Blissful strife

BLISSFUL STRIFE
    *_(the blissful struggles of a muslimah)_*

CHAPTER ONE
    Cool breeze rarely swing in during the hot season, but today, things were different. The atmosphere seemed calm at the  Arowolo's mansion that peacefully lay at the heartbeat of Ikoyi, Lagos. The garden looked serene and the beautiful flowers further helped accentuate it's endearing beauty. The mansion could pass for a king's palace. There were fleets of exotic cars nicely parked at the garage.
   It was a very cool Saturday morning, the weather was so friendly unlike what had happened the previous weeks where it left everyone having to take a  shower almost every hour.
   Everyone in the Arowolo's mansion were overwhelmed with excitement as guests, friends and relatives trooped in and out of the mansion due to the event of the day- Alhaji Arowolo's first daughter Fauziyah is getting married. This probably explains the reason for the friendly weather, some guests thought.
    The bride, Fauziyah was in her room with her two besties Fareedah and Abimbola, who were getting her ready for her big day.
   " Ah, I'm so nervous, l..." Fauziyah said playfully.
   " What are you nervous about girl?" Abimbola cuts in." This is your big day and it happens once in a life time. That's if Allaah wills o. I pray you do it only once o, no drama, no divorce, no death, the both of you will grow old together and see your great, great, great grand children."  she said jokingly. " you need to be excited, cheer up joor and smile for me".
   They all laughed at Abimbola's  joke.
   Fauziyah gave a small grin " Look, Abimbola, it's not that I'm not excited, it's just that I am just... you know. I don't even understand how I feel".
    " Sis, I understand you perfectly well. I felt the same way when I was about to get married too. it's okay to feel that way. Just keep calm and let's get ready. you are already glowing. iyawo tuntun" Fareedah encouraged while giving her a big hug as she tried to cheer her up.
 
      Fauziyah and her besties have known each other right from secondary school. Out of her two besties, Fauziyah's favorite was Fareedah. she is a cool, kind and gentle girl that likes to play the role of a big sister to Fauziyah, even though she was a few months older than Fareedah.
   Abimbola on the other hand is a socialite. Her Muslim name is Balqees but she would rather prefer to be called Abimbola. She is the care free type and has an indifferent attitude towards being a practicing Muslim. Fauziyah made friends with her with the hope that she can help her become a better muslimah as she has become one herself. Apart from her care free attitude, Abimbola is funny and outspoken, she was one of the most popular girls in their secondary school due to her Socialite traits.

    The three friends have been together for so long and now that they attend the same University, it further helped strengthen their friendship bond.

     As Fauziyah prepared for her wedding, her mind flashed back to the events that had unfold before her big day. She vividly remembered the struggle, the pain, the agony and humiliation she encountered from her very own family before they could get her married as an undergraduate. She thought about how easy it was for her bestie Fareedah to get married when she wanted to, probably because of the kind of family she have. Fareedah's father was a Chief Imam who also doubles as a medical doctor at a private Hospital in Ikoyi. Her father had a better understanding of the Shari'a and could easily get Fareedah married when she requested for it. But for Fauziyah, her case was so different.

     She reminisced about the first day she met her husband-to-be, Muktar. It was her course mate Habeeb that had introduced them to each other at a Charity Event that was organized by their department.
   Muktar was a tall dark man with a big set of eyeballs that helped accentuate his handsomeness. His beards were nicely combed and the Kampala he wore fitted his gait perfectly.
     " Asalamualeikum" he said to Fauziyah after Habeeb introduced them to each other.
      " wa aleikum salaam sir" Fauziyah answered with her gaze lowered a bit to the floor.

     Fauziyah could not look at Muktar in the eyes because she wants to maintain her bashfulness, she was shy, too shy to look at his charming smile. She was trying to be as pious as possible and would not want entertain any lustful thought in her heart. She has been trying to uphold her piety since the day she decided to become  a practicing Muslim and she would never let her own desires ruin it.
     "oh please, I am not sir o, I'm still a small boy o. just call me Muktar okay". Muktar protested jokingly.

      "Alright sir...sorry... Muktar" Fauziyah replied.

   " My friend Habeeb has told me quite a lot about you and seeing you now explains everything". Muktar said while gazing at the flowers that surrounded the garden that was being used for the event. He watched as students from various institutions donated different relief items to charity.
      The both of them sat on a long wooden chair in the garden with a few distance apart from each other.
     " Honestly, I am serious about wanting to get married and I don't know what you think about me, but  from my own end, I will love you to be my wife insha Allaah" Muktar said as he turned to Fauziyah to hear her response and see her reaction.

Fauziyah's gaze was still fixed to the floor " I don't know what to say". she said almost silently. " you said Habeeb told you a lot about me, please, could you tell me the things he told you? I will like to know them if you don't mind?".

      Muktar looked away and said, " well, most of the things he told me were not too particular, that's why I would like to know more from you. He told me your age, tribe, that you are kind, friendly and jovial and that you are the first daughter of the oil tycoon, Alhaji Arowolo. He also told me about your intention to get married as an undergraduate. To say the fact, I don't think that getting married as an undergraduate is a big deal at all, but some people made it so. I am in my final year and I also intend to get married because I feel I'm old enough for marriage. May Allaah assist us"

 Fauziyah exhaled deeply " Aameen, What Habeeb told you is just a bit from what you need to know. Look Muktar, I don't just want to get married to any man but a man who is firm upon the Qur'an and sunnah. A man that will help me get better and keep my feet firm upon this Deen. Habeeb told me about you too. He said that you are an Ahlul Sunnah". Fauziyah chuckled.

    " yes, but, we are all Ahlul Sunnah in as much as we follow the injunctions of the Glorious Qur'an and sunnah". Muktar corrected.

" Na'am, very true. I think Habeeb is ignorant of that fact. May Allaah grant us understanding".
      They both chorused"Aameen"

  " As I was saying earlier, my intention to get married as an undergraduate has a few obstacles but I believe that by Allaah's mercy, l shall overcome them".

   "Subhanallah! what are these obstacles?" Muktar asked eagerly.

     "Hmmmmnnnn" Fauziyah sighed heavily.

    " please talk to me Fauziyah, I am here to help you overcome them". Muktar assured her with worries clearly showing on his face.




To be continued...


    written by
Ummu Muhsinah a.k.a Miss Da'wah
G.A.I © 2018

_For comments, observations, recommendations and sponsorship, contact Ummu Muhsinah on abisholah@gmail.com or watzapp @ 08188289658._