So whoever Allah wants to guide – He expands his breast to [contain] Islam [Surah Al-An’am: 125]
World renowned Mufti Taqi Usmani (may Allah Almighty preserve him) narrates a story from his own experience, in one of his talks in Hong kong, regarding the power of supplication and du’a.
He says that once a man from Germany wrote a letter to him.
The man was from Pakistan who emigrated to Germany to earn livelihood. Soon after moving there, he started a relationship with a German woman who was a Christian. The man was not troubled by the fact that she was a Christian and he was a Muslim. In fact, at that time he did not care about religion and religious activities. He was more concerned about earning money and spending it, however he wished, than following the commands of his Creator.
His life continued running smoothly.
One day his German wife gave birth to a child. With the passing of time, the child began to grow.
One day, when the child became of the age of understanding and learning, the man came home to find that his wife was teaching Christianity to his child. The man says: “When I witnessed that, immediately, the “Muslim” within me awoke. I was perplexed and I felt a jolt in my conscience.”
This incident marked as a turning point in his life. Since then, he began to perform his daily prayers. Meanwhile, his wife continued to teach Christianity to his child.
One day he decided to confront his wife. He said to her:
“Don’t teach Christianity to my child. Because, it is not the proper religion. The proper religion is Islam”.
His wife countered:
“What makes you believe that Islam is proper and Christianity is wrong? Do you have any proof?”.
The man could not provide her with a satisfactory answer, as he himself did not have sufficient knowledge about Islam.
This incident made him more anxious and worried. The thought of seeing his own flesh and blood growing up as a follower of any other religion than Islam made him restless and depressed.
He decided to write a letter to Mufti Taqi Usmani, describing his circumstances in details and sought advice and guidance.
The respected Mufti saheb advised him to avoid confrontation with his wife regarding religion and, instead, to treat her with love and affection. Mufti Saheb added: “Argument has never solved anything.” Mufti saheb also sent a copy of his book, What is Christianity, and advised him to request his wife to make a supplication every night before going to bed. The supplication is: “O my Lord, if Christianity is right, keep me steadfast on this religion. On the other hand, if Islam is right, guide me to Islam”.
Mufit Taqi Saheb says: “Having provided him with the above advice, I also prayed to Allah Almighty that : ‘O Allah, I have given the advice. Please, keep my honour’”.
After some time, the man sent another letter to Mufti saheb, keeping him updated regarding the circumstances in Germany. He wrote that he and his wife have made a pact that they will make the invocation regularly. He added, however, that he has not witnessed any change in her behaviour, as she continued teaching Christianity to their child.
Mufti Taqi saheb replied to him that: “Don’t worry! Continue with supplication. If not forever, at least for forty days successively.”
After a short period, a third letter arrived to Mufti Taqi saheb.
The man wrote:
Mufti saheb,
People have believed in Allah based on various matters, e.g. logic, proofs etc. However, I have believed in Allah by seeing Him with my own eyes.
One day my wife had gone to University to attend one of her classes. I also went with her. On the way back, I was sitting next to her. We drove for some time. Suddenly, my wife turned the vehicle around and came to a halt. Then, she covered her face with her hands and began to cry incessantly. I was gobsmacked. I tried to comfort her and asked, ‘What is the matter? Why are you crying? Has something terrible happened?’ She replied, ‘No, nothing happened. I’m fine… Please make me a Muslim.’
I could not believe my own ears. Taken aback by the response of my wife, I was thinking, ‘Is this really my wife? The woman who was a devout Christian and only a few days ago was confronting me about the propriety of Islam?!’ However, I was overjoyed by the fact that my wife has at last found the true way of life.
Mufti Taqi saheb says that, with the third letter from the man, a letter also arrived from the German wife who thanked him for teaching her the correct way to find the truth.