The Three Struggling Muslimahs

22

Wafaa Amer and UmmulKhayr Amin had before them, their children eagerly waiting for the story that had brought these two ladies to tears. Rayhannah was combing Khawla's wet hair as Muhammad looked on. So ummu Rayhannah began.

"Well this is how it started..."

In the late seventies, Wafaa and UmmulKhayr were known all over city as the two girls who were always together. Their grades were as good as they could possibly be, their manners were on point, and most of all both of them were very beautiful. Every other Arab parent wondered why these two were still in school but Mr. Amer and Mr. Amin couldn't help but love that their daughters wanted more out of their lives than just getting maried. Yes In Shaa Allah they eventually would, but what was the point of rushing it? After completing their high school with amazing grades, the two went to the same university which didn't come as a shock to any of the two fathers. Their daughters were best friends so what right did they have to interfere? Both ladies studied Islamic Sharia law and Islamic education for they loved their religion and all the things that it gave them. All that it let them do and all that it restricted them from. On the eve of their graduation, UmmulKhayr crept into Wafaa's room, her heart racing and her breath short. 'I like Ramy Nagib!' She whispered and when Wafaa didn't react she sat up stunned.
"Well? Say something!"

"I've known all along. You are an open book Hayaty. You can't hide anything from me!"

The two ladies laughed through out the night and shared jokes as they awaited graduation. On arrival back home the next day, after graduation, Abu Wafaa called her to the living room at noon sharp for a serious heart to heart.

"Assalamu Aleikum princess. How are you? How's UmmulKhayr?"

"Waaleikum Salaam my king. I'm good and so is Ummu. How are you? How are the businesses?"

"Everything is good on my side love."

Wafaa could see her father's cheek twitch which only happened when he was nervous. So she reached out for his hand and he oh so carefully placed his in hers.

"I've received so many proposals for you Hayaty. But only one has caught my eye. But if you don't want to..."

"Baba! Ummu and I are literally the only girls that have the level of education that I have in this city. You've let me live the life I've wanted since birth and I'm a girl. Obviously I wanna get married. So whomever you like, I approve."

Abu Wafaa let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Alhamdulillah thumma Alhamdulillah! His name is Ramy Nagib." Her world literally crushed. Out of all the men her father could choose he had to pick Ramy!?? The guy her best friend loved! No. She couldn't. She looked at her father so she could tell him but the love that was emanating from his eyes stopped her. So she got up, ran to her room, took wudhu and stood in front of the keeper of hearts and the writer of destinies. She cried her heart to Him and He listened for as He promised in the Holy Qur'an, 'remember me and I will remember you' and only Allah(S.W) knew that her heart and tongue were warm and wet with His remembrance. She left her dad ever so excited as he'd always wanted his daughter to be married off into a good family and which family was better in the whole city that the Nagib's?

On the other side of town, UmmulKhayr was laying on her mom's lap telling her of her undying love for Ramy. He was a man you couldn't help but love. Gaze fixed to the ground, always in the mosque giving Khutbahs or leading swalah, he always taught children the religion when he was free, and what most mother's loved, he was growing his beard. So many proposals had also been received in the Amin home but none had appealed to the man of house like Ramy Nagib had. But before he proceeded to accept or not, he had to tell his best friend, Amer. These two men had barely known each other before their daughters joined the same highschool. But the moment you see the same man early every morning at your daughter's school to get a report form you have to ask right? Now imagine the enthusiasm when Amin found out that Amer's kid was a girl too!? A whole lot! So Amin phoned him and they had decided to meet up the next day but if any of the two men would have known how the meeting would have ended, they would have done everything in their power to stop time and reverse the events.