A/N: As-Salaamu 'Alykum to All my lovely readers JazakhaAllah for reading my story if you like my story support it by commenting and voting if there are many people supporting my story I'll update regularly InshaAllah. hope you like it. If you are confused about a phrase or have a question comment or inbox me and I'll answer you all with the best of my abilities InshaAllah.

Rayaan P.O.V

My classes went well, the last time I saw Sophia was this morning in our general Bio class she was literally dead asleep and the teacher kept glancing at her trying to figure out what was wrong with her because with her hooded veil it was hard to tell but I could since I was sitting next to her. Sophia had a talent of sleeping anywhere at any time even on staircase when she feels tired, bored or simply to just sleep. It sometimes worries me. I texted her after I got out of my ceramics class so that we could find a place to pray Dhuhur together but she has yet to reply so I decided to find the place myself.

I spotted a Muslim sister wearing a forest green Jilbab and a black abaya so I approached her "hi... Umm... Assalamu Alykum sister." I greeted her witha smile as she looked up at me. At first she seemed to have a confused look on her face and then she frowned at me as though I did something wrong and looked at me up and down trying to decipher what to say back.

"Wa alyka." She simply said with an odd misplaced hostility "what can I help you with?" she asked looking at me as though I offended her or that she didn't want me to be seen with her. Ignoring her salam back to me and trying to not seem offended I asked her where the prayer place was.

"You are Muslim?"

"Yes, If I wasn't why would I be asking you where the prayer place was?" I replied stating the obvious

"How long have you been a Muslim sister?" she demanded

"All my life."

"So you must know that the hijab is wajib how are you going to pray dressed like that? Do your parents know that you took off your hijab and are dressed like the non-Muslims? The way you are dressed is so haraam sister" she said lecturing me I felt a bit stunned like someone had just slapped me who does she think she is to lecture me like that. I thought looking down at what I was wearing just a plain black Oversized Bat Sleeve Loose T-shirt, black leggings, boots, a light grey thick slouchy knitted oversized beanie cap hat that matched my grey purse and my hijab wrapped around my neck like a scarf. I didn't see anything wrong with how I looked, I was covered up. What's her problem.

"Are you trying to say I am not Muslim?" I asked trying to calm down my rising temper as she glared at me and I narrowed my eyes at her daring to say yes.

"How I am to know when you are dressed like them? You are sending the wrong message to them dressed like that. You should have hayya." She replied still glaring at me. My hands were itching to slap her so I fisted both of them. Trying hard not to snap at her. This is not happening to me I told myself this can't be real 'Audhu Bi llahhi Mina Shayttani Rajim (I seek protection from God against the Devil) because it felt like she was personally attacking me without knowing me.

"JazakhaAllah Khayr sister" I said through my teeth and turned to walk away remembering a hadith of the prophet peace be upon him saying the strongest of you is not he who can fight, but rather he who can restrain his anger right at a moment of strife. I walked away not because I was a coward, but that I was always taught if you don't have anything nice to say to someone. Don't say it at all and at that moment I seriously did not have anything nice to say to her. I don't want any thambii (sin) because of her. She really wasn't worth it even though she ruined my day. I Alhamdulillah spotted Ethan at a benched outside with a couple of guys and went up to him.

"Salaamu 'Alykum brother sorry for interrupting you guys but I was wondering if you knew where the prayer place is. I've been searching for a while and can't find it."

"wa alykum Salaam. No problem. the brothers and I here were just about to head over there."

"JazakhaAllah Khayr."

"Guys this is... " he paused trying to remember my name "Ryan right?" he asked to confirm it

"No Rayaan." I said correcting him

"Yeah Rayaan, Rayaan this Is Abdi." gesturing towards the guy sitting on the bench who seemed to be critically staring at me I mean come on lower your gaze man. I demanded inside my head still a bit pissed at the hostile encounter. "This kid right here is Muhammad." he gestured towards the one that looked like a little kid with smile ting widely at me with dimples that made him look younger but somehow I knew he was at least eighteen. I smiled back at him and waved back at him"and those two are Abdurahman and Abdullahi." they looked a lot alike but not completely alike they had some differences like the hair, body structure, one looked bigger than the other and the other one wore glasses but you could tell they were related. I couldn't help but label them the jock and the geek twins. I though smiling to myself about the lam joke

"Are you two siblings?"

"Yeah but fraternal twins though." The jock looking one confirmed

"Like you and Sophia." Ethan commented a bit distracted. I wanted to ask how he came up with that conclusion but didn't get the chance

"You have a twin." beamed the one with the glasses 

"Yes she does but she covers her face." Ethan answered before I could.

"Interesting I wonder why she hasn't told you to cover your hair." Abdi commented finally speaking

"That doesn't concern you man." Muhammad said sternly glaring at Ahmed  looking more offended than I did "lets go guys we got to pray." and walked off as the rest of the guys followed him except Ethan

"Sorry about him he sometimes is an ass don't take what he says seriously. come on lets go. His jokes sometimes go out of hand."

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The room was small but still had room for more people Sophia and two other girls were in the back praying. I went near them and dropped my purse took off my hat and gathered my hair in a loos mess bun and wrapped my hijab around my head and started to pray solo. After prayer I felt calm and all the stress and anger I had vanished. The sweetness of salah is that it solves all your problems if you pray to the one you created you and ask him for guidance. Leaving the room I knew Sophia was waiting for me

"Ready to go." she asked as I undid my hijab and my hair and put my hat back on.

"Yeah lets go." we got to the bus stop just in time before it left us. Sophia seemed to be deep in thought and I decided not to interrupt her as I took my phone out and scrolled through new feeds on Tumblr. Before we got home we stopped by caribou and I ordered some coffee and Sophia a shake, she's never been a coffee person.

"Sophia habibty do you think I am a bad person just because I don't wear hijab?" I finally asked her the question that has been stabbing me in the heart ever since my encounter with the green hijabi

"No, you are the most bubbliest person I know and you shouldn't listen to what other people say. Wear it when you are ready and you find your own reason to wear it. Allah gave us free will, and the hijab should be your choice to wear it not someone else's because religion has no compulsion. You shouldn't feel burdened to wear it. If you are not ready kalaas your not. The Hijab isn't only covering up your hair and body its also about having good character. Which I truly believe you have. InshaAllah one day you'll wear it without any insecurities and I will always love you the same. InshaAllah you will find the reason, for our intention are half our Deen."