Defeating fears lead to the unmatched happiness

by Umer Inam (Pakistan)

A leap into the unknown Iran

Umer's Grandma always taught him to love and care everyone around. He grew up in an environment of Sufism and generosity. His grandma used to give him breads to distribute among the neighbors. He happily followed the instructions by the loved 'daadi amma' (grandma in Urdu language). This habit made him a person who was broad-minded and positive. For his graduation degree, he left home and went 200 miles away. One day in the morning, he picked up a call from home conveying the sad news about Grandma's demise. It was a tough time for everyone in the family but her demise gave Umer a chance to prove himself the best son of the family. The kind grandma taught him social, ethnic, religious and linguistic patience. Her biggest desire was to travel to Mecca, Madina, Najaf, Karbala and Tehran for religious beliefs with Umer from Pakistan, but she couldn't do so. Umer promised himself to travel to all cities those were ever named by his grandma. First he went to Mecca and Madina and later he decided to travel towards Tehran, Najaf and Karbala. But here he was confused by his friends and colleagues. The Confusion was Sect. A sect in Islam. Umer belonged to the Biggest sect of Islam, that was Sunni, while Iran and Iraq were Shitte states. Everyone scared him not to travel to these countries because they could harm him due to difference in sects and name. Umer's name was the most unliked name in Shiite. He listened everyone, Everytime. Confusion was real. One day a friend of Umer, named Mustajab told him that they were going to Iran and Iraq for the famous Arbaeen walk (a walk from Najaf city to Karbala, from The Shrine of Hazrat Ali AS (4th Caliph of Islam) to the shrine of Hazrat Imam Hussain AS (The younger son of Hazrat Ali AS). Umer told him about his confusion and fear and also shared about his grandma. Mustajab remained silent. On next day, when they met, Umer opened up a shopper and gave Mustajab his passport, 8 pictures (4 for Iran, 4 for Iraq), some money and asked him to bring umer with them. Mustajab was shocked but very happy too. He talked to his father and then travel agent. Everything got done. Before leaving for Tehran, some friends again came to Umer and asked scared him about Tehran, that was first destination from Islamabad. They told him that you will be killed Cold handedly. Don't go. Umer took time to review his decision. Next day, he told everyone that he's going. He traveled with Mustajab and his family. Tehran was clear and sunny at that day. They reached there in the evening. Nothing was unusual while the immigration officer checked Umer's passport and Visa. Nothing happened in bus, nothing in hotel, nothing on roads, nothing on shrines, nothing in parks. He got love and kindness from everyone. He was admired for his brave decision. He was louder for defeating the unknown fears. He was loved for his ‘leap into the unknown.'