CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR

Section Two

A Letter to Girls

Dear girl! You were created very delicate, graceful and gentle. Your strength and your dignity lie in these qualities. You were created beloved and precious; love comes to you through your obedience, your discernment and your sweet words. Dear girl! Do not rush to put yourself on display, do not be greedy for all sorts of adornments, do not let yourself be bound by the chain of envy by looking at your friends. You yourself are a separate world; you are a book — do not throw its pages open to everyone. Dear girl! If you step outside the protection of your family, you will be left as bare as a fledgling just out of the egg. Do not think that strangers will protect you; every stranger in this cold world looks at you with savage eyes. Dear girl! Do you know how worthy you are of love and affection! How your heart overflows with love and tenderness! And how much you yourself need love and affection! Without your affection, the world would be left in the freezing cold; if you are not given affection, you will wither like a rosebush. Do not think, “I will win everyone's affection, I will gain everyone's love”; everyone's love and affection is something that does not exist; something that belongs to everyone is something without an owner. You can live only by the affection of the people who belong to you; you can give life to others only by giving affection to the people who belong to you. The people who belong to you are your parents, your sisters, your brothers…, and the companion of your life whom God will grant you — your husband. Then your children. Apart from them, everyone is a stranger to you; you are their darling. You are their wealth. And for you, too, they are the meaning of your life. For this reason, never throw yourself into the hands and gaze of strangers! Dear girl! Let there be no envy in your heart. Do not envy your sisters; be sincere and affectionate with them. Your closest and best confidants are your sisters. Dear girl! I have spoken to you briefly and simply. Learn these words by heart. Ponder their meaning. And do not forget how high your worth is. You are the essence, the light and the root of life. The whole world needs you. Always protect yourself. Do not fall for the tricks of enemies and stain your pure name; that stain is very hard to remove. May you be entrusted to Allah, dear girl!

Akrom MALIK