Blissful strife

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

CHAPTER TWO

         " Hmnnn" Fauziyah sighed again. " one of the obstacles is my family, especially my father. He doesn't want me to get married as an undergraduate. l am 25, I feel I am old enough to decide when I want to get married but he still treats me like a baby. Getting married is what I want right now but my Dad doesn't want that for me yet." she paused a bit to prevent herself from crying. She sniffed then continued her explanation, " I have been through a lot in my life Muktar. I was born into a Muslim family but I never practiced Islam the way a Muslim should. My parents were the busy type you know, they never taught us solah, sawm, and all other pillars of Islam. In my family, the daily routines are work, travels and parties. My Daddy rarely stays at home.  If he doesn't travel to China today, then it's India tomorrow or London the following day. He hardly spend much time with us. For me and my siblings, life was fun, fun, fun. We had everything money could buy but I still felt that emptiness deep within , I felt l was missing something . Something so valuable and priceless that money and all the riches of this world can't buy, but I could not decode what it was. So, I had a rough time knowing about Islam until I got admitted into the university. Alhamdullilah for the vibrant MSSN and the good sisters l met in school, they were the guide Allah had used to show me the light and made me see the true beauty of Islam. This is my fourth year in the University and I still have two  more years to complete my degree in veterinary medicine. But I don't think I can wait anymore, l can't"  Fauziyah adjusted her khimar. she didn't know why she was telling her story to Muktar but she already felt the need to do so. She needed someone to talk to, someone to hear her pain. lt was like lifting a heavy load off her chest and she felt a great relief within herself.

    She continued as Muktar listened with rapt attention. " Since the day I became a practicing Muslim, life has been a struggle. My father and I have not been in good terms right from the very first day he saw me in Khimar. It was the intervention of his close friend, Sheik Aliu, that made him allow me wear short Hijab. I only wear my Khimar when I'm in school. I have to hide them in my bag whenever I'm about going home because I know what my Dad is capable of doing if he sees the Khimar on me again. My parent look at me with disdain whenever they see me wearing the short Hijab, talk less of the khimar.  It's a sad situation for me but I believe that someday, they will accept me for who I am. Someday, they will understand that it's the right thing to do- this is what many Muslim parents want for their children but my own case is the entire opposite. I mean, there are parents out there praying for their children especially their daughters to be good muslimahs and great ambassadors of Islam. They pray for children that will always remember and pray for them that Allah put them in Jannah after their demise. My parent now have that on a platter of gold and they don't seem to realize it.  l have made some mistakes in the past that I am not proud of, but now that I have found Islam, I want to be a better person than I was yesterday. Getting married is what I need right now because it's a feeling I feel everyday".
Fauziyah concluded.


    " Alhamdullilah, Allaahu Akbar! " Muktar exclaimed after digesting all Fauziyah had been telling him. " l understand your  situation perfectly well. I feel your pain Fauziyah. But I want you to see whatever you are going through now as a test from Almighty Allaah. It is evident In Quran chapter twenty nine, Suratual Ankaboot, were Allaah says that we shall all face one trial or the order and there is no true servant of Allaah that would not be tested. I want you to read that surah and reflect on its teachings. There are many other surahs that lay emphasis on this. You will be tested with everything you have, your parents, your wealth, your family, everything! But one thing is paramount- Eeman. Once you have faith in Allah, you shall overcome every difficulty. I am ready to support you and help you get through it all insha Allah. Just have faith in Allaah's plan, everything will be okay" Muktar assured. " But you have not said anything about my proposal yet, what do you say about that?" Muktar asked with a smile.

   Fauziyah exhaled deeply," I am not in the position to decide that yet. I would like you to give me time to do my Istikaarah. I need Allaah's guidance. I will know what response to give you after seeking His infinite guidance, kindly exercise sabr".

    "ok then, I will, l am very patient, but please don't take tooooo long oooo" Muktar said  jokingly" I will also do mine too and I pray that Allaah in his infinite wisdom guide us aright".

   "Aameen, may Allaah also ease our affairs and continue to keep us firm on the Deen" Fauziyah prayed.

      "Aameen thuma Aameen" Muktar replied.

     They both rose from their sits, said their taslim and bade each other farewell.

               
                  ******************************


          Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Grrrrrrrrrrrrr Grrrrrrrrrrr! Fauziyah was suddenly woken up from sleep by the Screeching sound that emanated from her alarm clock. It was 12:30 am in the early hours of the morning. She had set the alarm the previous day to enable her wake up at midnight to perform her Istikaarah. She was an heavy sleeper and the only way she could do her istikarah was to set an alarm so that she could wake up at the appropriate time. Sleeping Heavily is one problem she is also trying to overcome. She wished she could wake up for Tahjud without her alarm clock disturbing her ears, but she couldn't. Not in her father's house where no one cared. She could only observe Tahjud at school with her roommate and bestie, Fareedah. Fareedah has been playing a better role than her Alarm clock by waking her up at the appreciate time with a gently tap. "Fauziyah, it's time for Tahjud, wake up, wake up!" She would say, very quietly.
   Abimbola her second roommate cared less, she just kept snoring away whenever they tried waking her up. Though, they always wake her up for Fagr, but this was only achieved after Fareedah had sprinkled a handful of water on her face. "Ohhhh, Fareedah you have started again o" Abimbola would whine angrily. "Can't you allow me sleep in peace? You sha like to disturb my beautiful sleep".
    "No, I'm not disturbing your sleep, it's very important that you wake up for fajr. You can always sleep later. Remember that prayer is better than sleep" Fareedah would always say.

     "Yes, Abimbola, you need to create time to remember your maker. The one who created you is more important than your sleep you know. Please get up to perform ablution and come and join us for Fagr" Fauziyah encouraged.

    " e se pupo ma, thank you very much Sunnah Alhajas. Both of you should just mind yourselves and stop pouring water on my face o" Abimbola would say defiantly while heading for the bathroom to perform ablution.
      "Oh Allaah, please make her a better Muslimah. Aameen" Fauziyah would pray silently as she watched Abimbola leave for the bathroom.



       Fauziyah waived the thoughts of her roommates behind and sluggishly got up from her king size bed and went into the bathroom to perform her ablution. Then she grabbed her prayer mat and  spread it on the floor .  She took her khimar from her traveling bag, wore it and proceeded to observe two Rakahs of voluntary prayer. After saying her taslim, she began to recite the dua for istikaarah that she had memorized at the madrasa she attended during her second year at the University:
     " Bismillah
     اللّهُـمَّ إِنِّـي أَسْتَخيـرُكَ بِعِاْـمِك، وَأسْتَقْـدِرُكَ بِقُـدْرَتِـك، وَأَسْـألُـكَ مِنْ فَضْـلِكَ العَظـيم، فَإِنَّـكَ تَقْـدِرُ وَلا أَقْـدِر، وَتَـعْلَـمُ وَلا أَعْلَـم، وَأَنْـتَ عَلاّمُ الغُـيوب، اللّهُـمَّ إِنْ كُنْـتَ تَعْـلَمُ أَنَّ هـذا الأمْـرَ- وَيُسَـمِّي حاجَتَـه - خَـيْرٌ لي في دينـي وَمَعـاشي وَعاقِـبَةِ أَمْـري، فَاقْـدُرْهُ لي وَيَسِّـرْهُ لي ثـمَّ بارِكْ لي فيـه، وَإِنْ كُنْـتَ تَعْـلَمُ أَنَّ هـذا الأمْـرَ شَـرٌ لي في دينـي وَمَعـاشي وَعاقِـبَةِ أَمْـري، فَاصْرِفَهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْـدُرْ لي الخَـيْرَ حَيْـثُ كانَ ثُـمَّ أَرْضِـني بِـه


O Allah, I seek the counsel of Your Knowledge, and I seek the help of Your Omnipotence, and I beseech You for Your Magnificent Grace. Surely, You are Capable and I am not. You know and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that Muktar is good for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare  in the life to come or afterlife then  ordain him for me and make it easy for me, then bless me with him. And if You know that Muktar is bad for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come, or afterlife - then distance him from me, and distance me from him, and ordain for me who is good wherever he may be, and help me to be content with him. Aameen".

     After making the dua for istikaraah, she stood up to perform six rakahs of voluntary prayer before going back to sleep.


                         ***********


      As weeks swiftly passed by, Fauziyah kept having the feeling that Muktar was the one for her. His thoughts enveloped her mind daily even though she haven’t seen him nor talk to him since their first meeting, until yesterday afternoon when he had sent her a text message for a second meeting. All she could do was hope for the best and see what Allaah has planned for her. They agreed to meet for the second time at a fast food eatery around Victoria Island. She was ready to accept Muktar's proposal and get herself ready for marital life if Allaah wills.

     Fauziyah pleaded with her immediate younger brother, Faheem to escort her to meet Muktar. As a practicing Muslimah, she understands the importance of having her Mahram by her side especially for such outing. In order to avoid fitnah and maintain her piety- she needs to do things the right way.

      Fauziyah had told Faheem about Muktar, immediately she got home after their first meeting. He was the only member of her family she could confide in. Faheem was so happy for her when she told him and was so eager to meet Muktar in person. " Masha Allaah sister, I'm so happy for you ooo, Ire a Kari o.I pray I find a pious sister to marry too someday" Faheem had said.
    "Aameen. But if you want a pious sister you also need to work towards being a pious brother. So that the both of you can raise pious children that can serve as a good role model to the generation unborn!" Fauziyah chipped in.
   " yes big sis. I will work towards that." Faheem promised.

      Faheem had seen a lot of positive changes in his sister since she began to practice and he had also vowed to change too and become a better person due to her positive influence and frequent teachings. He remembered the day she sat him down in the living room to give him a quick lecture about life-“ Faheem, what is the purpose of our existence in this world? Why are we here?” she had asked him “ l want you to know that there is more to this life than partying and frolicking around little brother, the Qur’an says that the life of this world is nothing but a temporary enjoyment that will fade away in no time. The true enjoyment is in the hereafter, that's if you strive to make it into Jannah. May Allaah count us among it dwellers. Aameen. Now, tell me, Where are the rich men of yesterday? Did their money and luxuries follow them to the grave? Their faith and deeds are the only partners that will be with them in the grave. Remember that we shall all be raised the way we die. Now tell me, how do you want to be raised? A believer or disbeliever?  Faheem, l want you to reflect on life and grab a hold of the Qur’an. Read the English version since you don’t understand Arabic. Read and see what Allah is telling us. Read suratul Naba, read Baqarah, read Suratul Nisai, read the whole of the Quran and start all over again. You can't get tired of reading it because the words are always fresh to the ears and soothing to the soul. I want you to also reflect on every word as you read them. For me, the Qur'an is the only book I know that could make a grown man cry so hard due to its powerful message. Know the true purpose of life from its right source which are the Quran and Hadith. My brother, the true purpose of life is to worship your Creator, Allaah Azzawajal. I want you to turn to Him in sincere repentance. He is the most merciful and most forgiving Lord and I have faith that He will forgive all your sins once you turn to him in sincere repentance. He is the owner of your life and everything you have. I urge you to submit to Him before it’s too late because we don’t know when the angel of death will come knocking. Let’s use the little time we have wisely. I want you to turn a new leave for Allah’s sake little brother. I promise to guide you through it all.”  Fauziyah had advised him.

     Since the day he received the short admonition from his sister, he vowed to stop going to the club and had also cut ties with his bad friends. It felt like he was finally being set free from a cage. This was what he had longed for, he knew  he was lost and needed someone to show him the way. He quit taking alcohol, gambling and had stopped doing other illicit activities he usually do. He doesn't misses his solah anymore, and has sincerely sought repentance from Allaah for all his misdeeds. He is now trying to keep upholding the dictates of the glorious Qur'an and Sunnah.  Thanks to his big Sister, Fauziyah, who made him a better man. He couldn't ask for a better sister, he had thought.

 ...to be continued


written by

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