The Learner

Muhammad Muhsin Ibrahim muhsin2008@gmail.com @muhsin234 I was passing  a group of students in our department, drying my face with a handkerchief after performing my ablution for  namaz  (i.e., prayers/salat), when a girl approached me and said she would like to pray  with me that day. I thought she was just joking, so I went by without paying attention, saying she was welcome. I was about to start when she came running. It took me many minutes to convince her that she couldn’t (and shouldn’t) follow me. Disappointed, she gave up. I trembled, internally, through the prayers’ session for the fear of what might have happened had I given in to her ‘request’ and we were seen afterwards. It would have been suspected as what’s commonly called “Love Jihad”. Forgive the detour: I am happily married to a dutiful and, of course, beautiful wife. We have been together here in Jalandhar , India, for nearly a year and a half. So, I am not here for love or for any con...