A New Perspective

A New Perspective

August 15th

So today was the first day of the semester, and I somehow ended up in “Introduction to Islam”—a class I didn’t want to take at all, but it was the only elective that fit my schedule. I’m a pretty committed atheist, so the idea of spending months learning about a religion I don’t give a crap about is a bit of a drag. I’d much rather be diving into science classes like my physics major, where I can actually debate ideas and we focus on facts.

The professor, Dr. Ibrahim Hasan, walked in looking like he was ready for a board meeting rather than a lecture. He’s a tall, middle-aged guy in a suit and tie, and his voice has this smooth, compelling quality that makes it hard to ignore him. I guess I’m already a bit intrigued, even if I’m not thrilled about the class. If anything I might get to see how others perceive the world.

August 29th

A few weeks in, and something strange is happening. The class is surprisingly engaging. Dr. Hasan’s lectures are filled with a passion that’s starting to get to me. The other guys seem more invested too. We’ve even started talking about the material outside of class for some reason. Dr. Hasan has this way of pausing during lectures, scanning the room with his gaze. During those moments, the room goes silent, like we’re all waiting for something, though I can’t say what. It’s kinda creepy, but I find I can’t look away during these times.

September 12th

I’m starting to notice changes in the other students. Their appearances are subtly shifting—darker skin, sharper features. I’ve seen the same thing in the mirror. It sounds crazy, I know, but it’s happening. Dr. Hasan’s lectures are getting more intense, and I’ve started reading the Quran in my free time. There’s something there I can’t ignore, even though I still consider myself an atheist.

October 3rd

Everything’s changing—the class, the guys, me. We’re all starting to look alike, not just in appearance but in spirit. We speak Arabic now, fluently, even though none of us knew it before. Dr. Hasan also told us to start wearing these white jerseys everywhere. They feel more comfortable than I thought. I feel connected to the others too, like we’re all on the same journey. I’ve started praying with them, studying the Quran like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I don’t know who I am anymore, but I feel like I’m finally becoming who I’m meant to be. I don’t know if that scares or excites me.

November 21st

The semester’s almost over, and I’m a completely different person. My old identity doesn’t exist anymore—now I’m Dawud. The doubts and anger I came in with are just...gone. I’ve found my place, my purpose, and I can’t even explain how it happened. Dr. Hasan’s class changed me, and there’s no going back. I’ve decided to switch my major to Islamic Studies. Dr. Hasan seemed almost proud when I told him, saying my journey is just beginning. I don’t know where it’s taking me, but I’ve never felt more certain about anything.

December 12th

The semester’s over, but the journey is just beginning. Dr. Hasan is now officially my advisor and mentor. I’m going to recommend this course to everyone I know. They need to experience what I’ve experienced. If they’re lucky, they’ll find the same peace and new perspective that I’ve found. Knowing Dr. Hasan, I’m sure they will.

Yo, peeps! Do you even notice anything in the lecture hall? Like, nah? Well, like, duh, that just totally proves that having chicks at the university would just be, like, such a major distraction, innit?

The Mystic Razor

Special thanks to @arab-god for giving me inspiration and picture ideas.

In a bustling city neighborhood, hidden away between towering buildings, there was a barbershop unlike any other. Small and easy to overlook, it was known only to those who sought something beyond the ordinary. They called it "The Mystic Razor," a place where transformations went far deeper than a simple haircut. The barber, a man known simply as Malik, was an enigma—a figure of quiet power and mystery, whose skills were whispered about in the city’s back alleys. Those who entered his shop emerged changed in ways they could never have imagined.

One afternoon, two brothers, David and Mark, stood outside The Mystic Razor. They had heard the rumors, the tales of people who entered and came out transformed—not just in appearance, but in essence. Driven by a mix of curiosity and desperation, they decided to step inside.

The shop was dimly lit, its walls covered in intricate, shifting patterns that seemed to move as they walked. The air was thick with the scent of exotic spices—cinnamon, saffron, and something darker, more elusive. Malik was waiting for them, standing behind one of the barber chairs, his eyes deep and unnervingly knowing.

“Welcome, David. Welcome, Mark,” Malik said, his voice deep and soothing. He didn’t ask their names—he simply knew.

Without another word, the brothers sat in the chairs, and Malik draped them with shimmering golden cloths. The fabric was warm, almost alive, and as it touched their skin, they felt a deep, strange sensation—a transformation that went far beyond the physical. With each snip of the scissors, their bodies and minds were subtly altered, their thoughts reshaped.

When Malik finally removed the cloths, David and Mark were gone. In their place stood Ahmed and Yusuf—two men with striking, angular features, deep brown eyes, and a new, unshakable purpose. They wore sleek, white Nike soccer jerseys with green accents that highlighted their athletic builds. Over their shoulders were stylish fanny packs, and in their ears, AirPods that seemed to have always been there.

“This is who you truly are,” Malik said, his voice a low murmur. “You are now brothers in every sense. But your transformation is not yet complete. You have a purpose now—a purpose that must be fulfilled.”

Ahmed and Yusuf looked at each other, the same thought crystallizing in their minds: The Brotherhood must grow. Everyone must be part of the Brotherhood.

The moment Ahmed and Yusuf stepped out of The Mystic Razor, the city seemed different. The bustling streets, once chaotic and overwhelming, now appeared to pulse with an underlying energy. Their senses were sharper, their minds clearer, and a singular purpose drove them forward—a purpose that they could not resist.

“The Brotherhood,” Yusuf muttered, his voice laced with a newfound intensity. “Everyone needs to be part of it.”

“Yes,” Ahmed agreed, his tone equally resolute. “It’s our purpose now. We need to spread this gift, this transformation.”

They walked through the crowded streets, scanning the faces of passersby. It wasn’t long before they found their first target: a young man walking alone, his gaze distant and unfocused. He had the look of someone searching for something, though he didn’t seem to know what.

Ahmed and Yusuf approached him, their presence overwhelming and magnetic. The young man looked up, startled but unable to look away.

“Hey, man, relax,” Yusuf said, his voice smooth and reassuring. “We just want to talk.”

“What… what do you want?” the young man asked, his voice trembling.

“We see potential in you,” Ahmed replied, a small smile on his lips. “Come with us, and we can show you who you’re really meant to be.”

The young man hesitated, but something about them—their calm confidence, the way their words seemed to resonate within him—made him nod. “Okay… I’ll come with you.”

They led him through the city, their words a soothing chant that wrapped around his mind like a fog. When they reached a secluded area, away from prying eyes, they began to recite the words Malik had whispered to them, the chant that had reshaped their own minds.

The young man’s eyes glazed over as the chant filled his ears. He stood still, his body rigid, as the transformation began to take hold. It was subtle at first, a shift in his thoughts, a change in his purpose. But soon, his mind was flooded with the same desire that now consumed Ahmed and Yusuf.

When they finished, the young man looked at them, his eyes filled with the same intensity, the same hunger to spread the Brotherhood.

“What happens now?” he asked, his voice steady.

“Now,” Ahmed said, placing a hand on the man’s shoulder, “you join us. We find others. We bring them into the fold.”

The Brotherhood moved through the city like a shadow, unseen by most but deeply felt by those they encountered. Each new recruit was drawn in, their minds reshaped, their purpose redefined. With each transformation, the Brotherhood grew stronger, their numbers increasing steadily.

The city itself seemed to change, its pulse quickening in time with the growing Brotherhood. The members moved with a sense of purpose, their eyes constantly scanning for new recruits, new souls to bring into the fold.

Ahmed, Yusuf, and their growing group of brothers found their next targets easily. They were drawn to those who seemed lost, those who were searching for something more—though they didn’t know it yet. With each new recruit, the Brotherhood’s influence spread, and the city became more attuned to their presence.

It wasn’t long before they had a network of members, all working together with a singular goal: to spread the Brotherhood, to ensure that everyone was transformed. The members communicated through subtle gestures and quiet words, their actions coordinated without the need for explicit commands. They were connected, united by the same purpose, the same chant that echoed in their minds: “The Brotherhood must grow. Everyone must be part of the Brotherhood.”

The city, once chaotic and overwhelming, now felt like a stage set for their mission. The Brotherhood moved through it with ease, their actions synchronized, their purpose clear. And with each new day, their numbers swelled, the Brotherhood spreading like wildfire through the streets.

As the Brotherhood grew, so did its influence. The city was slowly being transformed, its people drawn into the fold one by one. But with growth came challenges. Not everyone was so easily swayed, and resistance began to form in the shadows.

Ahmed and Yusuf, now the de facto leaders of the Brotherhood, felt the growing tension. They knew that to ensure the Brotherhood’s continued expansion, they would need to take more decisive action. They began to hunt more actively, seeking out those who resisted, those who were immune to the subtle pull of the Brotherhood.

The transformation process became more intense, more forceful. The Brotherhood developed new techniques, new ways to break down resistance and bring even the most stubborn souls into the fold. Each success only fueled their determination, their belief that the Brotherhood was destined to encompass everyone.

But as they continued their mission, whispers began to circulate—rumors of a force rising against them, a group determined to stop the Brotherhood’s spread. Ahmed and Yusuf dismissed these rumors at first, confident in their strength and the unity of the Brotherhood. But as the resistance grew bolder, they realized that their mission was far from over.

The city was changing, yes, but it was also fighting back. And as Ahmed and Yusuf prepared to confront this new challenge, they knew that the Brotherhood would need to evolve once more. The Mystic Razor had set them on this path, and they would see it through to the end—no matter the cost.

My fellow Brothers. Accept the jersey and join me on my Journey. Give in to our leader, send me and other Brothers messages. We need to stay in touch and guide each other every day.

Try to make story ideas and send them to me. Together we can convince others 💚

New clothes

This guy's clothes were all torn. And he didn’t have enough money for a new one

Many passers-by laughed at him. But the Arab man understood his problem and decided to help

He handed him Arabic national clothes

The guy, without thinking twice, accepted the Arab man’s gift and changed clothes.

New clothes brought new thoughts into his head. He started a new life. And joined the brotherhood💚

Hayun Wadud

It was hard for Tom Holland to imagine his life getting any better than it already was. Not even 30 years old, he was a multi-(multi-multi-)millionaire, global star of stage and screen, blessed with multitudes of talent and, not for nothing, an equally successful and famous girlfriend.

So when his agent told him a burgeoning group of movie studios based out of Saudi Arabia wanted Tom--and only Tom--to star in its first big-budget movie, Tom figured...why not? It's not like he had anything to lose.

When he arrived for the shoot, he was overwhelmed by the almost contradictory sense of humble majesty in the country. The people welcomed him, not because he was Spider-Man--almost as though they'd been waiting for him.

His benefactors, the producers, certainly had been awaiting his arrival. Their welcome for Tom had been lavish, no expense spared. But this was no Hollywood party. It was purely Saudi. Not a word of English was spoken, no one smoked or drank or swore. Prior to his arrival, Tom knew a handful of Arabic words osmosed through past conversations. He wasn't consciously aware when his mind began to think, and his tongue to speak, purely in Arabic.

"Nadeem," one of the producers called in Tom's direction. Tom responded; he wasn't sure why he knew he should answer to that name, if it even was a name...he just knew he should. "Nadeem," the prince/producer continued, "we are so glad to see you assimilating so well. Now you must fully immerse yourself in our culture and tradition." The prince paused. "For your acting role, of course."

Tom nodded. In unconscious Arabic, he replied, "Of course, brother. I will do whatever is needed."

Six Weeks Later

What had been needed, he was told, was to grow out his beard in accordance with Islamic custom. Tom obeyed without question, just as he did when he was taught that he must also keep his underarms and genital area free of hair. He made sure to observe strict modesty in his dress, throwing out the tank tops and shorts he'd packed for the trip to Saudi, ensuring his shoulders and legs were never exposed. Other customs he absorbed and assimilated without being told. He lowered his gaze in the presence of Saudi women. He exorcised all profanity from his vocabulary, sprinkled "alhamdulillah" and "inshallah" effortlessly throughout his speech, and forgot what pork had tasted like.

After six weeks in Saudi, Tom was eager to get going on the movie shoot. Over lunch with the producers, he humbly--almost sheepishly--asked when his job would begin. "Soon, Nadeem," one of the princes said in response; Tom had long since become accustomed to being called Nadeem. He thought of it as a term of endearment. "We are working behind the scenes to prepare for your role. I promise you, Nadeem, it will be the role of a lifetime inshallah."

Tom beamed at that. Somehow, instinctually, he knew it to be true.

One Year Later

Another glorious day in Saudi Arabia. Another gift from Allah to one of his humblest, most loyal servants. These days Nadeem al-Fasih bore vague memories of a life other than his, a life filled with reckless excess, hedonistic indulgence and an utter disregard for God and the Quran. But those memories, if they had even been real, were merely echoes, as though they accounted for an alternate version of him from some other universe.

Nadeem was no hedonist, no infidel by any means. He was the kingdom's foremost ambassador to the godless Western world, almost like a movie star among the Muslim faith. At just 22 years old he had a prominence typically reserved for only the highest ranking members of the royal family. Although, like many Saudis, Nadeem had some royal blood in his veins, he had not been particularly highborn. Now, though, he was the face of Saudi Arabia across the earth.

And that face came with a charismatic, powerful voice, a deep and resonant Arab lilt that made effective dawah wherever he went. It wasn't rare for Nadeem to return from a trip abroad and inform the royal family that yet another nation-state had reverted to Islam, its people embracing their superior Arab heritage and devoting themselves to Allah. In just his first full year of global dawah, Nadeem was primarily responsible for converting what had been Great Britain into the United Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, even unifying Ireland in the process under the Islamic flag. He had garnered the international nickname "Hayun Wadud" for his innate ability to turn cities and townships rife with internal conflict and division into friendly Muslim neighborhoods.

Despite that, as he walked with his brothers to Friday prayers, Nadeem felt no pride nor inflation of ego. He felt what any good Muslim should feel--submission to Allah and an ever-growing desire to help more and more avoid the fate of hellfire and join him and his brothers, sisters and wives in the birthright of Islam.