Salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu.

Alhamdulilaah, this Crescent is dedicated to Rabiat677, TaheraJoe, thewinner27, and ahmar_. Thanks for your continuous support.

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"There's good in everything Allah plans. Sometimes, we just do not see it..."

(Hilya's Diary)

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In an opened courtyard of the Al-Maghribi estate, where all types of delightful scenery were present; datepalm trees, a lake with exotic and flagrant flowers blossoming all over a naturally green grass carpet, a group of youthful Muslims were gathered within a finely decorated pavilion in the midst of all the beauty.

With arabesque designs all around in gold and silver, and multicoloured stones encrusted upon the large pavilion, it seemed as if stars were shining at daytime.

This was almost immediately after the 'Asr prayer that day, and a heated discussion and debate was going on; the boys and girls had made a wager; in a competition between the two sides, who had more capable resource personnel in anything?

Once the competition began, if the girls were to win, then the boys would sweep the entire East wing for three consecutive day and night period. If the boys were to win, the girls would do their laundry once every week for a three weeks time period.

They all had agreed to the conditions, but there was a tinny little problem.
•••

Arkaan who had prayed the late afternoon prayer in town and had returned, was surprised at the lively event ongoing: All the Al-Maghribi youth of their generation were gathered within a pavilion, made in exquisite architecture.

The brothers and sisters were in a heated argument with one another most zealously. Ismaîl who took to preside over the occasion, quietened everyone down and announced a Musâbaqah! That was going to be their measure to test which group had the most capable people on their side!

A competition based on Qur'an, Ahadith, and Seerah! Both opposing parties of males and females agreed, choosing their representatives.

The ladies chose Maryam and Aasiyah. The brothers had only Zak. Surprisingly enough, Abdullah was the only one not present in the gathering, perhaps gone on his own adventures.

Had he been there, he would have been their second choice.

It wasn't that the other boys didn't know their Dîn, it was just that they weren't that confident on their own knowledge, and so were reluctant to participate, thus incurring mocking and pitiful remarks from some of the ladies, especially the humorous Fatima Az-Zahra.

Harûn smiled warily as he scratched the back of his head. "It's not that we can't compete, it's just that - "

"It's just that what?" Fatima Az-Zahra cut in, a smirk on her face.

It's just that I'm not ready to risk everything on my confidence in my Islamic knowledge.. I'd rather endure being mocked at, than sweep East wing for three consecutive day and night period!

"I think you should make it easier on yourselves by admitting you lost even before starting, maybe we might cut on the deal." Fatima spoke with a mock - sympathetic look on her face.

Ishaq sighed. Fatima was out to get them again. Who even came up with such a stupid idea in the first place?! If they gave up now, Fatima would never let it go, perhaps for the rest of their lives. He shivered at the thought.

He loved making fun and teasing, but against his sister who was a pro, he would instantly turn mute, to avoid getting on her bad side. You would hardly believe she was his one year younger sister, although from a different mother.

She gave a cold laugh inwardly. Do their laundry for three weeks, like hell would freeze over! Allah knows what nightmares we'd have after that. Boys~!...

It was in this situation that Arkaan suddenly arrived on the scene, noticing the excited and peculiar gathering from afar.

Even as he approached the pavilion, he first noticed two ladies were in niqâb: one had pink to her black chador and the other, a sea-green khimâr with her niqâb.

The others; he recognized all the boys, the Al-Maghribi brothers were all present except for the troublesome thorn in his flesh, Abdullah.

I wonder where that guy has gone to!

For the ladies; apart from the two in the niqâb, there was Maryam, Aasiyah, Khadijah, and a new face. The new older girl was very pretty with a wide grin on her face that reminded him of Zak. She wore a chador, with a headscarf the shade of orange sunset to it.

When the group realized Arkaan's presence, different reactions arose from the opposing parties.

The boys were filled with glee as they rushed forward to embrace him, and invite him into the gathering. "You are definitely going to represent us!"

Harun said this nodding, a smile on his face as he 'forcibly' led Arkaan to take his position on the stage, in front of everyone else.

At last, I can sigh in peace, and watch the ship sail from afar, safe on the shores. Success or fail, at least one thing is sure, I can always give excuses if Fati comes at me. He smirked.

Arkaan's heart was in turmoil, he felt set-up, and grievously wronged.

These guys were using him as a sacrifice on the stage which they themselves were afraid to stand!

"Wouldn't Arkaan competing be against the rules?" Fatima raised a brow, clearly communicating to her elder brother, Ismaîl; he's non-maghribi.

The thing was that, though she knew her brothers' strength in knowledge of the Dîn, she couldn't gauge Arkaan's strength..

"He can vie, since he's our guest." Ismaîl smiled cunningly, knowing what Zahra was playing at. Even though he knew he had to be impartial, this wasn't against the rules. Arkaan could as well be considered part of them, or at least a friend of their household.

A weird and meek smile on his face, Arkaan turned to look at Zak who shrugged, looking sympathetically at him. Zak too didn't like the idea of sweeping East wing one bit. Actually, he hadn't thought much or cared about who'd represent the boys with him, because he felt - he alone was enough!

Arkaan then turned to take note of their opponents: Maryam radiated an air of beauty and reserved confidence, his heart picked up pace at once.

As for Aasiyah, her younger sister who always appeared shy in his presence, she suddenly seemed self-assured. It seemed the presence of her elder sister, and a change of their circumstance of meeting completely transformed her previously shy demeanour.

This is so unfair!!!

No! - Allah.. What is this?!

Arkaan intoned as he prepared himself for abject humiliation upon hearing the nature of the quiz.

For Arkaan who hadn't studied any longer with his only Islamic tutor, this was going to be a headache. This was so because, his knowledge mostly comprised book knowledge about the Dîn.

It comprised what little his mother had taught him, the short time he spent with Al Iskandarī, the little he got from random books he read during the time gap spent with his grandfather, and Hilya...

Among the ladies, Fatima Az-Zahra smiled with a soft laugh, seeing Arkaan's agitation.

His agitation seems to speak volumes. But the fact that the guys seem to trust him, it means he might be good though.

Seeing how Zak related with Arkaan. Her eyes warmed.

Much more than that, it seems younger brother has really found a nice friend this time. Let's see what happens in this quiz!

Khadijah's brilliant blue eyes like sapphires were shining. Eldest brother Arkaan...

Hayaa had a calm expression on her face, a bit frigid as she looked at Arkaan from her niqâb. No one could tell what she was thinking. Next to her was Tasnîma. She and Hayaa were the first to notice Arkaan, and covered up immediately after.

Tasnîma though, felt dizzy as she seemed on the verge of a fainting fit. It felt like thunderclaps were sounding in her head, as her pretty eyes widened and then softened, tears threatened to flow.

There can be no mistake. He's Arkaan. This young boy is little Arkaan from years ago! Elder brother's son...

Many thoughts suddenly seemed to fill her mind, as memories fleetingly passed by in a flash.

Earlier, she had persuaded her husband, Ismaîl to arrange for this gathering under guise of a competition. By a stroke of fate, Fatima Az-Zahra overheard the conversation. Seemingly liking the idea, she pushed for the competition to be held. Tasnîma was impressed how the young girl was able to press things and persuade. But was Fatima so simple?

The main purpose of the gathering was all to see the stranger boy who bore her nephew's name.

The real purpose of this gathering was all to see Arkaan!!

She was disappointed at first when Arkaan hadn't appeared when the show had began with everybody gathered. Yet, she wasn't mentally prepared for the shock that came, when the boy with green eyes walked up the stage.

At that moment, apart from the intense feeling of lightheadedness, a strong emotion of lack of understanding arose in her heart. She suddenly felt betrayed by the one woman she had trusted the most. The one woman her elder brother had loved.

Tasnîma was pure and kind, but the pain of having her entire family separated from her brother's son after they lost her brother was unbearable.

Her family had not only lost the last impression left of her elder brother, but also the first heir of that generation of their entire tribe in Tâ Hâ.

Her father was devastated by the news when they were informed, that Arkaan was gone.

That was all his mother said in her daze, he was gone!

That day, her smile was bitter.

They came to claim the boy into the tribe since the woman was seen as no more capable of caring for the child.

Because of Lady Frieda, her brother had forsaken the marriage arranged for him.

Because he had wanted to prove himself to her, he had left the tribe where he was firstborn and heir to assume responsibilities after their father.

He lived in low standards in the very city where they were the power.

Finally, due to his absence, the second brother in line took on a responsibility that cost him his life.

It was the first time in a very long time, for their clan to gather to perform janaaza over an absent dead body. Her elder brother felt remorseful, but what could he do now.

She remembered him kneeling before their father in the hall of their clan, his head down in shame, tears falling incessantly from his eyes, his body drooping and shaking all at once.

"What shall I do to pacify you, father?

"I was wrong. I was young, and in my heated passion did what I thought was right."

"Brother died.
But that's also Qadr. Don't hold against me something ordained before time..." His voice had broken at this moment.

"If you want to do something, then leave here, and never return...or at least till you've searched the Earth, and found his remains so we might at least pray over it!" Father was angry and sad that day, but he spoke out of the heat of the moment.

Brother took it serious. He saw it as his means of redemption.

It was when he left and never returned that father's eyes softened in sudden realization of what he had just done. He had lost his only two sons whom both he doted upon. One, he sent on a duty where he never returned, the other, he chastised with haven been disowned until he found the first.

Like this Al Ilyâsin lost their two heirs. Mother passed away shortly after.

Till now, whenever I see father in the clan's hall, he would only hold the cloth they were wrapped with at birth, still remorseful.

Lady Frieda never knew the whole story, for no one had the courage to tell her.

Maybe this was her revenge on the clan. She took far away from us one of the two children left of the clan's future.

"But still, it's all so unfair..." Tasnîma looked at Arkaan from under her niqâb.

Lady Frieda lied that he was dead. Arkaan had died - no janaaza over his dead body, and no dead body - nothing, both father and son...

Before that event, she had two loving elder brothers and a cheerful nephew.

After that event she lost both elder brothers and some few years later, her beloved nephew, one with whom she formed the closest bond and duo in the whole world.

Only one woman had done it, separating both father and son from her family.

Only she deserved blame...

Composing herself, and silently settling all her berserk thoughts, she collected herself, a strange silence which seemed to speak many words, engulfed her.

She had already made up her mind.

Why did Lady Frieda do that?

Since there was much she didn't know, she'd stay silent, watching from the shadows for now...

Whilst Tasnîma didn't know it, there was someone watching her every reaction critically from the corner of their eyes.

The competition started without much ado. Due to the desire to make things fair, the memorization test in the competition was restricted to the thirtieth part of the Holy Qur'an - for Arkaan's sake.

Alhamdulilaah, but still.. - can't concentrate...

His glance caught Maryam who was staring at him, he lowered his head and turned, facing the audience.