بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi

1. In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

1. Qul huwa Allahu ahadun

1. Say (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)): "He is Allah, (the) One.

اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ

2. Allahu alssamadu

2. "Allah-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks).

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

3. Lam yalid walam yooladu

3. "He begets not, nor was He begotten;

وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

4. Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahadun

4. "And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him."

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi

1. In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ

1. Qul aAAoothu birabbi alfalaqi

1. Say: "I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the daybreak,

مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ

2. Min sharri ma khalaqa

2. "From the evil of what He has created;

وَمِنْ شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ

3. Wamin sharri ghasiqin itha waqaba

"And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away).

وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ

4. Wamin sharri alnnaffathati fee alAAuqadi

4. "And from the evil of the witchcrafts when they blow in the knots

وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ

5. Wamin sharri hasidin itha hasada

5. "And from the evil of the envier when he envies

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi

1. In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ

1. Qul aAAoothu birabbi alnnasi

1. Say: "I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind,

مَلِكِ النَّاسِ

2. Maliki alnnasi

2. "The King of mankind,

إِلَٰهِ النَّاسِ

3. Ilahi alnnasi

3. "The Ilah (God) of mankind,

مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ

4. Min sharri alwaswasi alkhannasi

4. "From the evil of the whisperer (devil who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who withdraws (from his whispering in one's heart after one remembers Allah),

الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ

5. Allathee yuwaswisu fee sudoori alnnasi

5. "Who whispers in the breasts of mankind,

مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ

6. Mina aljinnati wa alnnasm

6. "Of jinns and men."

I completed the recitation with my voice cracking and tears of joy rolling down my cheeks. I looked up and saw the irresistible smile on my husband's face. His face was shinning with pure love and happiness.

He immediately prostrated and I followed suit. When I rose up from the sujudu shukr, Muhammad's arms were wide open, I rushed into his arms and embraced him tightly.

"I am so proud of you Roohi, Alhamdulilah, Alhamdulilah, you did it. May Allah reward you incredibly for this, " He hugged me tightly and whispered into my ears.

"We did it,we did it"I corrected. I leaned on his shoulders and he wrapped his right hand around me.

"Alhamdulilah, all praise and thanks be to Allah. I have never been happier than I am today, Roohi,"

"Even the day you completed yours?" I asked him.

"Not even the day I completed my own hifdh, that should come second. And the day you married me, third,"

We stayed like that for sometime thanking Allah and feeling so happy for my biggest achievement in this life.

"How's my baby girl doing?," he asked after sometime looking at my six-weeks old tummy.

"She must be so proud of her Ummie," he added. I blushed and gave him a kiss on his cheeks," He must be proud of his Abbi too," .

"It's a she, I know it, I could feel it,"he argued, I laughed. "Whatever,"

"I felt very happy the day you agreed to marry me. I thought it was going to be my happiest day in this world but you've proven me wrong. You make me happier every single day. You have no idea what you do to me, I am so blessed to have you," he confessed. I stared at him teary, feeling so satisfied. Even after three years of marriage, Muhammad still made me speechless with his words.

"I love you,"I muttered. And it wasn't the kind of 'I love yous' I used to say to Hamdan. It was only now I realized what love means. The feelings I felt for Hamdan were not even up to a single percentage of this. The feelings I had now were just so different. I could take a bullet for this person I love. That's love. It's really a strong word, I didn't know why teenagers use it anyhow.

His face broke into his beautiful dimpled smile. The dimple I fell in love with from day one. He stared back at me, his eyes showing so much passion. A knock at the door ruined our moment. With a groan he stood up but not before giving me a quick kiss. Even before he opened the door, I heard the deep voices of Hassan and Hussain.

Baba entered the living room first, followed by Mama then the twins.

"Congratulations Babyta, Allah yasa albarka, Allah yasa anyi a sa'a," Baba gave me a hug. I hugged him back then asked how he knew.

"My son inlaw told me,". I glared at my husband. He shrugged off his shoulders and mouthed, "sorry,".

Mama congratulated me next saying a lot of prayers too. She was so happy. "Two of my daughters are Hafizai, alhamdulilah alhamdulilah, may Allah reward you both,"

"We have the best graduating students here," I beamed when I saw the twins. It was so annoying how I had to look up before meeting their eyes as they had both grown taller than me. They graduated from secondary school last week and came out with fantastic results. For the first time in KPC the award of the best graduating student was given to two students instead of one. The two identical twins.

"And here is the Hafiza, Ya Uztaza, we are so proud of you," each of them gave me a side hug.

"Allah sa anyi don tsoron Allah," Hussain chimed, I glared at him though it was still a nice dua and muttered ," ameen. "

"I can't believe we were in Aali'imran when you started Baqarah. You have completed the whole qur'an and we are here still in forty hizbs,"

I stuck my tongue out at them and whispered," the perks of having a loving hafiz husband".

"Yaya Muhammad,"

"Yaya Najib!,"

For the first time in years the twins said something different at the same time. They looked at each other and then said, "Yaya Muhammad Najib!!,"

He rose up from the squatting position that he greeted Baba and Mama in and turned around to look at the twins.

"It's not fair," they complained.

He gave them a clueless look, "what's not fair?"

"When you started hadda with Ya Hameeda we had memorised five hizbs ahead of her and she didn't even know the Makharijil huruf and couldn't recite with correct Tajweed but now she has completed the whole Qur'an and if you hear her recitation you will think its the female version of Yasir addosary."

Najib whom I prefer to call Muhammad now let out a deep hearty laughter. His dimples appeared, he winked at me before saying, "Well what can I say, my wife is always the best at everything,".

I brought water for my parents and brothers as there were no drinks nor snacks to give them. They drank quietly while I video-called Uncle Nour. Uncle Nour was doing his Phd in Islamic Finance and Accounting in Malasiya.

"Dr Nour," I beamed immediately his face came to view.

"Assalama alaikum Amumu, how have you been?"After we finished talking, I passed my phone to the others to say hi. He was so happy when he heard about my hadda too. He was so happy that he told me these hadiths.

It is narrated from Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Amr that Rasulullah(SAW) said: Allah will say to a Hafiz (upon his death and on the day of Qiyaamat) 'Recite the Quran and (upon reciting each Verse) climb (a stage in Jannah) and continue reciting as you used to in the world as your abode in Jannah is upon the last verse you recite.' (Mishkaat vol.1 pg.186; Me'raaj)

The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said, "Allah has His own people among mankind." They said: "O Messenger of Allah, who are they?" He said: "The people of the Qur'an are the people of Allah and those who are closest to Him'"
Source: Ibn Majah no. 215 - [Hasan]

"Alhamdulilah, Alhamdulilah," Everyone kept muttering. When Najib saw the happy faces of my parents he added, "I guess you don't know about this hadith too,"

Mu'aadh al-Juhani narrates that Rasulullah (S.A.W) said, 'Whosoever recites the Quran and practices upon its injunctions, the reciter's parents will be given a crown on the day of Qiyaamat. The brightness of that crown will be more intense than the brightness of the sun in your actual house.'

Rasulullah (S.A.W) further said, 'What do you think will be given to the Hafiz (reciter) of the Quran himself?'" (Mishkaat Vol I.)

I have never seen my parents happier than this. Their eyes lit up and the corner of their mouths broke into wide smiles.

"Ya Allah ya Allah, Alhamdulilah," They hugged me tightly praising, praying and blessing me.

It really felt like yesterday when I started giving my hadda to Najib who at that time I saw just as a local friend of Uncle Nour who couldn't differentiate between p and f, 'Danmaula'.  I still remembered the day I gave him Fatiha and the first page of Baqarah. Who could have thought that today, five years later, I would be married to him and recite the last page of the Qur'an to him.

"Yaya Rukkaya is on her way," Hussain rejoiced about fifteen minutes later. Rukky and her husband moved to another state about two years ago and only visited on weekends or holidays. Not less than twenty minutes later, we heard a loud honk. Hussain rushed out and came back a minute later with Manal in his hands. Following behind him were Ya Rukkaya and Ya Aheed with their trolleys.

"We are keeping our promise, we are sleeping over today,"Rukkaya said immediately she stepped in.

"Hello beautiful," I greeted my three year old niece taking her in my hands. She gave me a toothless smile and said something like Anty Hameeda. She was the exact replica of Muklis when he was alive. Her eyes were dark brown just like his. She had chubby cheeks with curly hair that was now packed in colourful ribbons. Immediately she set her eyes on Baba, she struggled out of my hold and ran to him.

"Baba Baba Baba," She shouted excitedly.

"How are you? my princess," he picked her up and placed her on his laps. And as usual the attention of the whole room turned to the little cute creature.

" I am jealous of this girl," I complained.

"Because Baba likes her more than you?" Ya Rukky asked from behind.

"Exaclty, she has taken away my position. She is now everyone's favourite," . The whole room laughed.

"Everyone's except Najib's," Ya Aheed joked.

I welcomed Ya Rukky and Ya Aheed while they congratulated me on my hadda and pregnancy.

And what was better than a lovely night with your family members. We had a wonderful night. The boys played Fifa 21 while Baba, Mama, Yaya Rukky and I chatted about everything ranging from our childhood, Nigerian politics, Islamic stuffs, the latest news to the latest designers bags and the rest.

If six years ago you were to tell me in the few coming years I would be sitting with my parents and family in my husband's living room I would have laughed, but here I was, life is just unpredictable.

At about 11pm Baba decided it was time to go home. Hassan who was in a middle of a very competitive game with Ya Aheed, didn't want to go home and had to beg Mama to let him stay over too.

"No No No, you can't. Ya Hameeda already has guests. The house is already filled up. You can come another time,"

"But Mama,"

"No, No, where do you want to sleep?".

Here we go again. Mama thought the house was too small to accomodate more than five people just because it's a two room apartment. Hassan gave me that look siblings give you when they want to you to intercede on their behalf.

"Mama please, the house would be enough. They can sleep in the living room. The chairs are so comfortable, trust me, right Habibi?". Najib nodded his head.

"You don't have a maid and you have guests," Mama shook her head.

"Maid isn't a problem, they are not kids, they can do everything themselves. The more guests, the more fun,"

I let out a sigh of relief when after about ten minutes, Mama finally agreed to let them stay. All of us saw them out. Baba handed me a white envelop when I waved him goodnight.

"Congratulations once again," he said.

"What's that?" Najib asked when we went back inside.

"A present Baba gave me," I answered.

He took a look at the envelope and sighed," Is it a cheque?". I shook my head indicating I didn't know then sat next to him and held his hand. Najib still felt insecure that he couldn't provide for all I wanted.

"I don't need any money, I have you and that's all that matters," I spoke honestly.

"Have I ever told you, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me?" His frown turned into a huge smile.

I scrunched my face, "I can't remember,"

"Well you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you to infinity and beyond," .

I dumped the envelop inside my wardrobe and joined my guests in the living room. As usual the the men kept playing Fifa while Rukkaya and I supported our husbands, talked and played with Manal.

"Go Baby, Go Baby," Rukkaya kept shouting when Aheed was playing his last game with Najib while I kept shouting, " You can do this habibi, I know you can do this,"

Hassan was supporting Ya Aheed and as usual, Hussain was on our side. Manal was the only one not bothered with the game.

"You can do this , you can do this. Its a goooooaaaaaaaaal," I shouted just as a player from Arsenal kicked the ball into the goal post.

"Yaaaaayyyyy," I jumped on Najib and we celebrated together. I stuck my tongue out at Ya Aheed and Ya Rukkaya.

"Its okay, the game has not ended yet, I know you will score again Love," Rukkaya was telling Aheed.

The game continued, about ten seconds towards the end of the game Ya Aheed got possesion of the ball and entered the penalty area of Najib. The music on the Fifa game sounded appealing to the ears of Manal and she started dancing. The Barcelona player kicked the ball but just before it hit the goal post the TV went off, all eyes turned to the direction of Manal. She was still dancing that she didn't even notice she had touched the wires and switched off the game.

"Not fair," Rukkaya hissed. While we all laughed. After playing some other games and video-calling Uncle Nour again, we retired for the night.

I was woken up by the deep breathy voice of my husband.

"Roohi, it's tahajjud time"

I yawned and covered my head with my blankets, " Is it already time?"

"It is,". I opened my eyes and saw my husband standing over me. His hair and beard was wet with water indicating he had just finished his wudhu. With the lamp as the only source of light in the room, his face was shinning. He looked breathtakingly handsome.

"Give me five more minutes,"I mumbled closing my eyes.

"Do you want me to sprinkle water on your face,?" I heard his sweet threatening voice but ignored him. Few minutes later I felt three droplets of water on my face and immediately woke up.

"You promised me do to everything I could to wake you up for tahajjud," he shrugged off his shoulders.  "And also the prophet was reported to have said, " "

I scrunched up my face before pushing him off the bed and going to do my wudhu. When I came back three minutes later, two prayer mats were already spread open as usual. I took my hijab and positioned behind him and in the next second his melodious recitation of Fatiha filled the room. Even though I had been praying behind him over the past five years, each time I prayed behind him and heard his melodious recitation I got feelings of happiness, gratefulness and satisfaction within me. I was so thankful to Allah (SWT) for blessing me with a husband like him.

As usual, after the tahajjud prayer we prayed for everything we could think of. Najib went to the masjid to pray fajr , I prayed at home and did my adhkar while waiting for him to come back. By the time he came back I was already done with my adhkar. He smiled at me and sat down facing me.

"Are you ready," he asked, I nodded my head in reply to him.

"Let's start then, where did we stop?"

"Suratul Taha,". Together we started reciting the glorious book.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi

1. In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

طه

Taha

1. Ta-Ha. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings.]

مَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقَىٰ

2. Ma anzalna AAalayka alqurana litashqa

2. We have not sent down the Quran unto you (O Muhammad SAW) to cause you distress,

إِلَّا تَذْكِرَةً لِمَنْ يَخْشَىٰ

3. Illa tathkiratan liman yakhsha

3. But only as a Reminder to those who fear (Allah).

تَنْزِيلًا مِمَّنْ خَلَقَ الْأَرْضَ وَالسَّمَاوَاتِ الْعُلَى

4. Tanzeelan mimman khalaqa alarda waalssamawati alAAula

4. A revelation from Him (Allah) Who has created the Earth and high heavens.

الرَّحْمَٰنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَىٰ

5. Alrrahmanu AAala alAAarshi istawa

5. The Most Beneficent (Allah) Istawa (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty).

لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمَا تَحْتَ الثَّرَىٰ

6. Lahu ma fee alssamawati wama fee alardi wama baynahuma wama tahta alththara

6. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and all that is between them, and all that is under the soil.

وَإِنْ تَجْهَرْ بِالْقَوْلِ فَإِنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ السِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى

7. Wain tajhar bialqawli fainnahu yaAAlamu alssirra waakhfa

7. And if you (O Muhammad SAW) speak (the invocation) aloud, then verily, He knows the secret and that which is yet more hidden.

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ لَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ

8. Allahu la ilaha illa huwa lahu alasmao alhusna

8. Allah! La ilahla illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)! To Him belong the Best Names.

(Taha, 1-8)

In the next one hour we were done with 4 hizbs. As the sun started rising, we prayed four raka'ats of duha nafila and went back to bed. This was our everyday morning routine.

I lay back on my bed and snuggled with my covers but even after a few hours I couldn't go back to sleep, instead, I started admiring my husband. Now that he was my Halal prince I could stare at him for as long as I wished to. He looked so attractive while sleeping. I ran my
fingers through his curly hair then lay my head on his chest. Even though he was sleeping, he immediately wrapped his hand around me. And it was only then I felt comfortable. In the arms of my husband where I truly belonged.

If only you knew what we went through before reaching here. They were times that I almost gave up on marrying him, but he; he was amazing, he fought for us and proved to everyone how much he loved me.

Even though I was so hurt after he left ,immediately after  I read the letter I forgave him and realized how deep I had fallen for him. But you know how girls are, though I had forgiven him and longed to marry him, I kept ignoring him. After what he did I wouldn't just run back to his arms. 'Jan aji,' as Hausa call it.

I kept playing hard to get until I could no longer do it. I told Uncle Nour my decision to marry him and he immediately informed Najib. Najib came with his uncles the next day asking for my hand. To say Baba was surprised would be an understatement.

To cut the story short, Baba and Baba Yahya disagreed. That I was too young, I had to finish university first and that he was just not the right guy for me. He was hurt but nevertheless, he didn't give up. He told me Allah is the best of planners, I shouldn't worry. Everything is going to go right.

I was devasted and had almost given up when one night Baba called me. He sat me down and asked me why I wanted to get married at the age of nineteen. The answer I gave astonished him. The answer was I didn't want to engage in a haram relationship.

He then asked why Najib. Najib may not able to provide for all my needs and wants, may not be able to take good care of me. "Because it's Najib I love," I answered him with a smile." I love him because of his deen, akhlaq, kindness but most importantly I love him because he loves me and I know he would do everything he could to make me happy."

"Tell Mama to start the wedding preparations then,"

And that was how six months later we got married. Baba adviced that I should stay at home though until I finish university and until he becomes economically stable. So I stayed at home for a year and a half. Well it was all worth the wait.

I didn't realize Najib was awake until he whispered, "What are you thinking of," sending a shiver down my spine.

"You," I answered with a smile. He gave me a lingering good morning kiss on my forehead before he started getting ready for the day.

The day was a Sunday so we got ready to go to cikin gari. At 12, there were two cars ready to go to cikin gari. Aheed, Rukkaya, Hassan  and Manal were in their car and would go to Manal's paternal grandparent's house before going to Kakani's place while Hussain, my husband and I were in the other car and were going to pick Marwa first before going there. Bilkisu and Marwa were both in their second year of secondary school in the same school and were the best of friends. They met up at any chance they got. When Marwa heard we were going to cikin gari and Bilkisu was going too, she begged her brother to come and pick her up.

The mud house as usual was filled with aunties, uncles and cousins. There were babies crying, children running up and down playing various games and women chattering. There was so much noise, jokes and laughter, just the way I liked it.

We passed by the soro, I looked at my husband and saw him already staring at me. This place held a lot of memories for us. In the compound, a big pot was on the firewood cooking the lunch for the day. Aseeya was standing next to the pot stirring the stew.

"How's Kakani?" I asked her when she greeted us. Her smile turned into a frown.

"She has refused to eat anything since morning. And she keeps forgeting people, an hour ago she asked who Khaleed was,"

I swallowed a lump in my throat and rushed into Kakani's living room. Mama, Baba, Baba Yahya, Khaleed and Bilkisu were already there. Marwa saw Bilkisu and ran to her. I greeted everyone and sat next to Khaleed who was seated on the carpet next to Kakani's couch. Kakani was lying down on her couch facing the wall.

"Is she sleeping?" I whispered while asking Khaleed. He shook his head, " She is just pretending to sleep so that we won't force her to eat,". I sighed. Old women can be troublesome.

"She couldn't recognize me this morning," Khaleed told me, his voice was shaking and his eyes were glassy.

"I am sorry," was all I could say.

"Kakani," I called. I called several times again but she ignored me.

"Khaleed since Kakani is sleeping let's go and take her sweets,". It was only then she turned around. She started staring at me as if trying to remember me. I felt my heartbeat increasing, "Ya Allah don't let her forget me," I whispered.

"Who.....?"she started saying. I felt tears gathering in my eyes.

"Who woke me up from my sleep, ?"

"Is it you Hauwa?" she asked. I was so happy that I didn't know when I hugged her tightly.

"Don't break my bones you little girl, do you want my Husband to stop loving me?" she said winking at Najib. We all laughed.

"Whatever you say old woman, you can't snatch my husband"

"He is already mine, aren't you Najib?"she fluttered her eyelashes at him.

"Ofcourse you are the only one I love," Najib joked back. Soon again the room was back to it's normal lively room filled with laughter. After begging Kakani to eat she agreed but insisted Najib must spoon feed her. I called Leena and we talked for sometime. Leena was in India, in her last year of university studying medicine.

An hour later Aheed, Rukkaya, Manal and Salma, Aheed's sixteen year old sister that graduated with the twins joined us. Aheed and Rukkaya squatted and greeted the elders. When Rukkaya dropped Manal, she looked in between Baba and Baba Yahya undoubtedly thinking about who among them is her grand dad. She scrunched her face and looked in between the two men who were both wearing Babban riga and who both had white beard. We all turned our attention to her wanting to see who she will choose. She took steady steps towards Baba Yahya, she studied Baba Yahya's face, when she noticed the frown on his face she shook her head and ran to Baba. We all held back our laughter.

Salma greeted the elders waved and smiled at her ex classmates, Hassan and Hussain, hugged me and sat next to me. She looked very pretty in her ankara skirt and blouse with her head tie, tied neatly like a turban. She was quite a talkative girl just like her late brother.

"Is that Khaleed Aminu?" She asked clearly surprised when Khaleed entered the room.

"One of the richest young men in Nigeria?" She asked again and I nodded my head.

"How do you know him?"

"Nabil and Nabila are my close friends, they talked about him all the time," She smiled and continued using her phone.

"Omg!! They have broken up again,"I heard her shouting. Just for the sake of the continuing conversation, I asked her who.

"Hamdan and Safa,"

"Hamdan and Safa??? Wow they were still together?"

"They have been going on and off for the past years. I think this will be their last break up though. This is just too bad. Just look at how insulting their messages were," Salma started laughing, passing her phone to me. When I read the messages I felt happy. Happy that I chose the right path. Happy that I was now settled with a loving husband and not going about dating different guys. Happy that I was not generating sins for myself by being in a haram relationship.

The rest of the day was fun. We had a really nice time. At nine, we started getting ready to go back home. Baba and Mama left with the twins leaving us behind. We said goodnight to Kakani and headed out.

"I haven't seen my baby through out today? Where is she?" Khaleed asked Ruqqaya and me.

"Everyone loves Manal more than me now," I pouted. Khaleed stuck his tongue at me, watched Manal that was in Salma's arms before heading towards their direction. I watched with keen interest as Khaleed took Manal from Salma, threw her up and caught her while Salma watched with a smile as Manal broke into giggles. From the way Salma was looking at Khaleed, I guessed what she was thinking ; what a caring father Khaleed would be. Khaleed held Manal and Salma closed her eyes with her hands and opened them making Manal laugh. I could hear their laughter from where I was standing, I looked up and saw Khaleed and Salma looking at each other with smiles on their faces.

When I heard my phone ringing in the car , I knew who it was before I even picked up.

"What's up Khaleed?"

"Hameeda omg she is so pretty, have you seen her smile? It is just so Ma Shaa Allah."

I laughed and said, "I know,"

"So twinny ya za ayi?"

I came back home very tired and immediately started getting ready for the night. Opening my wardrobe to pick my night gown I saw a white envelop lying there.

"Habibi are you the one that kept this envelope here?" I shouted.

"No I didn't keep any envelop," he shouted back. I stared weirdly at the envelope then remembered I was the one that kept it yesterday. Wondering what was inisde it, I started opening it. Immediately I did I screamed omg omg omg!!!Ya Allah Ya Allah. A second later Najib was in our room.

"What's wrong? Is everything alright Roohi?" he rushed to my side. I passed the envelop to him, his face broke into a big smile, he lifted me up and twirled me when he finished reading the contents.

"Alhamdulilah our prayers have been answered,"

The envelope Baba gave me yesterday contains four tickets, two each to Saudi and Dubai.

●

"Here is the Rawda,Rawda literally means garden" Najib marveled.

"It is the the area between the Minbar and the burial chamber of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). It has been reported from Abu Huraira that the Prophet (SAW) said the area between my house and my Minbar is one of the gradens and (riyad, sings, rawda) of paradise and my Minbar is on my cistern (hawd) narrated by Bukhari 1196; Muslim 1319," he beamed.

We started packing the minute we finished our celebration for seeing the tickets. And three days later we booked our flight to Jidda. We spent a night there. And here we were today at Madina in Masjid Annabawwiiyy.

"The Rawda area for women is open after fajr, zuhr and Isha prayers. When you come here tomorrow, pray nafilas and supplicate for everything you want in the dunyaa and Akhira for prayers here are always answered," As Najib had been here before, he was showing me around and telling me things.

The Masjid Annabawiiy was truly exquisite. The two tiered mosque had a rectangular plan. The ottoman prayer hall faced towards the south. It had a flat paved roof topped with 27 sliding on square bases. Holes pierced into the base of each dome illuminating the interior making it look more magnificient. The paved area around the mosque was also used for prayer, equipped with umbrella tents.

The walls, composed of a series of windows topped by pointed arches with black and white wedge like stones. There were six peripheral towers attached to the new extension, and four others frame the Ottoman structure. The mosque was lavishly decorated with polychrome marble and stones. The columns were of white marble with brass capitals supporting slightly pointed arches, built of black and white stones. The foot of the column had ventilation grills that regulate the temperature inside the prayer hall.

Everything was breathtaking. Its awe insipiring to finally see the Masjid Annabawiiy with naked eyes and not just in the TV like I usually did.

The next day after subhi, I visted the Rawdah. There were no words to describe how I felt. Subhannallah. Seeing the tomb of the Prophet ( SAW) and his two successors was just so mind blowing. I prayed the two Ra'kah nafila and made dua for everything I could think of. The best in this world and in the hereafter.

●

Black is beautiful! I thought as I kept watching the magnificient black building. It was truly beautiful. The building was covered with silk curtain and caligraphy in gold and silver thread called the kiswa. Some part of the kiswa had the embroidery of the Qur'an while another part had the Shahada. After we spent a week in Madina, we came to Makkah. We entered the Masjid haram with our right foot and supplicated.

Bismillaah wa'l-salaatu wa'l-salaam 'ala Rasoolillaah. Allaahumma ighfir li dhunoobi waftah li abwaab rahmatika. A'oodhu Billaah il-'azeem wa bi wajhihi'l-kareem wa bi sultaanihi'l-qadeem min al-shaytaan il-rajeem (In the name of Allaah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, forgive my sins and open to me the gates of Your mercy. I seek refuge in Allah the Almighty and in His noble Face and in His eternal Power, from the accursed Shaytaan)."

labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk, innal-hamda wan-ni'mata laka wal-mulk, laa shareeka lak" ("In response to your call O Allah I perform 'Umrah, here I am O Allah. In response to Your call. You have no partner. In response to Your call. All Praise and Blessings, and the Ownership of all that You created is Yours (alone). You have no partner.")

Najib was beside me wearing his white ihram garments, one covering his lower body and the other his upper body. While I was wearing a black abaya smiling wholeheartedly and feeling supercalifragilisticexpialidocious ( A/N. Its a real word) as I saw the Baitullah for the very first time.

Around the black cubed shape building were hundreds or thousands of people circumambulating it, doing their tawafs. The men were all in white hirams while the women were mostly in black abayas while others in different colours. I watched in awe how people from all over the world, people who speak different languages, people from different ethnic groups and different backgrounds , the rich and the poor, the black and the white, the employee and the employer were all united as one. It was enchanting.

We immediately joined the tawaf and subhannallah, it was just so amazing. We started from the Hajarul aswad, the black stone . It was cemented into a silver frame by the side of ka'aba. It's physical appearance was that of a fragmented dark rock polished by the hands of millions of pilgrims. I got a chance to kiss the smooth Al-Hajarul aswad and the feeling I got after doing, OMG, it was indescribable. Najib told me a hadith that the Prophet (SAW) said that the rukn and the maqam are the two precious stones of Paradise whose light has been extinguished by Allah. If he had not extinguished their light, it would illuminate everything between the East and West.

"Make supplication from your heart, for that which will benefit you. Recite whatever you wish, supplicate to Allah by asking for good, recite the Quran, anything you wish. There are no specific statements or supplications to be recited during the Tawaaf that are authentically established in the Sunnah," he told me.

We circumambulated around the ka'abah seven times supplicating to the Lord of the heavens and the Earth touching only the yemeni corner and the Black Stone as that's the sunnah. Each time we came in line with the Black Stone we said 'Allahu akbar' and each time we came in between the yemeni corner and the black stone we supplicated,

Rabbana aatina fi'l-dunya hasanah wa fi'l-aakhirah hasanah wa qina 'adhaab al-naar(Our Lord, give us that which is good in this world and that which is good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire)."

We finished circumambulating the ka'aba seven times starting and ending at the Black Stone then headed to the maqam Ibrahim.We prayed two raka'ah nafila in the maqam Ibrahim. It was a little building with a small dome. Prophet Ibrahim (AS ) stood there when building the ka'aba therefore the mark of his feet are miraculously preserved. We supplicated, "And take you (people) the Maqaam (place) of Ibraheem as a place of Prayer..." [Quran: 2:125.]

When we came near the safa we recited,"

Verily, As-Safaa and Al-Marwah are from the symbols of Allah. So it is not a sin on him who performs Hajj or 'Umrah of the house (ka 'bah) to perform the going (tawaaf) between them. And whoever does good voluntarily, then verily, Allah is the All-Recognizer, All-Knower." [Quran; 2:158]

We climbed as-Safa, turned to face towards the qiblah, raised our hands, magnified and praised Allah(SWT): "Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu'l-mulk wa lahu'l-hamd wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadeer; Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu anjaza wa'dah wa nasara 'abdah wa hazama al-ahzaaba wahdah (There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner or associate, His is the dominion and to Him be praise, and He is able to do all things; there is no god but Allah alone, He fulfilled His promise and granted victory to His slave and defeated the confederates alone).

We travelled back and forth the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times, praising our Lord at each end of a lap. Najib told me about how Hajar the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (As) ran between the hills of Safa and Marwa looking for water for her son Prophet Ismail (AS) until Allah (SWT) reaveled to her the Zamzam water.

After Najib shaved his hair and I cut a finger tip of mine we removed our ihrams. We walked around the Masjid admiring it.

I was looking down at the thousands of people doing there tawafs wondering how on earth these thousands of people will be organized in proper lines when someone said a single sentence and in the next minute the thousands of people immediately formed circles and lines. It was the imam that said,

istahoo sufoofakum wa laa takhtalifoo, yarhamunee wa yarhamukullaah. ( straighten your lines, and do not deviate (make the lines crooked); may Allah bless you and me.")

We were all in lines when the Imam said his takbir. I recognized the voice of the Imam immediately he started reciting Fatiha, after all he was the one Najib copied. I couldn't believe it. The melodious voice filled the whole mosque. I couldn't believe I was praying behind Imam Abdulraham As-Sudais. It was overwhelming.

After the Isha prayer we headed to the Zamzam water and drank the distinct salty water. The well was artificially shaped and laid with stones , the deeper part goes through the bedrock. The supply of zamzam was abundant as it was micariously created by Allah (SWT).

Looking at the wonderdul Masjidul Haram, I felt like I was home.

The latest extension consisted of a new wing and an outdoor prayer area on the southeast side of the mosque. In the two-story wing, air conditioning circulated below the tiled floors and was supplied through ventilation grids located at the base of each column. The facade of the extension blended in with the previous constructions, with gray marble facing from the Fatimah Mountains and carved white marble bands. It was truly glamorous.

The King Fahad gate consisted of three arches with black and white wedgelike stone and carved white marble decoration, flanked by two new minarets matching the older ones. The windows were covered with brass mashrabiyya and framed with carved bands of white marble. The minor gates had green-tiled sloped canopies.

The outside didn't lack in beauty. The albraj albait sky scraper, the tallest clock tower and the forth tallest building was just a few meters from Ka'aba itself and overlooked the mosque. Our hotel was among the many hotels close to the Masjid Haram.

●

"We are going to land in five," he murmered in a soft voice. I slowly opened my eyes, took my head off Najib's shoulder and looked through the window. The night was dark but as the plane started going down, we started seeing the illuminated beautiful city of Dubai. After another seven days and three more umrahs we left Makkah for Dubai.

"I have two things to tell you, which one do you want to hear first, the white one or the black one," Najib asked.

"The bad news first,"

"I don't know how but Umar has been released after five years imprisonment,"

"In sha Allah nothing bad will happen," I nodded my head and held his hand.

"What's the good news,"

"The CEO of Rufia and Brothers Company asked me to...." he started saying just as our plane started landing.

"Why won't you just say Bilal?" Bilal's dad has recently stepped down as the CEO for Bilal. Bilal's dad had offered job to Najib thousands of times but each time Najib decline saying he was okay with his job.

"As I was saying the CEO asked me to tell you greet his future wife, Bilkisu and to show you this," he ignored me and passed his phone to me.

It was a message from Bilal. A picture of a wedding card. I zoomed the picture and seeing the names of the celebrants made my stomach flutter.

"OMG OMG! Alhamdulilah the right time has finally come," I screamed feeling really excited. After all it was the invitaton card to the wedding of my very close friends, Uthman and Yasmeen.

"You are embarrassing me," Najib complained when I screamed again and started dancing on my seat.

"So I am now an embarrassment to you,"

He smiled, leaned back on his seat and held my hand.

"How could I ever be embarrassed when it comes to my wife? You are the one I chose, the one I love, the one I want to spend my entire life with and the one I want to be in Jannah with,"

I asked myself what did I do to be blessed with this amazing husband? Alhamdulilah. I felt blessed, blessed to have an amazing husband like Najib, blessed to have lovely family and friends but most importantly blessed to be practising the religion of truth, to be a Muslim.

It wasn't easy trying to be practising muslimah. No body is perfect. There were times I felt like doing things that I know will displease my lord because I saw everyone else doing that. Times I felt out of place because I was the only one doing the right thing. Times I felt angry at everyone because they were disobeying Allah. Times I saw people I looked up to sinning and felt tempted to sin too. But each time I felt that way I remembered myself ;

وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ ۖ وَلَلدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

32. Wama alhayatu alddunya illa laAAibun walahwun walalddaru alakhirati khayrun lillatheena yattaqoona afala taAAqiloona

32. And the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement. But far better is the house in the Hereafter for those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V. 2:2). Will you not then understand?

I wasn't perfect but I was trying my best and I was pleased with myself. I picked up a pen and a notebook from my bag deciding to write a story about how I changed maybe some others will change too.

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

71. Waalmuminoona waalmuminatu baAAduhum awliyao baAAdin yamuroona bialmaAAroofi wayanhawna AAani almunkari wayuqeemoona alssalata wayutoona alzzakata wayuteeAAoona Allaha warasoolahu olaika sayarhamuhumu Allahu inna Allaha AAazeezun hakeemun

71. The believers, men and women, are Auliya' (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); they perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give the Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ۚ وَرِضْوَانٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

72. WaAAada Allahu almumineena waalmuminati jannatin tajree min tahtiha alanharu khalideena feeha wamasakina tayyibatan fee jannati AAadnin waridwanun mina Allahi akbaru thalika huwa alfawzu alAAatheemu

72. Allah has promised to the believers -men and women, - Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever, and beautiful mansions in Gardens of 'Adn (Eden Paradise). But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allah. That is the supreme success.

(Tawba:71 &72)

َالَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنْفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ

22. Waallatheena sabaroo ibtighaa wajhi rabbihim waaqamoo alssalata waanfaqoo mimma razaqnahum sirran waAAalaniyatan wayadraoona bialhasanati alssayyiata olaika lahum AAuqba alddari

22. And those who remain patient, seeking their Lord's Countenance, perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and spend out of that which We have bestowed on them, secretly and openly, and defend evil with good, for such there is a good end;

جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ ۖ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ

23. Jannatu AAadnin yadkhuloonaha waman salaha min abaihim waazwajihim wathurriyyatihim waalmalaikatu yadkhuloona AAalayhim min kulli babin

23. 'Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens), which they shall enter and (also) those who acted righteously from among their fathers, and their wives, and their offspring. And angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying):

سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ ۚ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ

24. Salamun AAalaykum bima sabartum faniAAma AAuqba alddari

24. "Salamun 'Alaikum (peace be upon you) for that you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!"

(Ar- Ra'd 22-23)

This is the story of Hameeda who chose to be a Miss Akhirah and not Miss world. Who chose the Akirah not the duniya. I want all of us to sit down and think about what we really want; happiness in the this world or in the hereafter, Akhirah.

The End.
Miss World or Miss Akhirah?
January 2018.

Alhamdulilah.

"So Roohi, I have been meaning to ask you something,"

I looked up at my husband whose face was scrunched in a small frown showing he is thinking deeply.

"What does DM stands for you,"

"Direct message?"

"No you saved my number as DM for as long as I can remember,"

"Ohhhhh that DMMMM," I asked stretching my head and He nodded his head.

"Dream Man of course, I got my dream Man," I quickly said and muttered my astagfirullahs for lying to my husband.