Salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu. Alhamdulilaah, this Crescent is out. This Crescent is one of my longest, so please bear with me till the next is released. I'm trying to manage writing with studies. So things kinda still seem slow.

Also, Shukran for your understanding and support till now.

I'd like us all to add the Muslims all over the world in supplication; the Muslims in Syria and the entire Middle East, those in China - the Uyghurs and Hui Muslims, in India and the entire Asian continent, in Africa, and the Western world.
All over the world, Muslims are going through a lot of trials and tribulations.

It was said that, this last generation is in Ayyâmus-Sabr, the Days of Patience. Once we understand this, we'll know that these trials have been promised by Allah, and dealing with them in the way shown by the Prophet is the way for our salvation.

Allah has said;
الم. أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يُتْرَكُوا أَنْ يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ. وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِين.

Alif, Lam, Meem

Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried?

But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars.

(Al-Ankabût 29:1-3)

Allah also said to us;
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُمْ مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ ۖ مَسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاءُ وَالضَّرَّاءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ.

Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, "When is the help of Allah?" Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.

(Al-Baqarah 2:214)

Allah has already promised us these trials, so let's not be surprised, but try to face it in the way of Sabr and perseverance shown by our Muslim predecessors - The Honoured Sahâbah, and Taabi'în.

Know that, these trials may seem bad but Allah has His plan;

...وَعَسَىٰ أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَنْ تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

...

But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.

(Al-Baqarah 2:216)

In the end, there's one more promise of Allah to us that we must not forget;

يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ.يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ.

They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.

It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although those who associate others with Allah dislike it.

(As-Saff 61: 8-9)

Allahu Akbar! The promise of Allah would come true, no matter to what extent of plots the disbelievers scheme. And that's because -

وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ ۚ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّهُ ۖ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِين.

And [remember, O Muhammad], when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you [from Makkah]. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.

(Al Anfal 8: 30)

Just see the similitude with the Muslims in the world today. Only Allah knows what is His plan!

All over the world, we Muslims must keep on believing and trusting in His promise because -

...إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَاد.

...

Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise."

(Aal-i-Imrân 3: 9)

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Upon a plain and abnormally quiet land, a black-haired boy swiftly moved, his white clothes whistling in the wind. Further behind him were a group of fifteen to twenty boys in hot pursuit.

This part of the land, not many people moved about in these areas, and so the pursuers and the pursued were left all alone to their antics.

Actually the nature of this part of the land benefitted one group and did not the other.

This was the most western part of South district, bordering the last tributary of river Kawthar to the west. Across the river, one automatically enters unto the banks of West district's most southern parts, where sparsely spread mountains abounded, a thick forest enwrapping them all over. Close to its southern shores was a graveyard, one used by all of the City.

Obviously, this group was Arkaan and the students of the Eastern Waterfall halaqah.

Arkaan looked back and cursed under his breath. It seemed they'd not stop anytime. How'd it all come to this, he sighed.

Thinking back to what happened at the market...

An Hour previously...

Arkaan and Abdullah moved through the Chinese market, their eyes gleaming in delight at whatever they saw. They were quite enjoying the stroll. Once they had decided to go to the Honey Fields landmass via this route, they might as well take the time to enjoy the pleasure of watching the exciting market displays.

Even as they halted near a stall where a man was busily selling a mixed collection of all kinds of items, Arkaan noticed something that made him draw closer to the richly dressed vendor.

"The best medicines for heart diseases, joint pains, bad breath, coital weakness, asthma, all from the Prestigious Ta Sin Province...

The Seven Moons incense sticks and Heavenly rose petals perfumes, all fine products of the Master of Attar in the City Qâf..."

As he continued his rant in an amazingly loud voice, more people flocked over to his stall.

Arkaan heard the murmurs as he made his way, trying to get to the front of the large crowd so as to get a better view.

"Did you hear? He even has the famed 'Ninety nine Holy Ruqyahs against the jinn', from as far as The Country of King Sulaymân!"

"How can that be true?" One chuckled,"Obviously, he's a charlatan, all his things are quack, his ancestors probably passed on this quack business of his, trying to promote their quack products and just make some meagre profit."

Arkaan:"..."

"I don't know, but these things look credible to me, look how richly-dressed he is."They continued.

"Ya Salaam, he even has kohl pots, masbahahs, and carpet mats from as far as Ayn-un-Nuha! Siwak of the Arak tree, from th-the Wreath of Tears!!"

"Obviously he's bluffing. Caps made by the expert hands of a Holy Saint of the Sacred Five Mountains?How can that be?"

Even as the words drown into Arkaan's ears, he came to stand in front of the man, Abdullah pulling at his sleeves with an unsightly expression on his face.

This man is obviously a fraud, Yaa Akhii. Why let yourself be duped by others. If you want to be duped, best be duped by a close friend like the fantastic me.

Arkaan though, was oblivious as he held his arms across his chest and stood, looking at the man who started replying a man who had questions on his drugs.

He continued in the fashion till looking across all his customers, he suddenly stopped on Arkaan. There was a momentary pause, then -

"Allah be praised! It's the young lad Arkaan! Oh Allah Allah Allah! how have you been all this while!

Are you here to purchase some stuffs. For you my dear friend, there will be discounts, just look around and whatever catches your eye can be had for a lower price!"

"Hey~ where from this open and shameless discrimination.."

"Isn't he afraid of losing customers."

"Obviously that young boy must have a great connection with him, if not no correct salesman would do this."

"Who could he be?"

"What's the link between them?"These thoughts and many other murmurs were rising in the crowd.

"Obviously, they're both strangers. Never seen the boy, nor merchant till now, in South district. Wait, - isn't that little Abdullah?"

"What's he doing with the new kid?"

Arkaan had an awkward smile on his face. He didn't like the attention he was getting from the people around. Even little Abdullah was temporarily stunned. Arkaan is a friend of a drug peddler? A person who sells medicines for coit--. He couldn't think further anymore.

"Hey Abdullah! What are you doing here? Who's the new kid in town?" A young adult guy called to Abdullah whose face immediately morphed a radiant smile. His previous apprehensive demeanour was gone, replaced by radiating confidence and overbearingness.

Here goes the eternally changeable Abdullah.. Arkaan's thoughts sighed. He had already decided not to be shocked about the little boy anymore. But come to think of it, it seemed Abdullah was quite famous in South district's locality.

First the boys from Mt. Shirah residence; now, some random people in Chinese market.

Must be his father. After all, Hajj Ya'qûb is a City Councilman.

"Listen, Yaa Akhii, this is my new brother, Arkaan,- And he's going to one day become famous in this town, and raise the name of South district!"

Arkaan:"..."

"What?" The men suddenly stopped all their bickering to listen to the boy. It was as if some grand general had come with some news of grave importance. Even the merchant was temporarily held aback by the boy's declaration.

Even though Arkaan's head was turning round, he was more shocked at the consideration the elderly ones gave the young boy. Just how famous was Abdullah?

"You heard me right. Just wait the day!"

"And how would you do that?" One young man laughed, facing Arkaan. Obviously they thought Arkaan was the one to fill the young boy's head with such hogwash. How gullible the little Maghribi must be, they thought.

Arkaan was about to answer, when Abdullah stopped him.

Feeling wronged that they didn't believe him, he raised his chin up, like the clever little scholar who reigns them all,"Which other way except through the Qur'an? Have you forgotten the Seven Provinces standard for Best City?"

"Ooh.."Some murmuring arose.

"But how can that be, not to talk of Seven Cities' Grand Qur'an Ramadan competition, South district doesn't even have a halaqah!"A voice sounded from the back. It contained the reverence of an aged man. Arkaan thought he's heard the voice somewhere before.

"And dear Ikhwân, that's why we're here today...that's why we're here.."Abdullah said as a matter-of-factly, and gracefully smiled at the gathering, simply ignoring the voice. He held his hands at his back as he imitated the figure of a great sage.

He sighed in his heart. If he had beard, he might have been gently stroking it by now. He sighed again.

Arkaan was stupefied. But who was the old man? No matter what, Arkaan would never have been ready for where Abdullah had so easily carried the discussion to. Was this really a small boy? In his childish ways, he sometimes did things that required great skills even some grownups lacked. Even though this wasn't their purpose here, the revival of the halaqah was one of their main goals in this time. The greater audience they could get, the better!

"Young lad, who's going to teach at the new halaqah? As we all know, the Scholar Al-Iskandarī is gone, and even if someone were to take his place, no one would be to his level! Let your friend answer!"The voice sounded irritated.

Arkaan:"..."

What's there to be annoyed about? It was that old shrewd voice again. Just where--. Fragments of a previous memory were building up as Arkaan shuffled through his mind.

It seemed they wanted to hear from Arkaan now. The crowd now seemed to be riled up by the aged's voice.