Imaan high!
The story of a revert mother-daughter from Australia.
Melissa Lucas and her 52 year old mother live in Australia. They were new reverts having a hard time and looking for an imaan boost. The story trails back to 2013 when Melissa was a member of “Hadith of the Day“, a social media group, and came across a competition trending online that could win them flight tickets for Umrah along with accommodation. The conditions were simple. You had to write why you thought you should win. The noble offer was for any 5 people who had limited funds to take their mothers along with them to do the Umrah Pilgrimage.
Encouraged by her mother who had a deep desire to see the house of Allah, Melissa entered the competition and as luck would have it, ended up with winning the tickets.
Encouraged by her mother who had a deep desire to see the house of Allah, Melissa entered the competition and as luck would have it, ended up with winning the tickets. The offer couldn’t have dropped into their kitty at a more appropriate time – just when they needed an imaan high!
Thrilled at the idea of getting to spend 5 days each in Mecca and Madina, the duo was on an all day high. Taking her brother long as their mahram, the long flight couldn’t dampen their mood.
“The place was nothing like I had ever seen before. Medina had a sense of tranquillity and I was in absolute awe”
They first went to Medina and were awestruck. “The place was nothing like I had ever seen before. No greenery was there like Australia but Medina had a sense of tranquillity and I was in absolute awe” muses Melissa. The divinity that engulfed her in the prophet’s (Muhammed SAW’s) masjid was something she could ever put out of her mind. Just engaging in worship and reflecting and taking in their surroundings kept them busy whole day, a time they loved spending to the core. Another memorable moment was when they were able to enter the rawdah.
The remaining connections between the mother-daughter were bonded over shopping which was an all out “lovely experience”. Having a wonderful time in Medina, they proceeded to Mecca and completed their Umrah at night. Sore feet and other uneasiness could not deter Melissa during the few hours it took to complete the pilgrimage. Instead she loved every minute of it and reflects on the feeling of oneness that washed among all sisters and brother in Islam, present around and making dua after dua to Allah swt.
“When I went back home, life went back to normal and I had the wonderful memories and my connection with Allah was more closer than ever.”
“It was an amazing experience. I must say one of my dua was asking for a husband and not just that, a specific person I had in mind if he were to be my husband. When I went back home, life went back to normal and I had the wonderful memories and my connection with Allah was more closer than ever. A few months later I got a proposal from the same man I made dua to Allah swt to grant me a husband. It was amazing” shares Melissa who has been happily married for 2 years now and looks forward to returning to the house of Allah for Hajj pilgrimage with her husband and daughter.
Her story just goes on to show how when you truly make dua, sincerely want to improve in deen and try your best, Allah does listen and if he wills, he grants your duas and envelopes you in his rehmat.
Why we are sharing this story?
You see, you have gazillion things to imbibe from it, a few being:
Allah does answer your prayers tiny or gigantic. So you gotta go on making dua in your style – verbally, mentally, in any language or expression that conveys it best.
Have a constant yearn to improve in ur practice of Islam. Don’t take advantage of being born into the religion. Work up your way to earn being worthy of this choice of Allah.
Don’t think it’s too late to try. If Melissa’s mother could try reverting and improving even in her 50’s, sure you could too. Remember Allah doesn’t want perfection but persistence so continue doing small stuff that take you a step closer to beloved Allah swt. (Tip: You can begin by simply smiling more often. You see, smiling is a sunnah, a simple bonus that, you never know, can earn your ticket to Jannah 🙂 )
Don’t think any prayer is small or silly for Allah. From asking for better marks in assignments to asking for a doting life partner, shed your inhibitions and ask your heart out.
Lastly, if Allah has blessed you with enough money, be a donor and come up with similar handles or competitions or draws to fund someone’s trip/pilgrimage/education/meal etc. just like donors on HOTD did for Melissa and 4 others like her. Be the much needed blessing in disguise from Allah SWT while you strive to look for one yourself.
You never know which act or kind word of yours may earn Allah’s kindness that leaves you and your loved ones wrapped in His protection and mercy from His wrath till as long as He please.
May Allah swt forgive all our sins and grant us all Jannatul Firdous! Ameen summa Ameen.
Source : hadithoftheday.com
Edited by : Zarafshan Shiraz
