2 CHAPTER 1
He wakes up in a small dark room. Where he laid with his father,mother, his sister kwairah and his little brother Hassan on a mat that won't be comfortable for two , but five people would squeeze themselves on it . he glared at the ratty room they call a house . the walls were breaking off, the roof were made of sack ( a battle field for rats at night ). Holes were bored in some corners of the room where cockroaches and rats have taken their place . he turned his gaze to his family lying where he just woke up from. Seeing them sleeping like prisoners . a sudden feeling of irritation grew in him, he felt useless and vulnerable . he planned to make a change for his family when he is 16, strong enough to work hard but he felt embarrassed in himself knowing that he is 20 already and still unable to change the ugly situation . never for once has education crossed his mind to be a means for his success . although he sees the wealthy whites living in lofty mansions and having the latest model of cars . their children enrolled in expensive schools and large farms as possessions. While they are deprived of school or even owning a farm . the highest job they could get was that of a clerk and only educated blacks gets a clerk for a job. The highest level of education a muslim could get in the community was the elementary education and not all schools enroll a black muslim. So education is not a means for his success . he thought of getting a chauffeur job but then he changed his mind , why should he ever think of driving a white who despise them so much and despises his faith. He concluded to continue his mechanic job with his father . believing Allah( GOD ) will Make a way out of their hardship in sha Allah ( if God wills ). He turned his gaze to the clock at the wall and saw the time to be 5:08 am, he tapped his father gently to wake him up .
" Fajr ( morning prayer ) time father "
Imran nodded to him and woke up from his sleep. Hassan was 10 years old then, he shouldn't skip his prayers so he was woken up too. The ladies were also woken to observe their prayers at home while Imran and his sons went to the mosque .
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" Have Hassan tells you ? " Hauwa asked her husband who was busy arranging the tools he would need at the shop . they were not so good in speaking English correctly but understands well when spoken to .
" Tells me what ? "
"Let him tells you himself, Hassan ! Hassan !! "
" yes ummi ( mother ) ! " he left the woods he was arranging outside and rushed to his parents.
" you tells me something last evening, tells your father that you tell me " she instructed him. immediately his eyes were filled with horror and his heart was pounding hard inside. An issue he has never heard his elder ones say to their father. But even within his fears he still uttered it.
" F--- Father , i ---- i want to learn in school " . Imran was surprised none of his children ever asked for education why would Hassan do ? He wishes he could enroll him but the restrictions for muslims, black muslims was something else . he stared at him for long, seeing the desperation in his eyes and felt bad that he couldn't meet the need of his child .
" They won't put you in class ''
" B----- But father, in sha Allah ( if God wills ) they put me , if we try please "
" The dollar is high I can't get high dollar to make you enter "
" F---- Father ..."
" No more ! No money No school !! " . Hassan felt very hurt he really wants to go to school, likes to read and loves the atmosphere of the place . he ran out, sit on the floor and buried his face on his thigh. Imran didn't mean to yell at his child, it is a good thing to be educated but the malignant community has killed every desire of education in their hearts. Omar went out to persuade his broken brother . he knew he was penniless so can not help him achieve his desire. He sat closer to him caressing his hair softly .
" it's okay Hassan "
" omar, i like school " he said sobbingly
" I know, tell me why ? Why like school ? "
" I see people go to school happy and Yusuf tells me, if we go to school, we have big work , plenty dollar and big house and no more hungry for us " . omar couldn't help but smile to what Hassan just informed him about the benefit of education . he knows being educated will give you a better means to higher jobs but definitely not for them. Black Muslim are not so opportuned but telling him the reality will only break his brother more.
" What you'll be if you go school ? "
" I'll be an injection giver "
Omar laughed out loud to the profession his brother has chosen
"Oh , is name is doctor okay "
Hassan agreed with a nod and smiled
" why you choose doctor ? "
" so i can help life in sha Allah ( if God wills ) my doctor will be free for poor people "
" you'll help rich white people ? " omar asked, waiting to get a response from his brother who Stared at him for long before giving it
" yes, I'll help them and they'll know Muslim are good and loving "
Omar was surprised to his intelligent response . he never thought that way before ,He kissed his forehead and promised him
" when I get a job my first dollar I put you in school with it, ..... Don't tell nobody , secret " he whispered the last words and joined his father at the shop.
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Pondering over what Hassan said. Despite the rejection and despise people show them because of their color and faith, he still has the zeal to help even those who he knows condemns them. All the time omar spent growing up in the ghetto, never for once did he thought of helping those who were not part of his family . Because to him everybody hates him and only his family could he vouch for their love. He thought the best way to live was to hate those who hates him. But that has been the way the ghetto is and nothing is making it better . because no one is up for a change. Being fiendish to people who despise you is just like telling them without words that you are what they think of you. He scratches his head and buried his face in his palm feeling guilty and ashamed of the way he has felt towards the people all these years. He knows about the struggles of prophet Muhammad ( peace be upon him ) when he was alive. A man who was loving and kind to even his own enemy . regardless of how he was treated , his attitude towards those who despised him was what he used in winning the hearts of many . but he has let anger and hatred rule over his own heart. Behaving the same way others did to him. While little Hassan is wishing for a day he would be able to show the world the beauty of his heart.
" Omar ! What you think ? " imran asked his son noticing his sombre look on his face
" No thing father "
" you lost in you think and you say no thing, what's wrong ? tell me "
" No thing father, I'm okay no thing at all "
" I know , I know Omar ! You is now hungry " he laughed lightly
" Don't worry, you mother bring some food . but before she come, go buy me tools for work ''
" okay father " he collected the money and headed to buy the tools . the ghetto does not have any shop that valuable products are sold, infact the only shop in the ghetto was that of imran . most black works as chauffeur or public service ( street cleaners ) for the whites . omar has to go to the white residence to get tools that his father needs at the shop. Walking the streets of the whites was infuriating. Seeing the lofty buildings and clean environment, a service that the blacks render to them cleaning their dirts unlike theirs that filths could be seen everywhere .
" they think they better " he cursed under his breath. Feeling hatred again towards them but he stopped himself this time and remembered the promise he did to himself to follow the act of the prophet. He increased his steps not wanting to stay in the street of the whites longer so as for him not to break his promise and hate again. As he rushes back to the shop to deliver the tools to his father he saw a white man standing close to his car looking depressed . he didn't want to intrude in his privacy so he walked pass him without salutation. After walking few distance away from him he returned his gaze to the man and saw him hitting the bonnet of his car and hisses to himself . now he knew something was wrong with him and his problem is definitely his car having engine issues . he didn't care to turn back and help, he felt his problems are for him to bear. Since they are better than blacks let him resolve the issues himself. Amidst his neglectful thinking he remembered what Hassan said, that if he becomes a doctor he would help the poor and even the rich whites . so that they would know that Muslims are good and loving . but he thought again
" if people see me they will talk that I am a stealer and I want to steal from white somebody " . this was a real fact that he could be accused of . but he followed the words of Hassan and went back to him , believing that a good act will always follow a good reward .
" sir, is you have problem with car ? '' his heart skipped to every word as he spits them out.
" oh yes please, my car is having problems it just broke down now and I need to be somewhere urgent ."
" I am good repairer of cars, I can check for you ? "
" That will be so nice of you, of course " he quickly opened the bonnet of his car and allowed Omar to have a look at the issue. Omar had no tools to work other than the new ones he bought for his father . he uses them in repairing the faults in the car and replaced the worn out ones with the new ones.
" Try it sir "
The man quickly entered his car and turns the engine on, the sound from it shows it's alive again. He came out of his car well pleased with Omar and said
" Thank you so much dear friend . my name is christopher what is yours ? "
" Omar, Omar ibn Imran ( Omar son of Imran )
" you are a Muslim ? "
" yes I am muslim " he replied proud of his faith. He thought now that Christopher knows of his religion he was going to scuttle away from him but No, he was still standing and smiling at him .
" Thank you so much Omar " he dipped his hand into his jacket pocket and brought out ten dollar note and handed them over to Omar
" please Omar use this to pay for the things you used for my car "
Omar stared at the money with passion but he didn't see it appropriate for him to be paid for his charity.
" Sir Christoph, thank you . but I don't take it, is a charity I do . I help you Allah ( God ) help me ." Christopher was surprised at his refusal, A black man rejecting money is rare. He stared at him for long and thanked him again.
" if you don't mind Omar I will like you to come visit me tomorrow "
" why sir ?" He asked not welcoming the idea because he has never been to a white house before, they have respected the restriction and stayed away.
" it's nothing, j--- just want to know you better , do you mind ? "
" No not mind sir, but I tells my family first and only them let me go " christopher smiled and pulled out one of his cards and gave it to him
" just incase you are permitted that is my address on it , Thank you again Omar " he collected the card and saw him drove off . Omar was so surprised at christopher's courteous act towards him . never did he thought they were whites who are nice and polite . he was so proud of himself for showing an act of kindness but he cannot hide the occurrence from his father . he was scared at first, thinking his father might not take it well that he helped a white with some of the tools he sent him to buy but if there is one thing he cannot do is telling lies. An act he abhors so much . no matter what the consequences would be he will always say the truth. When he got to the shop his father was still busy with the bike he has been repairing and didn't even notice his presence.
" Father " he called to get his attention
" Oh Omar, you come very late "
" I'm sorry father "
" any problem , you lost money ? "
" No father, I help a white person "
" Maa sha Allah ( what God has willed ) that's very good "
" you not angry ? "
" why i should angry, Allah ( God ) say we should help the people , so if we do good Allah ( God ) will do good to us "
" he give me card to visit , I should go father ? "
" Go Omar , Allah be with you "
" Thank you Father "
" Now we go and eat , come ".
