QUESTIONS OUT
B.Sc. degree final exams were fast approaching; classes were over; students had few weeks of study holidays and college was closed. Some students went home while others stayed back in student’s residence. College was situated at the foot of a mountain range; just approximately about few kilometers opposite to college was a rocky hill; in between these two were fields and a lake. On the eastern side was tamarind grove and a small river. Omar went to these places to study as they were quiet and beautiful places.
Some exams were over. During exam times he studied till one or two o'clock in the night, went to bed, got up at four o'clock, and studied again until entering exam hall. One day he was preparing for inorganic chemistry exam which was to take place the next day. Around nine o'clock in the night, there was commotion among students; they stood in-groups here and there and seemed so exhilarated. They ran hither and thither joyfully with some papers in their hands. Omar, sitting a little away from them wondered what happened. He asked a fellow student who was passing by, the reason for commotion. He replied, "In Fathima College question paper leaked out as some students got access to printing press where it was printed ...that's why there is a crowd. Here is a copy of it...these are questions you will get tomorrow in exam....why do you take unnecessary trouble to study every thing?" He gave Omar a hand written copy of question paper asking him to copy it and return it to him; Omar did so. There was great struggle in Omar's heart......whether to learn just those 10 questions....will it not be a sin in the sight of God? So far he never believed about questions getting leaked...can I believe now in this final year undergraduate exam. What to do now? Finally he decided ......instead of learning every thing and confusing myself, let me learn this ten questions well, because the subject is too hard. All night he prepared for only those ten questions and went for exam the next day morning. When examiner gave question paper, prayerfully he read the questions...first question was not what he studied...and not the second one also; now his heart began to beat fast and fear gripped him. Anxious to know whether questions he studied did appear on the question paper or not, he scanned all the questions..... but none of them was seen there. He didn't know what to do....he didn't know answer for even one question and it was like a lightning struck him. He sat there like a statue wondering what to do. It happened for the first time in his life and he even regarded walking out of examination hall. Again and again went through the question paper; some students were writing fast. He put the question paper and pen on the table and started to pray silently, "Lord I have sinned, I should have studied all my portions. I should have believed that you'll help me to comprehend the subjects and pass exam. I should have put my trust in you. Because I didn't trust you and sinned daringly...I got into Satan's web. Lord! I will surely fail in this exam now, please forgive me and help me. Just like you woke up Lazarus from his grave... do a miracle for me today. You never cast anyone who comes to you. Show me answers for these questions". After prayer, he praised God and started writing answers; in the beginning it was a struggle; then he felt...as though lecturer was standing in front of him and teaching the class.....and he is having an open book in front of him reading all answers. He wrote answers for all questions. It was a wonder of God. He is called Wonderful and there is nothing He can't do.
He praised God with grateful heart and left exam hall. Some students were grumbling that they would fail as there was no question from the one they had yesterday. When Omar heard all these comments, he started to doubt about answers he wrote.. Satan prompted him to doubt God's miraculous leading and confused him. Apprehension overcame him. Instead of praising God, he felt very sad. So far he never failed in his education. If he fails in his final degree exam, who will give him a job? If he doesn't get a job in addition to the problems already in the house, the situation will be worse. And I won't even be able to prepare to repeat the exam once again in September. He prayed, "Lord! Help me to trust you completely. I believed you helped me to attend exam well ...but now Satan sow seeds of doubt. If my answers were wrong, correct them all and do a miracle please". He knew there is no help except Jesus Christ.