I am a 27-year-old Filipino woman who arrived in the Kingdom on a work visa a few years ago. I landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport Jeddah together with 15 other nurses. After spending a day at a hotel in Jeddah, I was taken to Al-Baha where I began working as a nurse. All of us left our families to earn money to support them and go back after some time to lead comfortable lives. In the beginning, it was terrible to work in a strange environment without understanding the local language and culture. My family was anxious and worried about me. Some of them cautioned me that the Kingdom is a country where strict laws and penalties apply.
However, when I look back I am happy to point out that I did not have to face such problems. I learned from experience that the Kingdom is a very comfortable place to live for those who adhere to the local laws and rules. Living in the Kingdom allowed me to acquire more proficiency and expertise in the work that I do. I also learned Arabic, at least enough for my day-to-day use in the workplace.
Some of my colleagues left the Kingdom for the Philippines for good while others went to Europe and the US in search for better career prospects. I have wanted to shift to another hospital where the pay and work are better. This has, however, never transpired. As a result, my salary was insufficient to meet my expenses. I subsequently took a wrong decision that eventually made my life miserable. My family's difficult financial situation and my bid to meet their requirements placed a huge burden on me. I was forced to borrow money at high interest rates from loan sharks. The money I borrowed went towards fulfilling the financial obligations I had back in the Philippines. In due course, however, the debts mounted to an unmanageable level. I also came to learn that there were many others who were in a similar boat. All our dreams were shattered as we saw that our salaries were insufficient to even pay the interest on the debt.
We had borrowed money from Filipinos, Indians and other foreigners, as well as some Saudis. If we borrowed SR5,000, then we had to pay up to SR9,000 in monthly installments. Those who borrowed SR10,000 and SR25,000 needed to pay SR19,000 and SR56,000 respectively. Delay in payments resulted in fines and we were all virtually tied up. It felt like a slow cancerous death. Some committed suicide to escape the trap while others stole. There are others who are in jail for insolvency and some who were deported. I learned a bitter lesson and came to realize that my suffering was due to a wrong decision. I would like to tell others not to ruin their lives by making such a mistake.
In the midst of this ordeal, I did not know whether I could ever return home and see my family again. I thought I might even end up in jail and die in the Kingdom. However, I pin hope on the magnanimity of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman. I know about his eagerness to insure the well-being of expatriates. I thank the King for rekindling new hope in us.
I now realize that I wasted five years of my life after falling into this trap. Though I was earning a good salary, the money was not enough to pay off the interest. As a non-Muslim expatriate, is there any way for me to get out of this ordeal? I have sought the help of many people. This was the time to learn who my true friends were. I approached many strange people. But when they came to learn of my miserable situation, they expressed their evil desire to have illicit relations with me. Others told me that they would introduce me to their rich friends on condition that I spent the night with them. Others, however, persuaded me to embrace Islam as a way of escaping the debts.
Even in the midst of this darkness, there were some rays of hope. The other day, I met at work a bearded man with a short thobe. I thought he was a Muslim volunteer who distributed Islamic literature. By this time, I was so desperate that I would not be ashamed of seeking help from anyone. I asked him whether I could get any help from a good Muslim. I found him to be a true and kind-hearted Muslim. I was also fortunate that he could speak fluent English. His name was A. Al-A. I was amazed at the behavior of this God-fearing man.
I saw in him a humble philanthropist who distributed Islamic books as well as money, sweets and water among the poor. I saw him engage in such charity while accompanying him in his car to the Human Rights Commission's office while seeking help to get a Filipino released. Though not wealthy, he helps people selflessly.
I also met M. I. Al-O., the father of one of my patients. He and his family live in Al-Kharj and corrected my wrong perceptions about hypocrisy. They presented the true image of Islam through their exemplary lives. I saw their keenness in performing prayers and their sincere work as well as love and care for others. They never sat with me to teach about Islam but they displayed the true nature of Islam in their behavior to others as well as in their lifestyle. Though they do not speak English, I could understand their language which is an embodiment of love and affection.
They treated me respectfully as if I was their sister, disregarding my poverty and miseries. They blamed me for taking a wrong financial decision that turned my life upside down. But ultimately, they extended a helping hand to address my problem. Therefore, I respect them because I learned the real value of humanity from them. I can never forget that respectable family.
I also recall Dr. M. A. Al-T. of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center. I made a surprise visit to his office without considering his hectic office work schedule. Even though it was an inconvenience for him, he neither showed any displeasure nor asked me to leave. He listened patiently to what I had to say about my problems. Even though we did not know each other, he was even prepared to phone the person to whom I owed money, in addition to calling many people and asking them to help me.
After meeting all these respectable people, I came to know that I was a lucky woman because God led to me to a route that restored my hope in life at a time when I was in distress due to a grave error.
Of course, there are some people who are keen to take care of others, and that makes our life meaningful. May God bless all these people and reward them. Shareefa A.
