Ch 6.3: The Third Round

Voicing the slogan of victory, Umar Lahmi and other Muslim divines repaired to their respective homes. Isabella had attentively listened to the talk of both sides. With her were her friends and other respectable Christian ladies. In the evening when Isabella’s friends gathered again comments started on the morning talk. Whatever little faith Isabella hadin Christianity was shattered and shefully realised that the Christian creed was just a sham which had neither any basis nor any principle. Earlier meetings had left her with the impression that Michael, Peter and others were not well informed, but her father, the head priest, had profound knowledge of the reality of Christianity and, therefore, if these people were unable to meet the questions of Muslims, she had thought, her father would be able to silence them. But after listening this last talk she was thoroughly disappointed and had left no alternative but to conclude that the basis of Christianity was no better than the spider’s web.A month had passed and a great revolution had come in the mind of Isabella. She had secretly been meeting Umar Lahmi and, through him, other divines like Ziad b. Umar in Cordova. She was now more devoted to the study of the Holy Quran and the truth of Islam was taking deep root in her mind. She made a comparative study of the Quran and the Bible to find out whichof the two had greater truth and which was just a mixture of superstitions. She had given thought according to her lights to the problems of Unity of Allah, Prophethood, the Quran, salutation, atonement, intercession, meaning of sin and human acts and their consequences.She was no longer a devotee of Christianity, but had bowed her head to Islam. But often she was perturbedwith the idea of giving up a religion she had followed from her birth. What trials and tribulations she might have to face on going over to Islam. She will have to forsake her father, mother, sisters and relatives. How shall be her future life. But immediately it struck her that trials and troubles have to be encountered in the path of truth and if, after recognising the truth, she did not openly declare it she will be guilty in the sight of Allah.When Umar Lahmi learnt of her perturbation he secretly sent word to her to recite ten times each morning and evening the verse of the Holy Quran: “Rabbi adkhilni mudkhala sidqin wa akhrijni mukhraja sidqin waj’al-li min-ladunka sultaman nasira” [My Lord! make me enter a truthful entering, and make me go forth a trouthful going forth, and grant me from Thy presence an authority to help (me)].* Allah willing,her anxiety will be relieved.So Isabella followed this advice. By reciting this verse morning and evening she felt as if some mysterious power was giving strength to her heart and removing her fears. This prompt effect of the verse further strengthened her faith in Islam and she became more devoted to the Quran and Islam.