Where Mercy Flows

The Caravan of Imtihan (test)

"Yaaa Allah, where did I go wrong?!" A dark-skinned woman sitting on a prayer mat asked in a voice full of desperation, her eyes welling up with tears.

"If this is my test for this dunya, please, grant me the opportunity to win it. I am no one but one of your servants, I know I am not pious, but I always seek your forgiveness, and you are the Forgiving and merciful" she wept intensely as she prostrated in sujood. She spent more than five minutes before she sat back to her sitting position.

" A'isha". An elderly man who leaned on door frame called. He stands there watching his wife as he cross his hands under his chest.

The woman turned startle. She darted her wary eyes on the man without saying a word.

The man sluggishly force his limb to walk to his wife. He gently sat beside her and take her hands and put it into his. He hold the hands not tied nor loose and look her in the eye.

" أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ؟" سورة : العنكبوت - Al-Ankabut 
"Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested?" He quoted from Qur'an verse.

A painful tears cascaded down her cheeks as she lowered her gaze. " But this is too...."

"Shhhhhhh" her husband shhed her. " You have no right to complain, do you forget who are you?" He's asked as he searches her eyes.

" Of course no" she replied and swallowed a lump from her throat.

" Then why will you complain?" He asked again

She raised up her head " being tested with your child is not something...." She started and then she got interrupted just as the first time.

" Is not something what?, Mmmmm?" He ask and adjusted his seating position. He continued with " can you remember what I told you the time you gave birth to this child?" He asked.

Of course, how could she forget anything from that day?, she is very sure she can still remember the tiniest events that happened that day.

Twenty-seven years ago.

Aisha, the wife of Malam Audu, spent seven years praying fervently and crying out to her Lord, yearning for a child. Living in Nigeria, particularly in Arewa, without having her own child was an indescribable pain. She faced mockery and judgment from people over trivial matters, with some even seeking to trouble her just to ridicule her. The most challenging part was her husband's relatives, who, after two years of their marriage, began labeling her barren and suggesting she was a burden to their brother since she hadn't borne him children. By the fourth year, despite her husband's refusal to take another wife, the relatives' pressure and hatred towards her intensified, leaving Aisha oppressed and belittled. Undeterred, she spent countless nights, especially in the last third, making heartfelt du'as with sincerity and yaqeen (certainty). After seven years of persistent prayer, Allah finally answered her plea.

A'isha is over the moon, she went to her husband and in formed him, saying " After 7 long years of waiting, I am finally expecting!"

Aisha and her husband are ecstatic about the news. Malam Audu did everything he could to care for his wife. He always helped with household chores before heading to work, ensuring her meals included all the essential nutrients for both her and their fetus.

At nine months of pregnancy, Aisha gave birth to a beautiful bouncing baby girl. Malam Audu had been anxious, praying for a safe delivery for his wife. After some time, a nurse came out of the labor room holding a baby and congratulated Malam Audu, handing him the baby. She informed him that his wife was fine and would be moved to a recovery room soon. Malam Audu was overjoyed upon hearing the news that both his wife and daughter were safe and well.