There is a unique joy in enjoying nature during the month of Ramadan. Without worrying about food or drink, one can simply find peace in the beauty of creation. It was with this thought in mind that, on a Ramadan afternoon, I sat beneath a lush, dense tree in a picturesque meadow near a beautiful forest. The deep green trees around me swayed in the gusty winds, casting shadows under the snow-capped peaks in the distance. Colourful birds perched on the branches, singing melodies that filled the air with a sense of harmony and delight.
Lost in the mesmerizing sights of nature, I pondered over the craftsmanship of the Creator when, suddenly, a stranger approached me. He appeared to be a foreigner. Smiling warmly, he extended his hand for a handshake and sat down before me. Though I preferred solitude in the company of nature over conversation with people, his friendly demeanour and inviting smile caught my attention.
The young man was quite handsome, with long black hair cascading down his neck and striking green eyes that sparkled with charm. His pink lips, accentuated by his warm smile, made him even more captivating. Observing him, I realized that among all the wonders of nature, the most fascinating miracle is, indeed, the human being.
However, another observation made me slightly uneasy. The young man held some food and drink in his hands, leading me to suspect that he might have a question. But before I could ask, he, being sharp-witted, noticed the curiosity in my eyes and introduced himself.
“I am Hira Sarkozy. I live in Japan and just arrived in this valley today. It’s a pleasure meeting you,” he said with enthusiasm, shaking my hand again.
“Welcome! It’s a pleasure to meet you too,” I responded.
He then offered me some food, to which I smiled and replied, “I’m fasting.”
Hearing this, he looked at me in astonishment as if he had never encountered such a thing before. “Fasting? What do you mean?” he asked.
“You don’t know? In our religion, Islam, fasting for a month every year is obligatory,” I said, surprised, as I had assumed everyone in the world was aware of this practice. But he simply smiled and shook his head.
“I really don’t know anything about this because I have no interest in any religion,” he said.
Realizing he was an atheist, I thought to myself that this was a golden opportunity to introduce him to Islam. If, through me, he found the right path during this blessed month, I would surely earn great rewards. Just as I was about to speak, he suddenly asked,
“So, do you really go all day without eating?”
“Yes.”
“Not even in secret?”
His question seemed absurd to me, and I chuckled. “How could I hide from God? He is everywhere. He is not only outside but also within us, aware of our thoughts and emotions.”
Upon hearing this, his eyes filled with a strange yet deep fascination. Looking straight into my eyes, he said,
“Then I must be truly fortunate! I have been searching for an ideal country where people are constantly aware of accountability. A place where justice is exemplary, where dishonesty, bribery, fraud, deception, and corruption are nonexistent. A place where people don’t waste time in meaningless gossip but instead dedicate themselves to hard work, honesty, and sincerity. Perhaps I have finally found what I was looking for. Maybe your country is exactly what I had hoped for.”
Hearing these words, I suddenly felt my throat go dry. My tongue seemed incapable of forming any more words. Deep within, I wished the subject of our conversation would change, for, inexplicably, I had begun to feel a deep sense of embarrassment.
Hilal Bukhari
bu*****************@***il.com