Happy Birthday

It was the most unlikely of times, yet God had planned it that we would meet in this blessed land. We were born in the same country, but were living in different continents. One would think that it would be more probable that our paths would cross in our home country. But God had planned it that we would meet not only in Mecca, but during the holy time of Hajj.

Although we were each on our own spiritual paths; unbeknownst to us, we were travelling to the same holy places together and toiling under the same boiling heat. Each of us bearing our own baggage and seeking Allah’s Mercy. Perhaps our eyes may have had fleetingly met, not knowing that very soon, those eyes would mean something different.

He was very tall and naturally stood out in the crowd. But it was his smile and friendly face that caught my eyes. Naturally this was followed by the practical assumption that he probably belonged to someone already. And I did not think much of him after that.

I was in need of peaceful acceptance of the past and present. I not only wanted to move on, but I wanted to be happy being alone. I was lonel,y but I had embraced it stoically, already promising myself I would return each year as a volunteer doctor. After all, who needs a man when I can come to Hajj every year?

But Allah is All-Knowing – and He is Al-Mujeeb, the one who Answers our du’as. Allah fulfilled me of needs that even I was not cognizant of. Alhamdulillah.

Even though we were thousands of miles apart, the distance did not matter. We talked almost every single night, and I began to feel the yearn of wanting to be near him. His voice soothed my worries and sent tingles down my spine.

With each passing day, the ache that had taken root had lifted, and suddenly my heart was full of him. I was filled with wonder that I could meet someone like him and that he would take any interest in me at all.

This love - it was different from before. It was a love that gravitated towards God. And it made it wholesome and complete. I began to understand how God can place love and mercy between two people. I wanted to ease his aches. When he told me he became physically ill during a tough time in his life – I wished I was there to embrace him and take his pain away.

I knew the moment everything changed for me. I was telling him about my sister - how it was tough for me to bring her out alone sometimes. And he replied with these two words, “Bring me.” The simplicity of his reply, so ready and obvious floored me. 

And just like that, he had me.

The first time we prayed together – I felt a sense of tranquility wash over me. It was then that I was sure that I wanted to marry him. That was two months after our fateful meeting.

Now it’s three weeks before we will get married insyaAllah. And this is what I said to him on his birthday.

My dear Ashraf,

I love you right here, in here, deep down in my soul.

You have a gentle soul, my love.

You have a beautiful heart, my lover.

You have eyes that look through me and touch the core of me.

Today you turn 36 and you have come so far. I cherish every moment that we have had together. I look forward to more. I’m so grateful to God for so many things. I’m grateful for your affection and love. I’m thankful that you see me and hear me. I want you to know that I appreciate who you are and what you’ve become today. I want to have children and grow old with you. I want to come back to where we first met - this time both of us seeking our salvation together. You are the light that lights my smile, that spring in my step and that twinkle in my eye. Happy Birthday my Ashraf. I love you. 

Your Munirah