8 Elderly Imp.
Huzair Abdul Jabbar Sayed was in a bind. Currently he was twenty five years of age. The perfect age for parents to look for potential brides. His family was quite wealthy and was the perfect groom candidate. He had already completed his courses in business administration and had immense potential. For the time being, he continued to work under a small time company to increase his work experience before taking over his Father's company that dealt with the manufacture of soaps and oils. There were many marriage offers but he just wasn't interested in them. Some of them were also his very distant cousins.
"Huzair, dear, come here! My legs hurt. Please massage them for me."
Huzair flinched.
He didn't have anything against massaging her legs. What he actually felt apprehensive about was what her real objective was. His mother was a cunning but frank person.
Five minutes after he began, the dreaded topic came up.
"Beta, what do you think about that girl? The one with pretty and small lips that we met that day? She looked quite good, right?"
"I didn't like her."
"Why?", she asked like a spoilt child.
"She had small lips."
It was a random reason. His mother naturally was aware of that fact.
She looked disappointed. "Even your cousin brother has already gotten engaged. Imran, that silly boy, his marriage is in one and a half years, right? I heard that the girl wanted to complete her studies first." "Mmhmm."
Imran was also one of Huzair's many cousins. It wasn't until four years ago in a wedding that they found out about it. He was distantly linked from his mother's side of the family. It was funny how they had gone from best friends to brothers. But there was one other problem too.
Imran was also somehow his uncle too when they traced it from another relation. Huzair still remembered Imran's aghast face. It was a really good chance to get back at him. He regretted it a few days later after he fell victim to one of Imran's tiny schemes.
Thinking about something her expression turned mischievous like an imp.
"Zair~"
"Yes,Maa?"
"Do you have someone you like?"
Huzair made a pause. "No."
"Too bad." His mother looked like she wanted to beat him up. "What are your preferences?" "Quiet. Mild. Has nice eyes."
"Oh! No wonder that girl was rejected. She looked like the kind who liked to talk a lot."
His mother didn't want to give up. "Well then, tell me if you find someone to your liking. I'll go speak to them."
"Yes, Maa."
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Huzair was out on a job. Mrs. Sayed was offering Salah(1)on a Janamaz(2). Once she was done with Asr(3) Fardh (4) Namaaz(5), she pleaded with all her heart for a good wife for her son and for health and for forgiveness. Once she finished, she continued to read the Qur'an (6) from where she had left off.
It was peaceful with the sounds of turning pages and the loving voice that recited the scriptures. As the lady continued to read, tears fell from her eyes and her voice trembled with emotions. The beauty of the Qur'anic verses had captured her even when she didn't know their meanings.
The Qur'an was the most beautiful thing in the world to her. It was poetry, the kind that filled the heart with fear and peace at the same time. It spoke of The Day of Judgement(7), Jannah(8), Jahannum(9), of history and the future.
It gave insights into the world that was created and that would be destroyed. It told stories. Stories of the struggles of the Prophets(10). She shuddered when she reached Surat-ul-Tawba(11). The chapter of punishment. The chapter that had no mercy unlike the other Surahs. It showed Allah's anger.
She continued to recite until she had finished two whole parahs(12) and the call for Maghrib(2.1) prayers sounded.
Her heart was at peace.
.
.
.
Glossary:-
(1)Salah- the five obligatory prayers that every Muslim has to offer.
It is a set of motions and a recital of Surahs, done while facing towards the Ka'abah, the holy structure that was constructed during Abraham's ( known as Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) to the muslims) time and was then reconstructed my Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wa sallam).
It consists of standing with right hand over your left hand, bowing with hands on the knees( for men) and prostrating with forehead and nose touching the ground. Women are more restricted in their movements as compared to men. This is because the motions would somewhat reveal a woman's figure. Google for extra details.
(2)Janamaaz- A rug used to pray. it is not really necessary as long as the place one offered salah was free of impurities. Also called a musallah. I'm not sure what else it it is called in other parts of the world.
(3)Asr- One of the five daily prayers. The five prayers are as follows: Fajr--> Zohar--> Asr---> Maghrib(2.1)--> Isha.
Fajr is at dawn just before the sun rises. (5-6 AM)
Zohar, a while after the sun was at its height. ( about 1 o'clock onwards)
Asr, before the sun set.(4-5:30 Pm-ish?)
Maghrib, at dusk, nearly after sunset. (7-7:30 PM)
Isha, the first few hours of the night. (around 8-9 PM).
(4)Fardh- literally means duty. The obligatory part of the namaz that must be offered without fail. The Witr is also obligatory.
This Author is not very sure about it, but some say it is the Hanfi style. (categories of the ways of prayer. From what I've heard, there are four styles.) Sorry for my ignorance. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
(5) Namaaz- another word for Salah.
(6) Qur'an- pronounced as Kor-aan. Holy book of the Muslims.
The Zabur, known as the Book of David( Prophet Dawood (peace be upon him)), the Bible and the Jewish Torah (called Tawrat by people of Islam) were also considered to be Holy books of the Muslims that preceded the Qur'an.
The Bible was called Injeel, one of the four Holy books that have descended.
It is believed that the Injeel descended upon Jesus (known as Prophet Isa (peace be upon him)) and the Tawrat upon Moses (Prophet Musa (peace be upon him),very much like how the Qur'an descended upon the Last Prophet, Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wa sallam).
(7) Day of Judgement- Called the Qiyamat in the Qur'an. The day when the world is destroyed and the people are then resurrected to be judged.
(8) Jannah- Paradise.
(9) Jahannum- Hell.
(10)Prophets- Messengers of Allah. There were many Prophets. Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wa sallam) is Allah's favourite human being and is also the leader of the Prophet and the last and final Prophet.
(11)Surat-ul-Tawba- The ninth Surah (chapter) of the Qur'an.
(12)Parah- the Qur'an is divided into thirty segments called parahs.
