[bloriMal]

(In The Name Of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful)

Greetings sister,

First, to add to the answers you got for your original question back in February (I know, kind of late, but Insha'Allah (God-willing) beneficial nonetheless): This brother is avoiding looking at you because he fears Allah Almighty and he knows that he shouldn't be working this close to a female anyway; but living in a non-Muslim (and even many Muslim countries these days) many often don't have a choice. So he is trying to do the next best thing, which is to be very professional with you, speak only about work-related matters (I would assume, do correct me if I'm wrong), and also avoid looking at you as much as humanly possible.

Since posting here in February and receiving your replies I was curious to learn more. I have been reading about Islam each day to increase my knowledge about a religion I can honestly say I knew very little about.

I can tell you now that I feel more like a Muslim than I ever did a Christian. I also feel a lot more contented and happier in myself. I know it is just a start but I am now dressing modestly.

To think that all of this happened because a Muslim work colleague doesn’t gaze directly at me when we converse and I asked the question why on SF and got such a beautiful answer that it affected me so deeply.

Allahu'Akbar (God is The Greatest).

Allah guides everyone in such ways which we cannot fathom. You hear these stories all the time about how person X was guided to Islam, when many of them used to be the biggest opponents of Islam before; to how existing Muslims are guided to the right path by Allah, when they had originally forgotten and/or neglected the way a Muslim should live their life. This forum is full of both of these types, and then some. Subhan'Allah.

Insha'Allah, this is you being guided by Allah Almighty. As you said yourself; "To think that all of this happened because a Muslim work colleague doesn’t gaze directly at me when we converse and I asked the question why on SF and got such a beautiful answer that it affected me so deeply."... I think you pretty much summed it up in that sentence. This brother will Insha'Allah be rewarded by Allah more than any of us can imagine, both in this life and in there hereafter. And he was only following the orders of Allah and living his life according to Allah's commands and according to the way taught by our dear Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). "That's it". He wasn't like actively speaking to you about Islam, trying to "convert" you, or any of that. No, he was speaking with his actions, whether he may have realized it or not. That is the beauty of Islam.

I actually like using this example with brothers I know, that if we (Muslims) live our lives by following the commands of Allah and the way of His Messenger (peace be upon him), not only inside of us but our outwards appearance (beard, hijab (head scarf) for women, the way we dress, etc), then we don't know who might get effected due to this by the grace of Allah. Maybe a brother is making salat (praying) on the street, because it's time for prayer and he doesn't know of any indoor places nearby to pray (whatever the reason may be), but he guards his salat 100% and it doesn't matter if he's on the street at time of salat, he's going to pray right then and there. People pass by, some who don't know think "what a weirdo" (May Allah forgive them and all of us, Ameen), some think "wow, how dedicated", some Muslims think "Masha'Allah, look at him praying on the street and I can't even do it indoors, Insha'Allah I will make salat as soon as I get home"... or maybe a non-Muslim was intrigued by it, and just for curiosity purposes, having no intention whatsoever in their heart about learning about Islam... they just go home and google something like "how do Muslims pray" or something to that effect... next thing you know he/she is involved in deep reading about the religion, receiving hidayat (guidance) from Allah. Does the person who was making salat on the street know any of this? Nope. Is he getting immense reward for it by Allah though? Insha'Allah, he sure is!

I think your situation is a good example of this as well sister, where you were intrigued by a Muslim brother's simple action of avoiding eye contact with you while talking, you went researching into it a little bit because you were curious (you even thought there might be something wrong with you!), and now you're on your way to becoming Muslim (INSHA'ALLAH). Allah guides who He wills. No one can misguide the one who Allah chooses to guide. May Allah make us all amongst the guided ones. Ameen.

Apologies for my long post. Last thing:

"I can tell you now that I feel more like a Muslim than I ever did a Christian."
"And (remember) as your Lord took from the Seeds (Or. sons/Children) of Adam, from their backs, their offspring, and made them bear witness concerning themselves, "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes indeed, we bear witness." (So) that you should not say on the Day of the Resurrection, "Surely we were heedless (unaware) of this,". Quran 7:172

Everyone is born Muslim (in submission to Allah). They are then raised either as a Muslim or into the beliefs/culture of the parents/family. We (or our souls) have all stood before Allah and testified that HE indeed is our Lord and NO ONE else is our lord. That's why the technically correct term for someone who enters (back) into Islam, such as when you may, is "revert", not "convert". Whoever becomes Muslim is only going back to who they were originally meant to be, they're not going into something "new".

Further, it is Allah's promise that everyone will receive opportunities to be guided in their life (yours may have been through this brother, only Allah knows). Since 9/11 countless amounts of people have become Muslim in the USA and worldwide, much more so than the rate of 'conversion' before 9/11 (yup, ironic). Most estimates say the rate of 'conversion' to Islam has quadrupled in the USA and the 'Western' world since 9/11. Why? Because Islam is in front of everyone. A couple of decades ago many people in America said "Isla... wha? What's a "moslem"?". Now everyone, even little kids, know about Islam and Muslims. Yes, not in a true light, because Islam is not what it is normally portrayed to be in the media (far, far, far from it), but it is in front of everyone nonetheless. Whoever chooses to do their own due diligence instead of just believing rumors spread by people and the media, would be surprised, which is what is happening one would guess.

Insha'Allah keep asking Allah to show you the right path and He will keep doing so. You don't have to say it out loud. Just say it in your heart as often as you like. Allah is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

I pray that Allah guides you, your family & loved ones, and all of us, to the straight path. Ameen.

Please forgive me if I said anything wrong and may Allah forgive me if I said anything wrong. Ameen.

Peace