This media section first and then move onto the story 😡 please ❤️😢

Done? Okay. Alhamdulillah. 

:::::

"Let's go masjid and pray, please?" Zaid told me as he leaned his forehead against mine, holding my cheeks.

I smiled, peace and ease spreading throughout my body. "Okay." I agreed quickly and he smiled, pulling back and holding my hand in both of his, kissing my palm and then kissing my cheek before he shook his head. "I don't think I'm ever going to get used to having this feeling, alhamdulillah." He said.

"Alhamdulillah." I repeated, squeezing his hand.

He led me to his car and opened the door for me. "This is new." I smirked, watching him as I got into the passenger seat.

"Honeymoon phase." He said with a grin, making me laugh and shake my head. He shut the door and walked to the drivers seat, sitting down quickly and starting the car.

"This feels so surreal." He mumbled as he pulled onto the main road and back to where civilization was.

I guess it was sort of worrying that the kinder was in a secluded place, covered in trees and bushes, but it was a trusted place that had amazing reviews all over the internet.

"Why?" I asked softly, looking at him as he drove.

"What do you mean why?" He scoffed. "It just feels like I'm in some dream. As if this isn't even real. Imagine, after three months of constantly trying to get you back, I finally have you sitting beside me in my car, willingly. We dropped our kids off at school and now we're going to the masjid to pray. Alhamdulillahi rabbil 'alameen."

"Alhamdulillah." I told him.

I forced myself to turn my head and look at the road otherwise I wasn't going to be able to stop looking at him.

I had missed watching him drive. The way his arm flexed and his hand held the gear shift was just so attractive to me. I loved watching him. 

"I didn't even know I'd end up doing this, you know? It just happened..." I trailed off shyly, looking down at my lap.

The car slowed at an intersection and Zaid looked at me. "Are you shy...hey," He said, holding my chin in his two fingers and turning my head to look at him. "Are you shy of me?" He asked with a smile.

"It just...feels weird, I guess." I mumbled, reaching up and taking his hand away from my face and holding it instead.

"How long do you think it'll take to be like how we were before?" He said, pulling his hand away to change gears and start driving.

"Allahu alam." I settled with simply.

I remembered my mum and my uncles' wife's advice when they told me this wouldn't be a healthy relationship if I kept reminding him of what I've been through, so although I wanted to say 'I've been through a lot, it'll take some time' I instead left it up to Allah. And it was true. Allah truly did know best.

"When will we move in, you know, to the house?" He asked before speaking again. "Wait, do you even want to go back to that house? I understand if you don't, we can sell it and look..."

"I'll be fine in that house, Zaid." I told him with a smile.

"Which masjid do you want to go to?" He asked.

Of course I had told him to go the masjid we had our nikkah done at and he smirked, nodding his head in agreement as we drove there. It was a thirty minute drive and in that time, we spoke about how we'd tell his parents and my mum about our new decision. I had decided I would get to know his parents for a little while more before moving into the house with him, and plus, that way the renovations in the house would finish.

"We can go furniture shopping together." Zaid suggested, saying that it'll be easy for the kids to get completely used to him during that process.

"Yeah, inshaaAllah." I said as I took my seatbelt off. We got out of the car and I adjusted my jilbab in the window of the car, lifting up the bottom and covering half of my face and only leaving above my eyes open.

"Do you ever think of wearing niqab full time?" He asked me, walking around the car and holding my hand as we walked to the entrance of the masjid.

"I have. But I had to work, so I couldn't. Now that I stopped working, I've decided to wear jilbab full time. Would you want me to wear niqab?" I asked him.

"Of course I would." He said quickly. "But I wont let you leave the house alone much, just in case someone says or does something."

I simply hummed in response as Zaid saw the imam of the masjid sitting against a pillar, reading the book of Allah.

"Stay here." He said to me as he let go of my hand and walked up to him. They spoke to each other quietly and the imam nodded with a smile, putting his Quran down and standing up as he walked up a few stairs. "What's happening?" I asked Zaid as he came beside me.

"He's closing off a bit of the women's section for you and I." He said making me smile.

"Isn't that a bit inappropriate?" I laughed quietly.

"Nah." He shook his head. "Why would it be? I just told him I want to pray with you."

I nodded my head and the imam came back down the stairs with a smile on his face. "You can go up, akhi." He said.

"Shukran. JazakAllahu khayr." Zaid spoke with a smile.

"Wa iyyak, habibi." He replied and we walked up the stairs out of view from the imam. The top section that was for women was now split in two. A plain curtain light cream curtain was drawn at the far end and Zaid took us there. We slipped through the curtain. It was a small area. Like a small room.

"This is cute." I commented, walking in and looking over the railing at the men's section interior and he large chandelier.

The men's section was always prettier than the women's, but I guess the prettiness of a masjid doesn't matter. What matters is the ibadah done in the masjid.

"There's still time for dhuhr, should we read Quran?"

"Of course." I smiled.

"Which Surah do you want?" He asked as I picked up a Quran from the shelf. Zaid was a hafidh and so he didn't need one allahumma barik lahu.

"How long is there left till dhuhr?" I asked.

He raised his hand, pulling his sleeve back and checking his watch. I loved that gesture. Allahu Akbar. "Twenty." He said simply.

Perfect.

I turned the pages and stopped at Anfal with a smile.

"Of course." He chuckled, clearing his throat and sitting beside me, our backs against the wall and our legs extended in front of us.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

He began with basmala and started reciting Anfal as I followed along.

Alhamdulillah his voice soothed me as it always used to, making my lips tug upward and making tears escape my eyes. This is how we were when we were together.

We would spend our spare time reading Quran, engaging in silent dhikr, he would correct my tajweed and teach me pronunciation. Worshipping Allah was our favourite thing to do together and now we were doing the same.

Alhamdulillah.

"Yaaa ayyuhal-ladheena aamanoo atee'ul laaha wa Rasoolahoo wa laa tawallaw 'anhu wa antum tasma'oon." I corrected his mistake and he repeated the verse and continued.

He eventually finished the Surah and I shut the Quran, turning to him with a smile. "BarakAllahu feek."

"Wa feeki." He said back, his eyes following me as I got up, putting the Quran back on the shelf.

"I think I missed that the most." I said to him.

"Did you?"

I hummed in response. "Remember every night we would read Surah Mulk together." I told him.

"Our voices sounded really good together. I'm so upset I didn't record it at all. I could have listened to it every time I missed you." He said with a sad smile.

"I had it recorded, but I never had it in me to listen. That would have just tortured me." I said, watching his face fall.

Crap. I didn't mean it like that. "No, wait, Zaid, I didn't mean it like that. Wallah. I forgave you already. Jheeze it was just a stupid thing to say. I'm sorry." I said, rubbing my forehead.

He stood up and came over, hugging me tightly as I inhaled his scent as tears pricked my eyes. "I'll spend every single day making it up to you." He promised making me smile.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

The speakers turned on and the adhaan for dhuhr began, making me feel at ease. We parted and after a small smile, Zaid walked off to go to the men's section.

I listened to the adhaan, repeating the words after the muadhdhin said them.

(A/N: it is a forgotten sunnah to repeat the words said in adhaan to yourself after the muadhdhin says them.
Muslim (385) narrated that 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If the muezzin says, 'Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar (Allaah is most great, Allaah is most great),' and one of you says, 'Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar (Allaah is most great, Allaah is most great)'; then he says, 'Ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah),' and you say, 'Ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah)'; then he says, 'Ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasool-Allaah (I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah),' and you say, 'Ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasool-Allaah (I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah)'; then he says, 'Hayya 'ala'l-salaah (Come to prayer),' and you say, 'La hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah (There is no power and no strength except with Allaah)'; then he says, 'Hayya 'ala'l-falaah (Come to prosperity),' and you say, 'Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah (There is no power and no strength except with Allaah)'; then he says, 'Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar (Allaah is most great, Allaah is most great),' and you say, 'Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar (Allaah is most great, Allaah is most great)'; then he says, 'Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (There is no god but Allaah),' and one of you says, 'Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (There is no god but Allaah),' from the heart, he will enter Paradise."
So let's revive this sunnah, when you hear adhaan (turn on adhaan pro from the app on your phone if you're from a non Muslim country) repeat the words, except for when it says Hayya 'ala'l-salaah (Come to prayer),' and, 'Hayya 'ala'l-falaah (Come to success),' you have to say, 'Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah (There is no power and no strength except with Allaah)'

Now 👀 I want you guys to highlight this section right here, and name and explain a forgotten sunnah in the comments (with a Hadith to back it up) and inshaaAllah someone who didn't know of it will start doing it. Let's revive some forgotten sunnah's. Even if you don't have one in mind, research and post something you find :)

The Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever revives an aspect of my Sunnah that is forgotten after my death, he will have a reward equivalent to that of the people who follow him, without it detracting in the least from their reward."
Tirmidhi 7/443

The Prophet ﷺ also said, "Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a similar reward."
Muslim 1893

I'm looking forward to reading your forgotten sunnahs so make sure you do it now before you forget ;) yh I'm talking to you
@ lovelydovey219
@ princessbatates
@ sally4321
@ my_book_love
@ kelsey_69
@ lekiller__
And @ all of you reading this. Go revive a sunnah bi idhnillah ta'ala ❤️ (15 people have read this chapter as of now and there are only two people who've revived a sunnah 😡 step up and gain some good deeds ladiessss 😁💞💞 even if it's a sunnah people might know already.)

End A/N)

After the adhaan had finished, we began praying, I was the only girl in the women's section and so I prayed alone. After doing dhikr the men parted and Zaid came up the stairs. "Shall we go now?" He asked and I nodded, standing up, taking my handbag and walking to him. We left the masjid and got into the car.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"We have about two hours to spare. We'll go get food, yeah?"

"Food? Zaid we just ate two hours ago." I mumbled.

"Two hours is a long time." He spoke, making me laugh and shake my head.

We ended up going to a Muslim restaurant and sat down, but I didn't order anything. I really wasn't hungry.

"What's up with Kubra?" I asked Zaid slowly, judging his reaction. I mean, he was waiting for his food and I was dying to speak about her with him for the longest time that I couldn't hold back anymore.

His shoulders tensed and he narrowed his eyes. "What about her?" He looked straight into my eyes and I felt small in his gaze.

"Why don't you get along with her?" I asked simply after clearing my throat.

"How do you know I don't?"

"Huh?" I sputtered, not realizing that this conversation would eventually lead to Kubra visiting me. "Halima told me." I said quickly once I remembered that she had in fact told me Zaid and Kubra don't get along.

Zaid looked at me, trying to figure out whether or not I was telling the truth before he clearly believed me and sighed, shaking his head.

"She's changed. She's got all these kuffar friends and they're a bad influence on her. She wears the tightest clothes, face full of make up, I think she hangs out with boys too, but I'm not sure so I don't want to assume anything." He muttered, rubbing his hands over his face.

She does hang out with boys. I knew this. But who was I to expose her sins.

"That reminds me of the Hadith Abu Huraira narrated that rasulullah ﷺ said, 'A man is upon the religion of his best friend, so let one of you look at whom he befriends.'"
[Abu Dawud 4833]

"Exactly." He stressed, agreeing with me. "My parents don't even realise it. Even if they did. She wouldn't listen to them. She's scared of me, but even that is slowly starting to die down. She's becoming disobedient." He said.

"Have you ever tried advising her kindly?" I asked.

"I don't do kind. You know that."

"I helped your guys' relationship when we were together." I told him.

"Yeah and then that ended as soon as I left. Those years when I was sick, I couldn't keep an eye on them as I used to and she used that as an opportunity to go do god knows what. Alhamdulillah Halima didn't. She's still fine. Even though she didn't listen to me and came to you." He muttered.

"She's just in need of a helping hand. I don't get why Halima doesn't help her."

"You know Halima. She hates confrontation. Kubra is younger than her, but so much louder, firm and she gets angry easy."

"Have you ever slapped her? Like recently?" I asked quietly.

"Many times." He answered without hesitation.

I shut my eyes and leaned back with a sigh. "Zaid," I groaned. 

"Don't, Sumayya." He warned. "You don't know  what she's like."

"I do." I countered making him narrow his eyes.

"No you don't." He said with finality making me angrier.

"I do, Zaid. Jheeze, I wasn't going to tell you, but fine!"

"Lower your voice." He said sternly and only then did I notice that men around the restaurant were slyly looking over at our table trying not to make it obvious.

Astaghfirullah.

"Sorry." I said calmly. I guess I could briefly go over it without telling him she was with boys or that she had on make up and wasn't wearing hijab. "Look, a few weeks back, I saw her at the shops. She saw me in jilbab. She was with her friends. She got embarrassed of me and told me to leave so her friends don't see..."

"She what!?" He said in anger, his jaw clenching as he looked at me, his breaths deepening.

"It's not a big deal." I told him. "It didn't effect me."

"Sumayya she's got no right to say that to you." Zaid said sternly.

The waiter came, cutting our conversation as he put the food on the table and asked if Zaid needed anything else. Zaid thanked him and waved him off as he looked at me.

"I don't even feel like eating."

"Zaid, don't be silly. I didn't tell you so you can be mad. I just want you to know that I can imagine exactly what you're going through. Now, forget that for now. Eat. We can make it to your mums to tell them our decision."

He sighed, shaking his head as he said his basmala and began eating while I watched him.

"Your decision. My decision was the same since the beginning." He chuckled making me laugh.

"Whatever."

"I called the renovation men when you were in the bathroom before."

"Oh yeah, what did they say?"

"Well, they can get the house completely renovated in a week. You just pick the wall colours you want."

"All white." I said simply. I just wanted it to be simple and plain. Nothing extra ordinary.

"So we move in together in a week then."

"InshaaAllah." I smiled at him.

Alhamdulillah

:::::

"You have no idea how happy they're going to be." He said as he squeezed my hand. I felt my palm sweat from nervousness. I knew they'd be happy so I have no idea why I was sweating, but it was just so unreal that we were at Zaid's parents house and telling them we, well, I had decided to get back together.

"InshaaAllah." I said as he knocked on the door. The smile hadn't fallen off his face until we had gotten here from the restaurant. "Don't you have keys?" I asked him, but the door opened before he could answer.

I looked up and met Zaid's dad's eyes, the familiar blue orbs staring at me with shock and longing.

"Assalamu alaykum, baba." I said softly, pulling my hand out of Zaid's grasp.

"Sumayya..." He trailed off, looking between Zaid and I.

"Yeah." I said with a soft chuckle. "Can we come in?" I asked with a smile and he shook his head, snapping out of his shock and nodding vehemently as he stepped aside and let us through.

"Is mum here?" Zaid asked and baba told us she was in the living room. I walked in before Zaid, smiling at her once her eyes lit up in shock and happiness when she saw me.

"Sumayya."

"Assalamu alaykum, mama." I smiled as I walked to her and into her open arms, hugging her tightly to my chest and inhaling her floral scent.

"What are you both...doing here? Together?" She stuttered, holding onto my hand as she looked between Zaid and I in confusion.

I hadn't noticed until today just how much mama and baba had aged in the short five years that I hadn't seen them. I assumed it was because of Zaid's cancer. They both had grayed hair and dark circles under their eyes. Even though they looked wide awake, they still looked tired at the same time. I don't know how that worked, but I could tell that Zaid's sickness had really taken a toll on them.

May Allah reward them for their suffering. Ameen.

"Mama, we've, well, I've decided that it's best for Zaid and I to start trying to be a family again for the kids." I told her with a smile as I squeezed her hand.

"Really!?" She laughed, tears streaming down her cheeks as I smiled at her. I nodded my head with a small chuckle and she threw her arms around me, making me laugh as I hugged her back.

"Alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah." She said in whispers while sniffling.

"Alhamdulillah." I repeated while rubbing her back.

"Sumayya, please forgive me fo..."

"Mum, we've been through this already, yeah?" I said to her, pulling away and holding her face in my hands, wiping away at her cheeks.

"Yes, okay. JazakAllahu khayr."

"Ameen, wa iyyaki, mama." I smiled, kissing her forehead, hearing Zaid and babas hushed voices from behind me.

"And me, habibti." Baba spoke while clearing his throat. Mama stepped away, walking over to the tv unit and taking tissue out of the box to wipe her face.

"What about you, baba?" I asked.

"Forgive me, also. I'm sorry I couldn't do anything." He said, looking ashamed. Baba was never someone to show his emotions and so even this coming from him made me feel calm and grateful.

"Nonsense. None of what happened is anyone's fault but Zaid's and I've even forgiven him. So you don't have to ask forgiveness from me, baba." I told him truthfully. He leaned over and squeezed my arm in thanks. That was as affectionate as he could be.

"I know I don't need to thank you for such a thing, but still, thank you for raising my grandchildren the way you have. They're beautiful, inside and out."

I smiled widely as he said that. Why did that make me so proud. Alhamdulillah.

"I guess they get their outer beauty from their dad and their inner beauty from me." I joked with a laugh making mama burst into laughter and baba chuckle.

"No, they got both beauties from you, hayati." Mama said as she came to hug me again.

"Astaghfirullah mama." I said with a small laugh, before loud shouting was heard from upstairs.

I widened my eyes and turned around. "Where'd Zaid go?" I said alerted.

"Clearly to Kubra again." Mama sighed as if she had had enough of her children arguing. I wondered how often this happened.

"Today sounds a bit more loud." Baba commented as he sat down on the couch and turned the volume of the tv higher.

"I'm...going to go and see..." I said awkwardly, wondering how they could sit down comfortably when Kubra was shouting at the top of her lungs.

"Yes! Okay!? Yes! I did! She was there and my friends were there she had no right to come and judge me!"

"You're so disrespectful! How dare you!? Why are you such a disgrace!?"

"A disgrace!? You're the disgrace! You're making your own sister upset because of some girl!"

I widened my eyes and stopped climbing the stairs as I heard that. My heart pounded loudly in my chest as I clenched my jaw to stop the tears.

Some girl?

"Some girl!? That woman is the mother of my children! She's my wife! Who are you to speak about her like that!?"

"Whatever she told you is a lie! She's making you hate me! She just wants to put fitnah in our family for revenge!"

Then I heard it. Zaid cursed and the sound of skin hitting skin was heard. I gasped and tears immediately escaped my eyes as I heard another slap and by the time I reached the door, I heard another. I opened the door quickly and saw Zaid holding Kubras hair as he slapped her.

"Zaid!" I shouted, pushing him forcefully away from her and standing in between them. His eyes were dark, his shoulders tense and his chest heaving up and down as he stared down at his sister in disgust, not glancing at me.

Kubra was hiccuping lightly, clearly trying her hardest to keep her sobs in from escaping, her hands cupping her cheek.

"What the hell do you think you're doing!?" I shouted, narrowing my eyes at him.

"She deserves more than that!" He yelled. "She's slandering you even though you didn't even tell me anything that she did!"

"She's in a state of jahiliyyah! She doesn't know any better! You think you're helping her by doing this!" I shouted, narrowing my eyes at him. "Get out, Zaid." I said with a shake of my head, watching him storm out of the room, clearly not because I told him to do so but because he couldn't stand looking at his sister.

I sighed, turning around and kneeling beside the bed that Kubra was on. "You can cry next to me, love." I whispered softly, scared she would blow up. I wiped my hand over her reddening cheek slowly and dried her tears with the sleeve of my jilbab.

"I'm so sorry I didn't get here on time." I said, my own cheeks wet with tears. "I'm so sorry." I sobbed, running my hand over her head.

Eventually she opened her eyes and looked up at me, her eyes red and her eyelashes damp. "I don't deserve any of this." She said looking at me.

"Kubra, you've made and still are making lots of mistakes. Your brother..."

"He can go to..." She began vehemently.

"Listen to me." I cut her off. I didn't care if she was crying. In fact, it was even better. At the moment her heart was sensitive. She was soft and I could use this softness to maybe show her the truth.

"Your brother was raised to be authoritative by your parents. He didn't have a choice. That's all he knows Kubra, he doesn't know how to be soft and compassionate. Remember the four greatest sahaba?" I asked her.

"What about them?" She asked.

"Who were they?" I countered, wanting to know if she still remembered. I was sure she did.

And she didn't let me down.

"Abu Bakr as Siddeeq, 'Umar ibn al Khattab, 'Uthman ibn Affan, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib." She said.

"Radhiyallahu anhum." I added. "What were they known for of their qualities?" I asked. "What was 'Ali known for?"

"He was a warrior."

"Exactly. 'Uthman?"

"Shyness."

"Yeah. Abu Bakr?"

"Truthfulness."

"And 'Umar?"

"Justness."

"Exactly, but the real question is how did they rule? Abu Bakr was soft, 'Uthman was soft, but Ali and especially 'Umar...they were firm and hard, Kubra. Yet, still, they are of the greatest of the sahaba, why? Because their intention was to only please Allah. That's exactly like your brother. His intention is so pure, wallahi it is." I told her.

She scoffed. "My brother is nothing like 'Umar ibn al Khattab." She muttered.

"Good deeds wise, piety wise, incomparable, okay. However 'Umar just like Zaid couldn't control his anger and their anger is always for Allah's sake."

"Sumayya, come on. Listen to yourself. Hitting his own sister for the sake of Allah?" She muttered., wiping her tears as she stood up and moved away from me.

"Get out." She said.

I didn't listen.

"He shouldn't have ever lay a single finger on you. Okay? I'm sorry I didn't get here in time. Wallah I will make sure it never happens again InshaaAllah. But you need to realize that he only wants what's best for you. You think your brother wants you to go to the Hellfire!? You think he wants to see you suffer!? To regret your life down the line when you're old and on your death bed?! To be filled with guilt about all the sins you committed!? No! Of course he doesn't! That's why he's doing this! He wants to save you from a life of pain, regret, guilt, self loathing and you're being too jahil to see it! Your desires have taken over and your heart has hardened! You started listening to music, then started wearing make up, then started posting selfies, then started liking boys comments, then started replying to them, then started hanging around with the wrong crowds and now you're outside with no hijab, face full of make up and boy friends everywhere! Check yourself! Wallahil adheem you will regret this! You will wish your brother had killed you so you didn't gather a single more sin, Kubra! What can't you see!? Open your heart!" I screamed, looking around her room until I saw a mushaf sitting on top of her tall desk. I went on my tippy toes and grabbed it in anger, dusting away the dirt that had collected on top of it. "Take it!" I shouted, handing it to her, her eyes wide at my voice, she took it from my hands slowly, looking down at it, her hands trembling. "Read the Quran! Look at what your Lord is telling you! 'And fear Allah, Indeed Allah is severe in punishment.'" I shouted, watching her look at me with wide eyes and a mouth agape.

Her eyes were glossed over and her shoulders were slumped.

"Fear Allah." I repeated softly, my chest heaving up and down as I exhaled, my own cheeks wet with tears.

We stood in silence for a minute, staring at each other through teary eyes. I shook my head sadly and turned around to leave.

"I love you for Allah's sake alone. Never forget that. You have my number if you need anything at all." I told her softly, making sure she heard it as I left the room, shutting the door behind me and taking a few steps before I fell to my knees on the floor and began sobbing into my hands.

O Allah keep me firm. O Allah keep me firm. O Allah keep me firm. O turner of hearts, keep my heart firm upon your religion. O turner of hearts, keep my heart firm upon your religion. O turner of hearts, keep my heart firm upon your religion.

"Sumayya!?"

I looked up through puffy eyes at Zaid who kneeled beside me and held my face in his hands. "What did she do?" He asked, his voice strained.

"Nothing." I said simply, shaking my head. "Wallahi."

All of a sudden my sadness was replaced by anger as I looked at him, pushing him away and standing up with narrowed eyes.

He raised a brow as I glared straight at him. "How dare you? How dare you hit her!?" I yelled, making him widen his eyes.

"W-wh..."

"Islam has given you no such right to hit her in any way! How dare you!?"

"Sumi..."

"No! Don't Sumi me! What on earth are you thinking, Zaid!? Why are you adopting western culture of beating people!? This is not from our religion. Even if she becomes a kafir, audhubillah, you've got no right to do such a thing. Are you out of your mind!? Repent to Allah. You have neglected your duties as her wali. I never ever would have thought I'd say that statement to you but you have. This is not how a wali should treat his women."

"I'd never neglect my dut..." He began, his eyes narrowed at me now.

"Well, newsflash, Zaid. You have. Not only have you physically hurt another Muslim, but your own sister. Your closest tie of kinship. Once she's feeling better you have to gain her forgiveness. Islam has given you your limits and given her her rights. You've overstepped your limits and transgressed her rights."

He looked away, exhaling through his nose. He swallowed and nodded slowly. "You're right. Wallahi you're right. I don't know why I've been doing that. Shaytaan made me think it was okay." He muttered. I looked up at him and gave him a small smile that didn't quite reach my eyes.

"As long as you've realised your mistake." I shrugged and he nodded, looking at me and stepping forward, hugging me and whispering soothingly to me telling me thank you over and over. I pulled away eventually, smiling at him.

"Should we go to get the kids now?" He said and my eyes widened as I took my phone out of my pocket and looked at the time.

We were running late. It took us half an hour to get there and their school was finishing in twenty minutes.

Zaid smirked at me. "Looks like you're driving, speedy." He said, using the nickname he used to use with me.

"Shut up, you know you drive faster." I spoke while rolling my eyes and standing up off the ground.

"Do I? I feel like you've become less confident since we've been apart." He laughed. He was right. When we were together I always argued that I was faster than him, but truth was, it was only banter. I knew he was a better driver than I was, even if it was by a little.

"Less talk, more action, lets go." I spoke up as I walked down the stairs hearing him laugh behind me. After saying bye to Zaid's parents, we left the home and got into the car, driving to the school and reaching it only five minutes after it had closed. I guess it wasn't that big of a deal since there were still a number of kids there along with Hamza and Hafsa.

"Mummy!" They cheered once I walked in making me laugh and gasp in excitement as I kneeled and opened my arms to catch them as they ran to me.

"Did you have fun!?" I asked as I hugged them both and kissed them over and over as they laughed and told me they did.

"I missed you so much." I told them as I pulled them away and looked at both of them with a grin.

"I missed you too." Hamza said as he hugged me again.

"Me too." Hafsa added with a grin. I kissed her forehead and pinched her cheek once Hamza pulled away from my arms.

"Do you both want to come back tomorrow?" Ms Linda asked them and they both nodded their heads quickly with wide eyes making me chuckle as I stood up straight and shook the teachers hand. I realised Zaid looked a little heartbroken and I knew it was because he was upset that the kids didn't have the bond I had with them with him yet, but it was obvious that it would take time. He was just going to have patience and make du'a.

And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]
2:45

"Thank you so much." I said to the teacher, not being able to bear looking at Zaid's forced smile as he hugged the kids.

She waved me off. "It's my job, love, no need to thank me." She said and after asking about how their days went briefly and if they caused any trouble, we left the building.

"Let's go to my mums house." I said to Zaid as unbuckled Hamza in before taking Hafsa out of his arms and buckling her into her seat as he put the bags in the boot.

"Okay, I'll follow you." He said and I nodded my head as I shut Hafsa's door.

"Zaid..." I spoke, giving him a sympathetic look. "You know this is going to happen for quite some time. فَاصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَمِيلً" I told him.

(Fasbir sabran jameela) So be patient with gracious/beautiful patience. Verse 5, Surah ma'arij

"InshaaAllah." He said, nodding with a smile as he kissed my head before turning around to go to his car. I sighed sadly, shaking my head and getting into the drivers seat, pulling out of the car park and driving to my mums house.

::::::

"Can you hurry up please because I'm getting impatient?" My mum muttered as she sat on the sofa across Zaid and I. Zaid was cracking his knuckles, a nervous gesture as my mum stared him down.

"Well, I mean, you probably already can assume what's happened."

"Yeah, I think I can. I want to hear it though. From you, preferably." She told me, slightly narrowing her eyes as she leaned on the arm rest.

"I've decided, that for the kids sake, I'm going to get back with Zaid. Try to be a family again and inshaaAllah live happily from now on." I said simply with a small shrug.

"Solely for the kids sake?" Zaid asked, turning to look at me, hurt in his eyes.

"Nows not th..."

"Now's the perfect time actually. Go on." My mum said to me, narrowing her eyes further.

"Uh, well yes...um no?"

"No?" Zaid countered.

"Jheeze, why are you both pressuring me? Okay, fine! It's for me too, yes I think I still love Zaid, well, I know I love you, but yes I did feel like I'd be happier with you also. So it's not solely for the kids."

Zaid smirked at me, looking happy as I've ever seen him since we had crossed paths again, well, since he had crossed my path anyway.

I rolled my eyes and turned around, crossing my arms and leaning back on the couch. "Don't get a big head, it's mainly for the kids." I muttered feeling annoyed that he was getting a kick out of this. He chuckled and smiled my way, opening his mouth to say something before my mum cut him off.

"Well good. If you'd said no, you wouldn't have gotten my blessings for this." She said honestly.

"So we do now?" I asked her with a grin.

"Anything for you habibti." She said standing up after me as I walked over to hug her tightly.

"I love you, mama."

"I love you so much more, my beautiful girl." She said, rubbing my back and squeezing the life out of me.

She hugged Zaid and told him to behave.

"Of course, mum." He said to her sincerely as they pulled apart.

"I missed you." She told him. "And I thought I'd never forgive you for what you put my daughter through. But you're back now and I trust you to make it up to her, so I forgive you."

He smiled nodding his head.

"I missed you too." He told her as they hugged again.

"Okay, now you two go shops and buy ingredients for shawarma. I'll watch the kids." She said with a smile.

"Just like old times." Zaid spoke softly, looking at me as my eyes welled with tears.

"Just like old times." I repeated, smiling back at my mum before looking up at Zaid and feeling whole again.

Alhamdulillah.

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6000 words kmt 😪😪😪 I don't get it how do people write chapters with 12,000 words ??!?'!?!? Allahumma barik man

Did youuu enjoy thaaatt ??????

Three more chapters to go. InshaaAllah it gets finished tonight so stand by x

Assalamu alaykum ❤️