The Eyes

Some 20 years ago, whilst walking in the corridors of the science faculty towards the main notice board, one of my lecturers stepped out of his office, noticed me and smiled.  He called me into his office and we had a short chat.  I was nervous because he was an important professor and I was just an eighteen year old nobody.
 

He invited me to sit in his big leather arm chair and said, “you seem to me like someone who is strong in faith.” His comments surprised me because I wasn’t wearing hijab at the time and was not active on the religious scene (I didn’t even know where the prayer room was).  I asked him the reason for his conclusion.  He replied, “your eyes; they have the light of faith”. 

He then explained that he was a committed Christian and encouraged me to continue in my faith.  He never asked me any questions, didn’t attempt to convert me, and never mentioned it again.  But he always had a gentle comradely smile reserved for me when we crossed paths. 

I remember the instant impact of his words on me (for a week I kept looking intensely at my eyes in the mirror from different angles trying to identify this “light”), and the generosity with which he said the comments.  In retrospect, I know that his brief words largely contributed to my understanding of faith.  Faith is not about who is right or wrong, or who has the best arguments.  Faith is about sincerity in our search for meaning.  It is about compassion, diversity, love, and vulnerability.  Faith is about how willing we are to embrace those who are unlike us. 

For twenty years and on, I continue trying to be the person that the Professor thought I was; a faith filled person; a person with an inner light.  I still have a long way to go, but I hope that when I get there, I will be able to pass on this light to others just as the Professor did.

Saba Hakim