day, the math’s teacher had ignored her questions and answered her with contempt. That day, she asked him all her doubts confidently. She ignored his tone at the first few questions and spoke in a friendly, eager to learn student tone. After the fifth question, the math’s teacher quit his judgmental tone and genuinely started answering her. She had done the same with all her other subjects. She had been a popular student. She had been one of the cheerleaders for their school. Everyone had envied her; the girl thought either she was too beautiful or too proud. After accepting Islam, Sarah left all her false pride. She became approachable; everyone would turn to her for help. They couldn’t help but notice the change.
She graduated high school with an A. Her parents had never accepted the fact that their daughter had left their catholic faith for Islam. At seventeen, they told her clearly that they would not sponsor her university studies if she did not give up Islam. She had tried to reason with them but they were adamant.
She left home at seventeen; single, penniless and with just a small suitcase. She called Mehrunnisa. She did not like being at someone’s mercy but then she didn’t know where to turn to. Mehrunnisa came immediately to pick her up. Her father was the grocer and she had known them since she was a child. He told her he would get in touch with his brother who stayed in Queens in New York State. “He will be able to help you get a job. He has a car garage and he knows many people there”. They paid her bus fare for her. When she reached New York she was overwhelmed by the large buildings. Everyone was so busy and so impersonal. They all seemed in a world of their own. They didn’t smile and say ‘Hi!’ on the streets like they did back home. No, New York was the place for people with a goal. No one cared about who you were, were you were from or what religion you followed. All they cared was your work. Sarah felt herself safe in the anonymity, lost in the millions of people.
She had worked for a month at the garage. It was a jack of all trade kind of a garage. Car wash, repair and mechanic and sale of used cars. Mehrunnisa’s uncle was kind and he had even let her stay with his family in their one bedroom apartment in Queens. His wife, Nisreen had taken care of her like a daughter and even taught her how to read Arabic.
It was in the second month of her job that she came across the advert of Ronald’s and Partners. They needed a receptionist. The next day she went in for the interview. As she got down from the train and walked into midtown, she was scared they might not give her the job because she was wearing a long grey skirt, a white full sleeved shirt and a grey scarf that matched with her skirt. She dressed smartly in the Islamic way. As she pushed the doors of Ronald’s, her heart beat accelerated but once she stepped in, she heard Mehrunnisa’s words: “When Almighty Allah is with you, do you need to be scared of anything?” An inner confidence lit in her heart as she confidently went to the receptionist and smiled at her “Hi, I’m here for the receptionist job. Whom shall I see?” The receptionist had given her a dismissal look and asked her to be seated. She was finally ushered in; her interview was taken by none other than Mr. Ronald Beacon. He was the captain of the ship and he had been surprised to see such a young beautiful American girl dressed up like a nun. He was a righteous man. He had never discriminated anyone based on their religion. His grandfather after all had been persecuted by the Nazi’s for being a Jew. He knew how horrible it felt. As he started talking to Sarah, he couldn’t help but notice her confidence and the way she carried herself with poise. He liked her and he believed she was an honest girl. She looked terribly young and he felt a fatherly instinct to protect her. Somehow he didn’t want to see her going up and down looking for a job. He knew how bad the city was and God only knew what would happen to this young girl. He hired her. A decision he would be happy for many years to come.
That was ten years ago. Sarah had worked each day sincerely and with hard work. One day, one of the junior consultants had left for his vacation and his client file was not closed. The client was waiting to meet him and Sarah didn’t know what to do. She quickly went through the existing file, came up with a few suggestions and talked to the client herself. The client was very impressed. He told her he would like her to be his consultant from then onwards. When Mr. Beacon heard about how she had handled the situation, he had been extremely pleased and promoted her as a junior consultant. That was the only leap Sarah needed. From then onwards, it was the success of one project to another that got her where she was today. From Queens to Manhattan and from a receptionist to may be a partner, should she get this account.
Today, Today was an important day. She got up from the bench feeling fresh and ready to face the day. Reaching her apartment, she got ready for work. She decided to wear her cream formal dress. It was a long cream skirt and jacket with a matching scarf. She looked professional and serious. Yes, this was the look she wanted.
As she pushed the doors of Ronald and Partners, the same kind of fear came over her, when she had come the first day, ten years ago. She smiled to herself and remembered her dear friend’s words “When you have Almighty Allah with you, do you need to be scared of anything?”
She walked with quick steady steps to the conference room and set up her laptop. She saw to it that the machinery was working and then went over her file. The client arrived. She welcomed them with a warm smile and after they were seated, she began her presentation. She was confident and direct. She had done her homework and had the answers to all their questions. She told them clearly what were the advantages plus the risks. That had been one factor that her clients admired her. She was honest to the point. As she closed her presentation, the client opened the contract file and signed it. He got up and handed it to her saying “We want you to work with us on this”. She had got the account!
After they left, she went to see Mr. Beacon. He had aged considerably in the past five years especially after the cancer. He smiled when he saw her. “Needless to say you have done it”. “Yes Mr. Beacon and here are the agreement papers. Congratulations.” She smiled at him. He pulled out the partnership papers from his draw and handed it to her. “Congratulations to you to young lady”. “You had already signed them?” she asked in disbelief. “Irrespective of whether you got that account or not, I was going to make you a partner. You have earned it and much more”. Sarah was touched. She was left speechless seeing the kind of trust Mr. Beacon had in her. “Thank you” she said with gratitude.
As she left his office she truly understood the meaning of how if one puts their trust in their Lord, He takes care of them. She had been young, homeless and vulnerable ten years back and today, she was a partner of a million dollar firm. As she opened the door of her cabin, she smiled with happiness. “Thank you Lord. Thank you so much.”
4 comments:
Faith above all instills deep within us strength, Hope, and the will to persist and pave our path through obstacles and through Faith in Allah is our light. Through the greatest of struggles come only the sweetest of rewards. Thank you Alefyah. This story holds within it the true depth of meaning and substance through which you inspire and motivate us all.
Farid: Thank you for your kind words! I tried to bring out two points in this story
1. Allah takes care of those who put their trust in Him
2. Why should you fear about anything or anyone when HE is with you.
I'm glad to hear it inspired you :-)
JazakaAllah.
Beautiful and true. Great job, dear.
Leila: Thank you and welcome! I'm glad you liked my story :-)
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