Nawal
Asweera woke up with a start and a gasp. She rubbed her hands over her face and sighed. 'Again the same dream!' She thought to herself and shook her head and searched the side table for the bottle of water and came up empty. She sighed again, debating whether she should go drink water or just try to go back to sleep, but the thirst proved to be stronger and she groaned in irritation as she covered herself tightly and began walking towards the kitchen. The dimly lit hallway looked quite scary after her dream. She bit her lip and contemplated going back again, but chided herself and moved towards the fridge, before opening it and taking out the water bottle. She quenched her thirst and turned back towards her room.
She heard whispers as she neared the room. She got startled and began to search for the source of the whispers. A part of her brain was cowering due to the unknown whispers in the dark and another part of her brain was curious to know about them. Her eyes landed on the open door of Rubdha's temporary room. She frowned and walked towards her sister's room and peeped in.
She felt goosebumps as she watched the scene in front of her. Her heart began thumping loudly in her chest. The thumps of her heart were so loud that they felt like thunderstrokes and yet these thunders couldn't drown the whispers, whose source was her sister and brother-in-law praying tahajjud. Her being stilled in front of that door and right then and there she wished she could be like her sister... In love with Al Khaliq... She wished she could find love in a person who loved Ar Rahman. She wished... and she wished...
She hadn't realised that she was crying soundlessly, but she was. She wiped her tears and left the Lovers of Al Wadood in their privacy and turned back towards her room.
She hadn't prayed Tahajjud like her sister...
******
Ma'arij
Ma'arij was waiting for someone at the beach. He stood regal on the sands and watched as the waves hugged the shore again and again. A little distance away stood a bunch of girls giggling and throwing not so subtle looks at him. He smirked and closed his eyes as he turned his face towards the sun and let the late evening rays caress his face. Somewhere behind him he heard someone sigh.
His attention was focussed on counting his breaths and till now he had reached eighty five. His patience was on the verge of impatience. He was a very punctual man and hated tardiness. And right now the other party was eighty five breaths late. An awful first impression... But that was what he was looking for.
"Ahem!" He heard behind him and turned. "Sir! I am here for the job!" A man of about twenty eight stood before him. His posture slack and voice meek. He seemed nervous. Perfect!
******
Nawal
"Di?" Asweera called softly. Rubdha who was washing plates turned slowly and smiled at her little sister. Her lips were in constant movement. Asweera became lost in her sister. Rubdha laughed softly and shook Asweera. "Sorry! I wanted to ask you something!"
"Ask me what?" Rubdha asked.
"How do you keep on doing Dhikr?" Asweera asked. "I mean I have never seen your lips stay still! They are always in movement!"
"I found peace in Dhikr, when I had lost hope in the whole world! And then I made sure I didn't stop Dhikr... I put stickers of Dhikr on the walls of kitchen and the doors of cupboards! I began to research the advantages of Dhikr and it's rewards and that motivated me to do Dhikr! And then I began feeling closer to my Habeeb, my Allah and so I strived more harder! I didn't fall into habit in a second! I took ages... But now I feel incomplete without it... I feel like I can't breathe when I stop Dhikr!" Rubdha replied. Her eyes were moist and lost somewhere else. Asweera always felt there was more to her sister's past then she had revealed but Rubdha never told her and she didn't want to prick at her sister's closed wounds.
"Do you think I could do it too?" Asweera asked her. She smiled lovingly at Asweera.
"Of course you can! Anyone can if they strive in His path!" Rubdha whispered.
"Tell me about Dhikr Ruby!" Asweera pleaded with Rubdha. She gently pulled Rubdha towards the balcony and sat at the foot of the sofa while Rubdha settled on the sofa.
"Dhikr?" Rubdha inhaled deeply and smiled softly. "Dhikr is simply put...Remembrance. But in Islam it specifically means remembrance of Allah! When you remember someone or something too much, your heart begins to give importance to it and then it becomes your number one concern! When you remember Allah too much you will fall in love with him and he will begin to love you back! Dhikr may be small duas or just His mention but it will still be enough to save you from the anger our Rabb! Dhikr is salvation when it's done with love consciously and unconsciously!" Rubdha was lost in the world of her Rabb's Dhikr. Asweera pondered on her words.
"How does it benefit us?" Asweera asked.
"The best benefit is the fact that Allah remembers us when we remember him- "Remember Me and I will remember you, and thank Me, and do not be ungrateful to Me". (2:152)!" Rubdha told her. "It brings the heart peace and cures our heartache- "...Look! The hearts find rest in Allah's remembrance"(13:28). It also saves our hearts from hypocrisy and saves us from Shaitan!" Rubdha looked over at Asweera's scrunched forehead and continued. "Dhikr need not be just small duas or Allah's names! Salah is Dhikr, reading Quran is Dhikr and also contemplating Allah and his creation is Dhikr! For each letter of the Quran we read we get ten rewards and that increases in the month of Ramadan! Moreover when we keep Allah's Remembrance alive in our hearts we will have more piety and also... death as you know doesn't come with invitation! It's sudden! When we die in the condition of Dhikr then we will rise that on the day of judgement! Isn't it a better way to go rather than singing songs or doing laghv (unnecessary talks)?" Rubdha asked. Asweera nodded. " Allah says in the Quran - "So know (O Muhammad SAW) that La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men and believing women." Quran (47:19). See? Allah asks us to Dhikr here! The Messenger of Allah (Sall'Allahu alayhi wa salam) said (narrated by Jabir bin 'Abdullah): "The best Dhikr (remembering Allah) is La ilaha illallah and the best supplication is Al-Hamdu Lillah." [At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah]! Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri said, that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Moses (Alayhi salam) said: O Lord! Teach me something that I can remember You with and I can supplicate You with. Allah said: "Say 'La ilaha ill Allah', O Musa." He (Musa) said: All of your servants say this. He (Allah) said: "If the seven Heavens and those who dwell in them other than Me and the seven Earths are put into one pan (of the scale) and 'La ilaha ill Allah' is put into the other; 'La ilaha ill Allah' would be heavier." [Ibn Hibbaan and Haakim]! Can you imagine the rewards Aswee?" Rubdha asked. Asweera's eyes had widened. She gaped at her sister. "The Prophet Muhammad (sws) said: "Two words (subhanAllah wa bihamdihi) are light on the tongue, weigh heavily in the balance, and are loved by the Most Merciful One." There is other Hadith which says- "Whoever says "SubhanAllah wa bihamdihi" a hundred times during the day, his sins are wiped away, even if they are like the foam of the sea" [Sahih al-Bukhari; #7:168, Sahih Muslim; #4:2071]. Seeking forgiveness is also Dhikr and we are advised to do astaghfaar at least seventy times a day! So all these are Dhikr my dear and there is no easy way to stick them to your tongue! We need to practise it!"
Asweera didn't reply. She just sat there and made plans to do Dhikr whenever she could. Surely it wouldn't be easy but it was going to be worth it in the end. She started saying 'Astaghfirullah' that very instant and Rubdha who was watching her sister's lip move, smiled at her fondly. She wished her sister got to be more closer to Rabb without undergoing any trial. She didn't want her fate to ever be rewritten in her sister's life. The dream she saw some days ago suddenly resurfaced and she again prayed to Allah that it never came true.
******
Ma'arij
Ma'arij looked at his wristwatch and arched his eyebrow. It was nearly time for Isha Salah and he hadn't yet prayed maghrib. He got up and went towards the restroom. He prayed Salah but missed most of the times or prayed late almost everytime. It was very rare that he was on time. His mind still replayed his to do list as he prayed.
The first part of his plan was already in action. He smirked as he thought of his arrangement. His eyes flashed angrily when he thought of the scene he had witnessed and then he shut them in grief. How could anyone do this? How could he forgive them? The grief flew in his veins like red hot lava. It burned him inside out and revenge was everything he could even think about. He had long ago promised that he would make them regret every wrong they had committed and now was the first step towards his revenge.
"Ma'arij? Beta I need to talk to you about something!" He turned back from where he was standing at the balcony and saw his mother standing at the foot of his bed. He smiled at her.
His mother was wearing a loose kurta and palazzo pants. Her hair was left open over her shoulders and her stole was tied around her neck. Her face was impeccably done and she looked elegant.
"Haan Mom Bolo (Yes Mom tell)!" Ma'arij said softly and sat at the foot of the bed, on the floor.
"Marriage..." She said the word.
"What about it?"
"I want you to get married!" His mother told him as she walked near the window and looked at the moon.
"Okay..."
"Do you like anyone?"
"Not exactly! I will accept any girl you choose!"
"You know whom I like! Iqra!"
"All right then!" Ma'arij shrugged. His mother smiled a one sided smile and turned towards the moon.
"She fits all the requirements I have for a daughter in law!" His mother told him. "Also she is from the same family and well adjusted! It's good for her too! She likes you and she wouldn't have to leave this house either!"
"Yeah Mom!" He agreed as his mother nodded and walked out. He shook his head.
His mother Zahra Durrani was a well known interior stylist. She was fifty eight and looked forty five. She had maintained herself well. As a mother, she never paid much attention to Ma'arij, always being busy in her career. He still loved and respected her a lot. She loved him too but never got the time to show him.
He got up again and went towards the window his mother was standing at. His mind reeling towards his past. He was the first child of his parents, unexpected and unplanned. The second anniversary of his parent's marriage was celebrated with him. His mother had just started her career and his Dad was too busy in maintaining the business along with Grand Dad and that's how he was flown to India at a mere one year of age to his Nanu's (Mother's Father) house. He was just One and was especially Cranky. His mother got quite upset and even though his paternal side protested, she went ahead with the separation. And he stayed with his Aunt for ten years before he was sent to school abroad, where he stayed along with his Paternal cousins. His aunt Sahla Durrani was his foster mother. She suckled him for nine months along with her own son, while his mother was busy. He was more closer to Sahla than his mom. Remembering Sahla brought him deep pain. Sahla had become unresponsive in her grief. She had refused to talk to anyone. Even him. The reason for her state was the Shams family and this thought brought reignited the fire in his heart. He clenched his teeth tight and punched the wall next to the window, as his eyes became moist. They will have to pay... Soon...
******
Nawal
Asweera was walking just behind her sister in the corridors of the Naif Souq, when a beautiful shawl caught her eyes. She turned towards the shop and just as she caught it in her hand, another hand held it too. She turned in annoyance towards the person and came face to face with a girl.
"I saw it first!" The girl said before Asweera said a word.
"I touched it first!" Asweera shot back.
"It's mine!" The girl said. Asweera pulled the shawl which was tightly grasped by both of them
"Bhaiyya aisi hi aur ek hai kya? (Brother Is there another piece?)" Asweera asked the shopkeeper, who shook his head smiling softly. He seemed to be enjoying their altercation. She huffed and turned towards the girl. "Sorry but am not giving this to you! I need to gift it to my sister and I will get it!"
"Huh? I need it for me and I will get it too! Iqra Afandi koi cheez pasand kare aur woh use na mile? (Iqra Afandi like something and not get it?) No chance!" The girl smirked and said arrogantly. Asweera frowned. The battle continued. They were getting quite loud by the second.
"Woaahh! Iqra?" There were many voices around the girl trying to get her away from the shawl. Asweera thought they were her friends or relatives. She thanked Allah that her sister and sisters in law weren't there. They would have hit her head and dragged her from there holding her ears. But Zinneera should have been here fighting this stupid girl along with her.
"Stop!" A male voice commanded and both the girls froze immediately on his command. Asweera turned her head towards the voice and found herself facing a guy. He was tall and was watching both of them intensely. He was smart and his dark eyes held a fire which scared her to her core. She let the shawl go in her fear. "What's the prize?" He asked the shopkeeper.
"Forty!" The shopkeeper said, taking advantage of the demand. Asweera began to hand the money to shopkeeper when the guy handed Hundred Dirhams to the shopkeeper and pulled Iqra away while smirking at Asweera. Asweera stood there in shock with wide open mouth. The guy turned towards Asweera once he had taken two steps.
"Ma'arij Afandi apno ko kabhi Dukh mein nahin dekh sakta! (Ma'arij Afandi can't see his people in grief!) This was a just a shawl if she had demanded the whole shop I would have given her that too!" He told Asweera in polite arrogance before sauntering away. Iqra smirked at her too as she skipped away happily. Asweera stood still and tried to control her wildly beating heart. For the first time in her life a guy had left her speechless.
"Aswee? What's up?" She heard Zinneera beside her and turned towards her.
"I lost a shawl to an arrogant pair of brats!" She muttered angrily and stalked off, leaving a confused Zinneera behind.
******
Rubdha and Umar were sitting in the car an waiting for her sisters. He was their chauffeur for the day, because he didn't want to leave Rubdha alone and he was free.
"Do you know how much I love you Rubdha?" Umar suddenly asked.
"Yup!" Rubdha said and turned away. She was upset with him for dragging her back to the car when she mentioned a slight back ache in the market. Umar sighed.
"Please Hayati try and understand! You needed to rest your feet!"
"I needed to shop Umar!" Rubdha said angrily. She was having her occasionally rare mood swing and Umar was actually loving his angry wife. He extended his hand and cupped her cheeks.
"I am sorry hayati! I promise you I will bring you again some other time!" Umar said. Rubdha still looked angry. He held her hand and brought it to his lips. "Stop being angry Rubdha! Please?" Rubdha didn't reply. "Ghadhabal Habibi mithla hablil mushannaqati haula anuqi (Anger of the beloved is like a noose around the neck)... kullama 'annaha tazeaj 'akthar yadiq alkhinaq (The more she is upset the more the noose tightens)..." Umar muttered. Rubdha smiled slightly.
"It's okay... I don't want that noose to trouble you anymore!" She said watching his face, which suddenly appeared to bloom like a full moon. She chuckled and watched him fondly. He kissed her hands again
"Ana 'uhibbuk zawjati alhabiba!" He said lovingly and she could just smile back.
The door of the back seat was suddenly pulled open and Asweera climbed in angrily followed by a confused Zinneera.
"You guys are back early!" Rubdha said. She was blushing. Her sisters failed to notice, but Umar was smiling slyly.
"I hate Souq! And arrogant rich brats too!" Asweera muttered angrily. Rubdha arched her eyebrows and asked Zinneera the reason, who shrugged helplessly. She had borne the brunt of her twin's anger since meeting her in the corridor.
Asweera closed her eyes tightly and tried to cool the fire raging in her heart as she took deep breathes.
"Read Darood!" Rubdha offered from the front. Asweera begin to recite darood. She could still see the guy in her mind... Handsome and haughty.
******
Ma'arij
"Thank you thank you thank you!" Iqra smiled at Ma'arij, who was still reminiscing the girl's face when he bought the Shawl. He was smiling.
'This is just the beginning Asweera Nawal Shams! Look how I play this game!' Ma'arij thought.
"It's okay Iqra!" He said airily and went ahead to check out the types of scent in a shop. Iqra grinned happily.
******
Assalamualaikum... Hope you like it. The sister who asked about Dhikr. I hope you are answered. Please remember me in yua prayers.