🌹 Elif’s Journey – Victims of Modernism 🌹

Introduction

🔗 Prefer reading in Malay? 👉 [link https://www.sasteriaworld.com/post/kisah-elif-iman-di-kota-cahaya-palsu]

Every generation faces its trials. For some, it is war; for others, poverty. For Elif, it was the glittering call of the modern city. She had left her quiet Anatolian hometown to pursue her studies in Istanbul, carrying her grandmother’s Qur’an and the values of her upbringing. But in the city, surrounded by neon lights, laughter, and endless temptations, her faith would be tested in ways she never imagined.

This is Elif’s story — a story of struggle, temptation, awakening, and courage. A reminder that the brightest lights are not always the truest, and that love without Allah is an illusion.

🌆The City of False Lights

The city sparkled every night. Towers lit in every color, cafés alive with music, streets crowded with young people chasing joy. But for Elif, those lights carried a strange emptiness.

Her classmates laughed at her scarf.

“Elif, take it off,” they teased. “Be free. Be modern.”

Even her parents, worried about gossip, whispered:

“Daughter, maybe you should change. People are watching.”

Elif lowered her eyes. She wanted to succeed, to belong — but not at the cost of her soul.

The city lights seemed beautiful, but in her heart she wondered: were they guiding her, or blinding her?

🤵Emir – The Man of Modernity

One evening at a gathering, Elif met Emir. Handsome, confident, and wealthy, he was the kind of man who drew everyone’s attention. He spoke easily about business, travel, and the Western world.

“You are beautiful,” he told her, “but why hide it? Religion is for the past. Look at the modern world — progress, freedom! Don’t chain yourself to old traditions.”

His words were sweet, like honey hiding poison. For the first time, Elif felt admired not for her soul, but for the beauty he wanted her to uncover. A spark of curiosity lit in her, though her heart whispered caution.

💍The Shiny Bargain

Emir knew how to charm. He showered Elif with roses, perfumes, and candlelit dinners. He spoke of a life full of luxury and travel.

One evening, he looked into her eyes and said:

“Marry me, Elif. I’ll give you everything. But there must be no restrictions — no scarf, no prayers, no Qur’an in my house. Live free, like a modern woman.”

Elif’s heart froze. She had dreamed of love and marriage, but could it come at such a price?

“Must I give up my faith to be loved?” she asked softly.

Emir leaned back, amused.

“Faith holds you back. Love will set you free.”

But was it love? Or just a shiny bargain that demanded her soul in exchange for temporary comfort?

😢The Warning of Selin

Elif’s doubts grew when she met Selin, a neighbor. Once admired for her beauty and wealth, Selin now lived in sadness.

“I gave up Allah for him,” Selin wept, “and now I have nothing. He promised me the world, but when he left, I was empty. Without Allah, I lost myself.”

Her words cut deep into Elif’s heart. Was she walking down the same path?

The Qur’an warns: “Do not trade My guidance for a small price.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:41)

Selin’s story was living proof of that warning.

📖Awakening in the Qur’an

That night, tears blurred Elif’s eyes as she opened her grandmother’s Qur’an. The verses seemed to speak directly to her heart:

“Do not trade My guidance for a small price.”

She remembered her grandmother’s voice:

“Elif, love without Allah is like a rose cut from its root — it blooms for a moment, then withers.”

Elif felt strength rise within her. She knew what she must do.

🌊The Final Confrontation

The next day, she met Emir by the river. The city shimmered behind them, full of false promises.

“So, will you marry me and embrace modern life?” he asked with confidence.

Elif looked at him steadily. Her eyes were no longer uncertain.

“Emir, I cannot marry a man who asks me to abandon Allah. True love does not demand I bury my soul.”

His smile faded. Mocking her, he walked away without looking back.

Elif’s heart ached for a moment, but then a strange peace filled her. She was free — not by Emir’s definition, but by Allah’s.

🌅A New Dawn

Her parents worried.

“What will people say if you reject such a wealthy man?”

But Elif no longer feared whispers.

On a quiet morning, she stood in prayer, tears of peace in her eyes. She whispered:

“Ya Allah, they laughed at me, but You gave me strength. Protect me from being a victim of modernism.”

The city outside still glowed with neon lights, but inside Elif’s heart, a brighter light shone — the light of faith that never fades.

🌟Reflections

Elif’s story is not just hers. It is the story of countless young men and women today, tempted to trade their values for acceptance, wealth, or love.

Modernism offers comfort, but at the price of conviction. It offers glamour, but emptiness underneath. It offers “freedom,” but chains of the soul.

Elif chose differently. She proved that true freedom is not found in abandoning Allah, but in surrendering to Him.

Her journey teaches us:

Not all that shines is light.

Love that asks you to betray your Creator is not love at all.

Allah’s guidance is priceless — and trading it for the world will always end in loss.

🕌Closing Note

Elif’s path reminds us of the words of the Prophet ﷺ:

“Whoever gives up something for the sake of Allah, Allah will replace it with something better.” (Musnad Ahmad)

She gave up Emir’s promises and gained peace, dignity, and strength.

The city lights may continue to glow, but Elif knows where the true light lies — in the guidance of Allah, a light that never fades. 🌙

🌙 For readers who prefer Malay, you can also read the full translation here: [Link https://www.sasteriaworld.com/post/kisah-elif-iman-di-kota-cahaya-palsu]

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