Short Stories

Description

Aminah Haider Al-Sadr was born in the holy city of Kadhmain, Baghdad in 1937. Her father, a renowned religious leader, died when she was two years old. She enjoyed the loving care of her mother and two kind brothers, Sayyid Ismael and Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir Al-Sadr. Aminah Al-Sadr, known as Bint Al-Huda, did not attend any government school, but was well educated at the hands of her two scholar brothers, especially Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir Al-Sadr, who recognized her bright talent. As a teenager, Bint Al-Huda was a voracious reader who always spent her pocket money on useful books and increasing her knowledge. The first half of this century indicated that Western cultural values dominated the Arab and Muslim countries of the world. Secular systems spread deviation and corruption and branded Islam as reactionary and as a hindrance to progress. At the age of 20, Bint Al-Huda began writing articles in Al-Adhwa magazine published by the religious ulema in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq. Her articles drew the attention of intellectuals in Najaf and became torches which illuminated the darkness for women. Her writings awakened a society which, like many societies in other Muslim countries, was being deviated under the pretexts of freedom and equality. Possessing keen insight, she felt the great damage that was being inflicted upon Islam through the deliberate corruption of women. Her simply-written stories tackled these wrong traditions and presented truly Islamic concepts concerning woman and her specific role in a healthy society. It is a great pity and a serious setback that the Muslim women of the world lost this great woman writer so early. A major crime of the Iraqi Ba'thist regime was the tortured murder of this noble lady and her brother and religious scholar, Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir Al-Sadr (May Allah bless them both). The tyrannical, anti-Islamic regime of Saddam was well aware of their brave struggle for the sake of Islam and decided to finish them off. They were arrested in April, 1980, and killed in cold blood three days later. By presenting these stories written by Bint Al-Huda, we aim to acquaint our English readers with this brave woman who confronted tyrants and achieved martyrdom for the sake of Islam. Islamic Thought Foundation Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran The book comprises of 22 stories. FORWARD 7 INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHOR 9 THE HOMELESS AUNT 11 A MUSLIM STUDENT'S DIARY 17 CHOOSING A WIFE 23 A VISIT TO A BRIDE 29 DETERMINATION 33 THE LOST DIARY 37 INGRATITUDE 43 INNER DEBATE 47 SOCIAL MEASURES 51 THE RED ALERT 55 STRUGGLING WITH CONFLICT 59 FIRM STAND 65 HAD I BUT KNOWN 71 THE DANGEROUS GAME 77 SPIRITUAL SURGERY 85 THE GIFT 87 A BAD BARGAIN 89 THE LAST DAYS 91 HARD TIMES 95 IDLENESS 97 A NEW START 99 THE LAST HOURS 101