5. Would you like to meet him outside the institution? (cont.)

Rather, those with strong determination remain he76 The tongue is king roes, no matter how many faculties they lose. My friend, Abu 'Abdullah, is no different to the rest of my friends, but he is – and Allah bears witness to this – the most eager of them all to do good works. He is involved in a number of dawah projects, including the dawah work he does during his work. He works as a translator in an institute for the deaf and dumb. One day he called me and said, "What do think if I bring to your mosque two men from the institute of the deaf to deliver a lecture to the people?" I became surprised and said, "The deaf delivering a lecture to those who hear?" He said, "Yes! Let us come this Sunday." I impatiently waited until Sunday. When it finally came,I stood by the door of the mosque waiting for them, until Abu 'Abdullah arrived in his car and parked it near the main doors of the mosque. He then got out of the car along with two men. One of them was walking next to him, whilst the other was being held by Abu 'Abdullah and being led by his hand. I looked at the first of them to notice that he was deaf and dumb. He could not hear or speak, but he could see. I looked at the second one to notice that he was deaf, dumb and blind. He could neither hear, nor speak nor see. I stretched forth by hand and shook Abu 'Abdullah's hand. The man to his right – later I found out his name was Ahmad – was looking at me with a smile, so I stretched forth my hand to shake hands with him. Abu 'Abdullah then said to me pointing to the blind man, The tongue is king "Greet Fayiz, too." I said, "As-Salaamu 'Alaykum, Fayiz!" Abu 'Abdullah said, "Hold his hand, as he can neither hear or see you." I placed my hand in his, and he grabbed my hand firmly and shook it. They then entered the mosque. After the prayer, Abu 'Abdullah sat on a chair with Ahmad sitting on his right and Fayiz sitting on his left. The people were watching in amazement. They were not accustomed to a deaf person sitting on a chair and delivering a lecture! Abu 'Abdullah then turned to Ahmad and said something in sign language. Ahmad responded to him in sign language. The people watched but did not understanding anything, so I suggested to Abu 'Abdullah that he translate what he said, as no one is able to understand sign language except the deaf or someone well-versed in sign language. Abu 'Abdullah brought the microphone close and said, "Ahmad is relating to you the story of how he was guided." He said, "I was born deaf and raised in Jeddah. My family would neither cater for me nor pay any attention to me. I used to see people going to the mosque, but I wouldn't know why! I would often notice my father laying down a prayer mat, prostrating and bowing, but I wouldn't know what he was doing. Whenever I asked my family about it, they would belittle me and never answer my questions." Then Abu 'Abdullah became quiet and said something to Ahmad in sign language. Ahmad then continued with his speech in sign language and suddenly his complexion changed, as if he The tongue is king had been emotionally affected. Abu 'Abdullah lowered his head as Ahmad began to cry profusely. Many among the audience were affected by this although they had no idea why he was crying. He continued to speak in sign language until he stopped. Abu 'Abdullah then said, "Ahmad is now relating to you the period in his life when he changed: how he came to know about Allah and prayer due to a person on the street who taught him out of pity for him, and how, when he began to pray, he felt closer to Allah by imagining the great reward awaiting him due to his condition as well as how he got to taste the sweetness of faith." Abu 'Abdullah continued to relate the rest of his story as the people listened in amazement. However, I was busy thinking something else! I would look at Ahmad and then at Fayiz and say to myself, "Ahmad can see and knows sign language, which is why Abu 'Abdullah is able to communicate with him. I wonder how he is going to communicate with Fayiz knowing he can neither see, hear nor speak?" Ahmad finished delivering his lecture and began wiping away his tears. Meanwhile, Abu 'Abdullah turned to Fayiz. I asked myself, "What is he going to do?" Abu 'Abdullah struck Fayiz's knee with his fingers, and there he was, delivering a very moving lecture.