Due For Inheritance (D. U. I)

Chapter 5

Baasim is quite hard-working and he knows that he would actually make something of himself by the grace of Allah. He had tried involving himself in some manual labor and that could have brought him enough cash to feed his family of two, but at his first day at work, he was summoned to go back home because his blind father was sighted roaming the streets on his own and was almost involved in an accident, so he had to stop going but he still involved in some menial jobs that didn’t take much of his time but also fetch very little cash that was never enough.

For two days now, he hadn’t found a job to do which was why there was nothing on the table for the day and his helpers give them food infrequently so he couldn’t predict when they would actually decide to give them some. This brought his thought back to their community Imam who knows how to say the right thing at the right time but would never help out despite the fact that he’s very comfortable.

He once claimed that there were too many beggars in the community, so if he helped him, then, he would be required to do so for others. Baasim had begged and explained that it’s a one-time thing and he only needed the congregation to help him contribute some money to start up a business but he had half-heartedly told him he would bring his situation forward but had warned him that he’s making no promises because several people had come around with the same words but different agenda.

Eventually, the Imam had provided with just enough to sustain him for half a day and alas, he couldn’t make anything out of it.

Baasim and his father stayed on empty stomach till noon. He would have gone out to source for food but he absolutely didn’t want to miss the Samaritan’s arrival but had he known that he would run late, he would have gone and came back. He made a decision to wait till after zuhr prayer and if he didn’t show up, then Allah probably didn’t put his money in his pocket.

Zuhr came and went with no sign of the rumored person, so he accepted it as his Qadar and left to source for money. He knocked on several doors to see if they needed a help. He would accept his payment either in cash or food like the Al-majiris. He couldn’t work for too long because his father is alone, just enough work to provide enough food to satiate their hunger.

Two hours and a leather full of rice, beans and stew later, he set back home in a haste. If he could feel like the worms in his stomach were about to eat him alive, then he wondered how his father who had an upset stomach and had exited all there is in his belly would be feeling and that made him hurry the more to get home.

******

Muhammad stepped down slowly from his Lexus jeep but not completely exiting the car. It wasn't time yet. He’s radiating wealth and he knows it. Though he loves to help the poor and give to the needy, humility isn’t one of his virtues. He loves to let his presence be felt everywhere he goes which was why he had some people circulate the rumor that he would be coming around to the central mosque in Wushishi local government, Niger State to help the indigent.

This, he’s doing for the sake of Allah and his Rasul but he couldn’t help showing off. One day would come when he would be able to wear a cloth of humility and perform his deeds with the right hand such that the left hand would be unaware Insha Allah. That’s the pact he made with himself. He also knows that this character of his was stemmed from being a young billionaire, he might not feel the need to exhibit such importance if he were older.

He would have gotten out of his car and be on the solid ground if the ushers were around to exaggerate his presence and direct him to the mosque even if he was at the entrance already. After about five minutes of placing one of his legs on the ground and the other in his jeep, the Malams he hired finally arrived with their kakaki (A long metal trumpet), playing it with professional expertise and unconsciously drawing the curious inhabitants out of their abode.