A Chance Meeting

by Anabia

Last episode: An Excursion

After Anna’s excursion shopping with her flat mate Helen and her boyfriend Gavin, she found herself wanting to veil in public more often. She was still wary about going out in her full get up, but she occasionally incorporated a hijab into her regular attire. She made sure to be wearing it whenever Gavin came over, joking that “it wasn’t appropriate for him to see her hair uncovered.” She had even been bold enough to wear it out shopping on more than one occasion, this coupled with a perhaps unconscious decision to dress more modestly might lead someone who didn’t know her to mistake her for a Muslim woman. Something that happened one afternoon on one of Anna’s trips shopping.

Anna was on the bus heading over to the next town to do some shopping when she was approached by a young woman, “Asalam alaykum ukhti, are you on your way to the masjid for the Asr?”

Anna was surprised by the interaction, normally she would have her ear buds in and listening to music when on the bus but because she had opted to wear her hijab that day, she had decided to forgo her travel entertainment. Looking up, she took in a young woman dressed in a lovely pastel pink abaya with a matching hijab, “Oh, wa salam alaykum.” she responded with a blush in her cheeks, “I’m not actually a Muslim.”

Now it was the young Muslim woman’s turn to blush, “Maadheratan, I just assumed seeing as you wear the hijab and you’re dressed modestly and you’re heading in the direction of the Masjid. Please, forgive me.”

Anna was aware that the local Mosque was on her bus route having looked up places where she might be able to purchase more modest clothing. She had travelled past it many times but never ventured in.

“It’s okay, there’s nothing to forgive.” Anna replied with a smile and resumed looking out the window though she could tell through her peripheral vision that the young woman hadn’t stopped looking at her.

“I… I don’t suppose you’d like to come along anyway? Not that I’m trying to get you to revert or anything, you just seem like you might be interested to observe the prayers.”

Anna thought for a moment. It was true that she was interested in what the inside of the Mosque was like, and observing the prayers had to be more interesting than another afternoon of window shopping. “Actually, I think I’d like that, thank you.” she replied, leaving her seat as she knew the stop for the Mosque was the next one.

“I’m Karima, by the way.” the woman introduced herself as they stepped from the bus.

“Anab… Anna, I’m Anna, pleased to meet you.” Anna almost introduced herself as Anabia, the name Gavin had given her whilst out on their excursion and a name she had thought of often when wearing her veils.

It was a very short walk to the mosque and Anna felt butterflies in her stomach as they used the women’s entrance that she had seen passing by so many times.

“You can leave your shoes there; they will be perfectly safe.” Karima instructed and Anna was thankful that she had worn socks that morning. “You are perfectly attired I must say. Normally when women visit the Mosque, they need to borrow a scarf to cover their heads, but you are good to go. It’s almost as if you were destined to come here today.”

Anna wasn’t sure she believed in fate, but she did wonder if she had subconsciously dressed in her long-sleeved grey dress because there was the chance that she might go to the Mosque.

Karima showed Anna around the Mosque, she noted the bookstore that she had seen from the street was much larger inside and was connected to a small clothing and even a food store. She showed Anna the prayer hall and the area where the women performed their wudu before showing her the courtyard.

“I had no idea this was back here.” exclaimed Anna as she took in the peaceful surroundings.

“What did you think was back here?” asked Karima.

“I’m not entirely sure. I mean, there’s a petrol garage next door and houses in the next street, I figured maybe a car park.”

Karima laughed which put Anna at ease, “You are funny Anna, come, there’s the Imam, I’ll introduce you.”

Anna wasn’t sure about meeting the Imam as a visitor but found their brief chat relaxed and friendly and she was feeling good about the whole experience. A large number of women started arriving for the prayers, some of them came to chat with Karima and Anna respectively before performing their wudu. As the time for the Asr drew closer, Anna was unsure what would happen next.

“It’s up to you, you can join in with the prayers or you can observe from the back of the hall, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.” said Karima.

“I don’t want to appear as facetious, getting involved with something I don’t really understand or believe in.” Anna replied.

“Anna, you’re here as my guest. I wouldn’t have invited you if I thought that you were here to be disingenuous. Think of it more like being respectful, which you clearly are.”

Anna smiled knowing that her new acquaintance didn’t think badly of her, “Okay then, I think I’d like to join in. But what do I have to do?”

“Excellent, we still have a little time, I’ll quickly go over the Rakat with you.”

After Karima was done explaining Anna looked a little bewildered, “I don’t think I’ll remember all of that.”

“It’s okay, you don’t need to worry about getting everything right. If you get stuck you can follow what I’m doing and if you forget what to say, well, try to be quiet and mindful.” Karima assured her.

The two women went and performed wudu and Anna was thankful that she hadn’t worn any makeup that morning before Karima showed her where she could borrow a prayer mat. As the women prayed Anna initially felt a little flustered when she didn’t know what to say but she studied Karima as she raised her hands, bowed, stood, prostrated herself and kneeled, following along just a little after and joining in with the prayers when she could remember what to say.

When the prayers were over, most of the women filed out of the Mosque but Anna and Karima stayed behind to take tea in the book shop.

“So, how did you find it?” asked Karima.

“It was a little scary at first, but everyone was so nice and welcoming. Even with the prayers, I didn’t really understand what was going on, but I never felt like I was being judged for getting things wrong.”

“I’m glad you felt at ease ukhti. So, do you think you will return to the mosque?” asked Karima.

“I don’t know… while it was a lovely experience, I’m not sure I’m suddenly going to become a religious person. It was nice to take it all in though.”

“Anna, may I ask why you wear the hijab and dress modestly if it is not for religious reasons?” asked Karima.

“Well, it’s actually quite the story.” Anna responded before telling Karima all about her experience with the suggested items and her times veiled with Helen.

“You wore the niqab outside the house? Both you and your friend? Not even I’m that pious a Muslimah!” Karima exclaimed.

“You should give it a go; it was quite the experience!” Anna laughed, opting to leave out the thrill she got from wearing such clothes or that she was gagged underneath her niqab.

The two women exchanged phone numbers and Karima told Anna that she expected to see her in her butterfly abaya and three-layer niqab the next time she saw her. It was only said in a playfully commanding tone, but it still gave Anna that funny feeling in her tummy. It was a feeling that she wanted more of but where could she find that?