Letter 16
In the Name of God
Dear Hasanat
I would like to tell you that I am not annoyed by your letters. They have helped me to accomplish my religious duty.
Now concerning your question; suppose you see a small girl living in a society, which opens no door for her, whereby she might gain knowledge. She neither reads nor writes and has seen no fashion magazines. Then you see this same girl claiming that she herself has designed the latest fashion. Would anyone believe her? Of course not. They consider her too young and ignorant of any fashion principles. She can neither read nor has she ever been to the big Fashion Houses. How could she design such outfits? Thus, there must have been some one clever enough to have designed it for her. Everyone will know that the little girl was not the designer.
In regard to Gods mission to mankind, we know that a truthful man was born and bred in the Arab Peninsula, in the desert, that lacked the least scientific information and art or literature. He never left his birthplace except once or twice when he was a boy and accompanied the merchant’s caravans the same as the others did. He never attended schools for studying either ancient or current civilizations. Yet he suddenly produced a miraculous Book of logic and eloquence.
Despite the eloquence of the Arab language, they were stunned at its high level. One of their men (who was against the Qur'anic verse) said on hearing it, “By God, I have listened to words, which are neither of man nor of spirits (Jinns). They are sweet with flavor, fruitful and fresh. Superior to all, and which destroy whatever is below it.”
The Qur'an is a miracle on various levels. It has mentioned the events of previous religions, such as are clear in other religions, and their books, even though the Prophet had never read those books and he was illiterate.
This is made clear in the following Qur'anic verses: “And you were not on the Western side when We revealed to Musa (Moses) the commandment, and you were not among the witness;”
“But We raised up generations, then life became prolonged to them; and you were not dwelling among the people of Madyan, reciting to them Our communications, but We were the Senders.”
“And you were not on the side of the mountain when We called, but a mercy from your Lord that you may warn a people to whom no warner came before you, that they may be mindful.” Surah Al-Qasas: 44-46.
What is quite clear is that past incidents were not copied if anyone might make such a claim. The Qur'an mentions the events in their true form free from distortion or alteration.
The Qur'an relates those incidents positively, not for the sake of merely mentioning them. The Qur'an prophesied events that were improbable then but which later came true, as with its reference to the defeated Roman army by the Persians. This caused the Muslims 'great sadness' since the Roman's were people of the Book, whilst the Persians were (at that time) pagans.
The Qur'anic verse says: “The Romans are vanquished,In
a near land, and after being vanquished, shall overcome within a few years.” Surah Ar- Rum: 2-3.
You see a few years, (according to Arab Terminology) cannot exceed ten years. And what the Qur'an foretold came true nine years later. Doesn't such information make you sure that the message of Islam is Divine? As for the scientific miracles contained in the Qur'an, you should consider the following blessed verse:
“And We send the winds fertilizing, then send down water from the cloud“ Surah
Hijir: 22.
Scientific progress has only recently discovered that the winds play a major role in fertilizing the plants. An English Orientalist, a Professor of Arabic language in Oxford University refers to this fact and says, “…the camel's people knew centuries ago that the winds fecund the plants, prior to this scientific discovery in Europe.”
Science has also proved that the earth is getting smaller day-by-day and that it is shrinking ever since it was splitted from the sun and got colder. Its surface is cracking, volcanoes, earthquakes and gravity and air pressure causes it to get smaller. This is a recent scientific discovery, but the Qur'an referred to it fourteen centuries ago. The Qur’anic verse says:
“Do they not see that We are bringing destruction upon the land by curtailing it of its sides? And Allah pronounces a doom, there is no repeller of His decree, and He is swift to take account.” Surah Ra’d: 41
“When the sun is covered,” Surah Al Takwir: 1
Only recently has science made die discovery that the sun is burning, like a candle, and is fading away. One day its heat will be exhausted, because of the continuous explosions within it. Hence the sun will vanish the same as the other stars and planets.
I don't want to bother you by making my letter longer, to make you sure of this subject, I recommend that you read ‘The Qur’anic Phenomenon’ by the Algerian writer, Malik Ibn Nabi.
Wishing you every good,
Mustafa.
Rihab read the letter several times. She placed her head on the table and cried bitterly. With each tear she recalled the horrible image of her crime, and her difficult situation. She viewed her new situation for the first time. She felt that she was not the same person who had taken the first step in this plot. She was a new person even though she still had the same appearance. She was filled with remorse and sobbed and sobbed.
Rehab was not aware of her sister Hasanat who had heard her and hurried to her room. Hasanat was worried that something had caused her to want to retreat from the path of Islam. She entered the room and took her sister in her arms. She kissed her gently and asked why she was crying.
Rihab could not answer. Her sister's affection increased her agony.
Hasanat said to her, “Please Rihab, be kind to me, I am your sister, I cannot bear to see you crying...”
At last Rihab stopped and threw her head on her sister's shoulder.
Hasanat spoke kindly to her to calm her down. She saw the letter with the address of Rihab's friend on the table. She thought that perhaps it had something to do with Rihab's sadness. She said to her, “Did your letter bring bad news? What nice handwriting! I don't think that its writer could hurt others, your friend has good taste in friends.”
Rihab could not keep silent any longer. She burst into tears saying, “I am a criminal, I am unjust, I do not deserve your love.”
Hasanat thought that Rihab was referring to those days when she was unfriendly. She said, “Forget it dear sister. You are now on your way to perfection. You need to take just one more step and then you will be better than I. The one who repents is as pure as the one without sin.”
Rihab asked, “Am I worthy of God's forgiveness?”
Hasanat said, “Yes. Prophetic narration states that, ‘However many sins a person commits, then he/she repents, God will forgive him/her. God loves those who repent.’ God not only forgives you, He also loves you and He is happy with your repentance. Imam Al-Sadiq (AS) says: ‘God rejoices at the repentance of His slaves as one rejoices at finding something lost.’
The Qur'anic verse says:
‘Surely Allah loves those who turn much to (Him), and He loves those who purify themselves.’ -Surah Al-Baqarah: 222.
Then how can you doubt God's acceptance of your repentance when you obey His orders?”
Rihab became quiet, she considered her sister's great help to her, and listened attentively, forgetting her own problematic situation. She said, “What step do you mean?”
Hasanat said, “I mean the head cover, the decent hijab. You believe in the Qur'an, don't you? Haven't you read those verses about Hijab in Surah Al Nur? You know the Qur'an is the message from Heaven. It is for us to regulate our lives by and to achieve happiness here and in the hereafter.”
Hasant's words were effective enough to awaken Rihab and make her feel her painful situation. She was quite sure that the Qur'an is the message from Heaven, but how could she achieve such faith?
Rihab was sure that Hasanat would not help her, if she had known the truth (about the false letters).
Yet Hasanat continued talking about the decent clothes and the social benefits of keeping a woman's body, properly covered.
Rihab wanted to know more about the hijab. She was thinking of wearing it herself. After listening to her sister she said, “Isn't the hijab an old Persian tradition?”
Hasanat said, “Not at all. The Qur'anic verses about hijab were revealed years prior to the conquest of Persia. It was before any contact with its people. Anyway the hijab recommended by Islam is quite different from the traditional Persian one. The hijab is just a protection as a shelter, not a curtain or barrier that prevents woman from performing her role. The ancient Persian kept women behind the veil. You can be sure if you read the Qur'anic verses in Surah Al-Nur: 30-31, which say:
“Say to the believing men that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts.
And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts and do not display their ornaments except what appears thereof, and let them wear their head-coverings over their bosoms, and not display their ornaments except to their husbands or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons….”
“So why are women believers ordered to cast down their looks if they are separated from society and social performance of their role in life? A man is ordered to cast down his looks, which means there is a woman near him, and women are ordered to do that also, which means there is a man near them.
Hence in order not to create sexual and social choas or stir up the feelings of both sexes, the religion of Islam has ordered the decent covering of women as a means for their protection. Preventing woman from performing her role in society or keeping her behind a curtain could cause a lot of psychological and mental disorders. With the decent covering, it is quite possible for a woman to perform her role, side by side with men.
The hijab prevents lots of social problems and disasters that are to be found in societies where there are no limits placed upon the mixing of men and women.” Hasanat stopped talking for a while. She waited for her sister to voice her own opinion. Rihab said, “Some say that the 'hijab' is something which came from the monks. It is an image of austerity and a denial of life’s pleasures.”
'Woman is a part of man's enjoyment; hence man has imposed the hijab on her to comply with the difficult life he has experienced.”
Hasanat rejected the idea, saying, “I am sorry to say that you have listened to a lot of distorted information concerning the Islamic decent dress. Islam has never denied the human being, life's pleasures, and has never called people to monasticism or the non-enjoyment of life.
On the contrary, Islam wants man to enjoy life. Once the Prophet (PBUH) saw a man in dirty clothes with untidy hair and a rough appearance, he said to him, “Religion is to enjoy life.”
What the Prophet meant is that life's bounties are created for the sake of man.
Imam Ali (AS) says: “God isBeauty,
He loves the beautiful.” Imam Al-Sadiq (AS) says, “God has bestowed on you His bounties, do not hide them.”
When he was asked, how, he answered, “Each of you must be clean and with good perfume. His home must be bright and his walls white, his clothes clean. This will increase his earnings.”
Hasanat went on, “Three women complained to the Prophet (PBUH). One of them said, ‘My husband does not eat meat.’
The second said, ‘My husband does not use perfume.’
The third said, ‘My husband does not touch me.’
The Prophet (PBUH) was sad. He went to the Mosque, got on the pulpit and said, “Some of my companions do not eat meat, or use perfume or enjoy a relationship with their women. Yet I eat meat, use perfume and enjoy my women. Anyone who does not follow my course has nothing to do with me.’
The Prophet (PBUH) used to keep his hair tidy. He looked in a water pot in place of a mirror before he met his companions. He used to say: God loves His slave to look neat and beautiful in front of his companions.’ Thus you see that Islam does not order monasticism or the denial of life's pleasures. Hijab bears no relation to such claims, as Islam is against monastic ideas. I'll give you a book about chastity, its positive and negative aspects. You can also learn more about the decent covering and the harmfulness of nakedness.
Anyway I have a surprise for you. I have prepared an Islamic suit (hijab) for you, when you are ready you can have it. I hope f won't have to wait long,”
On hearing such words, Rihab grew calm again. Hasanat talked about other things and then left her sister's room. Rihab noticed that her sister gazed at the letter on her desk before she left.
Hasanat returned to her room.
She threw herself on a chair and murmured, “I'm sure I know the handwriting on that letter! It is familiar to me! It looks like Mustafa's handwriting. I remember his words in a book he gave to his sister as a present. Yes, I still have the book I borrowed from Zainab.”
She got up and went to the bookshelves to look for it. She soon found it. She opened it and looked carefully at the handwriting. She fell on to a nearby chair saying, “Oh my God! It is the same handwriting! Could it be so similar? How could that have happened? What has Mustafa to do with Rihab's friend? Oh no! Surely, I am wrong!
Many people's handwriting looks the same. Anyway, what does it mean? Has the letter anything to do with Rihab's pain and sufferings? Yet, I cannot imagine Mustafa's insincerity! Why should I?”
She took a book and sat reading, but couldn't take in a word. Her thoughts were busy with the letter, the handwriting… She tried to sleep but failed. She kept thinking and thinking. She spent nearly three hours in her room, then Rihab came. She was happy to have her company, so that she would not have black thoughts.
Rihab stood near her and said, “I have come to ask for…”
“What...?” said Hasanat. “I would like the Islamic suit that you have prepared for me. I have decided to wear the decent covering from today.”
Hasanat's face brightened. She got up, kissed her and went to her cupboard. She got the Islamic Hijab and gave it happily to her.
Rihab took it with many thanks. She said, “I will always use it. I hope you won't ever leave me dear sister.”
Hasanat was bewildered at her sister's words. She said, “How could I do that? Why do you say such athing.
This will never happen whatever the reason be.”
Rihab said, “Even if you discover something about my past?”
Hasanat answered firmly, “Whatever I learn about your past, won't change me as long as you are clean and pure now.”
But Rihab persisted, “Even if I did you some wrong?”
Hasanat said, “Even so. I am happy with your return to Islamic values. This equals all the wrongs of the past. You are my belovedsister,
how can I hate you?”
“I do hope so” said Rihab “Yet I am not worthy of your love. Anyway thanks a lot.” She left the room with tears in her eyes.
Hasanat was amazed at her behavior and the letter and the handwriting.
Rihab sat thinking in her room. She made up her mind to end the shameful game. She was ready to face the result whatever it might be. She took up her pen and wrote a new page in her new life. She began to write to Mustafa:
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Author: Ayatullah Makarim Shirazi
