Deceived

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

ا سَـــــــلاَمُ عَلَيــْــكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكـَـاتُه

What Reiichi thought a quiet and peaceful Sunday turned out to be the day he will not forget. Ever.

*****

Being a manager of a large company had make Reiichi a very busy man. Every week he would fly around the globe just to do business with foreign companies.

He recalled the day before when he received a visit from his old friend, Ren.

They were sitting together over their drinks, Ren took out a picture.

“It was very nice, travelling and spending time with you, Reiichi.” Ren smiled.

“Me too.” Reiichi grinned as he looked as the picture.

“How are you?”

“I’m good, thank you. I just made a big contract with a Japanese company.” Reiichi gladly replied.

“Alhamdulillah. Are you happy, Reiichi?” Ren asked.

Reiichi startled before he could answer. “I…of course I’m happy. Why?”

Ren slowly shook his head as he formed a half smile. “Nothing. I’m glad you happy.”

Both of them continued to recollect their past moments for about another 20 minutes. Before Ren left, he passed the picture to Reiichi.

“I want you to keep it. I’m looking forward to see you again, Reiichi. Remember the time we were all together as friends, travelled many places to get closer to Allah. I appreciate the Ukhuwah* we built. Uhibbukafillah*, Reiichi.” Ren said before he gave Reiichi a light hug and left.

The words struck Reiichi for a moment. He sat there at the café for about 10 minutes before he regained his consciousness. He admits being a successful man had made him apart from Allah.

He barely performs prayers.

He was closer to big companies but further apart from the house of Allah.

He struts more frequent than he prostrates. 

He touches what prohibited to him more often than he takes ablution.

*****

He watched helplessly the hot cup of coffee fell from the table and spilled on the floor. But he didn’t hear it smash. He was confused. He frowned as he realized his right hand was clutching tightly on his chest. He tried to draw breath, but every attempt was futile. He strained his mind, trying with great effort to form a prayer to God.

But he couldn’t. He forgot.

He forgot how to pray.

Suddenly he was afraid of his death. He knew he was not prepared. All those years of sins and ignorance came back to him in a flash. Darkness consumed him. He finally cried. The images kept coming before him. He was ashamed of what he had done.

All the sins… Gambling. Cheating. Backbiting. Deceiving. Riba’. Adultery and Consuming Alcohol.

He had Momentary Joy. All the excitement from the sins he had done only last for a short moment. Reiichi had a good life before. He was in good health. But he was deceived by the devils by committing what is prohibited to him and he wasted his youth. He wished he could turn back time.

Reiichi lay on the floor. His lips tried to mumble something.

“A…Al..Allah…”

[Iblees] said, "My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them on earth, and I will mislead them all.