The Issues He Would Say – [Part 3]: Ulterior Motive

A father with a severely autistic son goals of going to Hajj, however will it ever occur?

Earlier Chapters: Half 1 | Half 2

Ulterior Motive

Abu Ali gaped at him in consternation. “What do you imply no? You simply stated that that is your dream, the factor you yearn for. Take the cash, go to Hajj.”

Murid tipped his head again. The sky was darkening, and he may see the Huge Dipper clearly. The ocean breeze had strengthened, and goosebumps rose on his pores and skin. He would wish to wish Maghreb quickly.

“Nobody provides away cash,” Murid identified. “There are all the time strings hooked up. That’s a heavy envelope. Greater than I would wish for Hajj.”

Abu Ali didn’t reply instantly, and Murid was stunned to see a blush darken the large man’s face.

“Nicely… You see… I do have an ulterior motive. My daughter Hiba is all in favour of you. I’d even say enamored. After speaking to you, I see that you’re a man of precept. The truth that you stem from noble lineage doesn’t damage. So no matter cash stays after you full Hajj, I ask that you simply use it as a mahr to marry Hiba. That is simply between me and also you, she doesn’t know.”

Murid couldn’t have been extra stunned if Abu Ali had picked him up by his ankles and swung him the other way up like a pendulum. He opened his mouth, then closed it. That sensible, beautiful younger girl wished to marry him? Why?

“She understands about my son, proper?”

“After all. I argued towards marrying you for that motive. I’m a pragmatist. As fallen royalty I’ve to be, it comes with the territory. However she is a romantic, she says that you’re particular. And I respect her needs.”

Feelings battled in Murid’s chest: amazement that this younger girl, who barely knew about him, was apparently in love with him, or at the very least impressed sufficient to think about him for marriage. The craving to fulfill Allah within the land of the 2 sacred precincts, and surging hope that this was now inside his grasp. But in addition honor, and pleasure. When he lastly went to Hajj, he wished it to be the product of his personal labor and sweat, in addition to Allah’s assist. When he married he wished to pay the mahr himself, as a present from himself to his future spouse, not a “wink wink” runaround.

Moreover, he couldn’t marry Hiba simply due to the floor qualities he had noticed. He needed to know her higher, and introduce her to his children so he may see how she behaved round them. It didn’t matter that her household was wealthy, or royalty, or no matter. No matter alternative he made, it needed to be good for his children. That was the underside line, and was one of many two standards by which he weighed each choice in life: one, does it please Allah? Two, is it good for my children?

“Jazak Allah khayr,” he stated eventually, “however I need to make Hajj below my very own steam.”

The Deal

Abu Ali pursed his lips. “Have you learnt the story of the previous girl who prayed to Allah to be saved from the flood?”

“That’s not this.”

Abu Ali sighed closely. “Then I’ve one other request. And it’s not one other technique to persuade you.” He jabbed Murid within the chest closely with one finger, rocking him on his heels. “Go for me.”

“Clarify.”

“I can by no means go to Hajj, brother. My household warred towards Aal-As-Saud, and misplaced. Moreover, one in all my uncles is energetic within the Saudi democracy motion. If I ever set foot in my homeland I’d be arrested and executed. So I’ll pay you to go to Hajj, and also you dedicate it to me. I’ll obtain the reward, not you. However right here’s the factor. Apart from the completion of the required rituals, your time is yours. Whenever you stand on Arafah, make dua’ for me and for your self as nicely. Whenever you stand beside the grave of Ar-Rasool, sal-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, convey salam to him from me and from your self as nicely. That is neither sadaqah nor a mortgage. It’s a present you’ll grant me.”

Murid thought of this. A smile unfold throughout his face. “It’s a deal. However the factor with Hiba is separate. I make no guarantees in that regard.”

Abu Ali prolonged his hand and Murid took it, bracing himself for the crushing of his fingers, however Abu Ali was light, and when Murid appeared up he noticed tears on the person’s cheeks.

Earlier than Murid left Abu Ali reached into his valise and introduced out a letter. “That is from Hiba. I don’t know what it says. Hopefully nothing inappropriate.”

A Music of Hope

He arrived dwelling to seek out Juliana and Mina taking part in playing cards on the ground, whereas Junaid lay beside them on his abdomen, drawing with coloured pencils on a pad of white development paper. His drawings have been scribbles actually, though typically Murid puzzled. The colours flowed from one into one other, with shapes that vaguely resembled clouds, rivers or timber. The drawings have been summary however compelling. Murid typically hung Junaid’s drawings on the partitions and gazed at them. They made him really feel… some form of method. Hopeful, maybe.

Mina ran to him, throwing her arms round his waist, whereas Junaid continued drawing, not even trying up. However did his ears transfer? Did his head flip imperceptibly?

Mina pulled away. “What occurred?”

“What do you imply?”

“You appear discombobulated.”

“Alhamdulillah. All is nicely.”

Later, when Juliana was gone, Murid and Mina prayed collectively as Junaid lay on his again subsequent to them, making shapes together with his fingers. After they have been performed, Junaid climbed into Murid’s lap and put his arms round him. The fourteen 12 months previous boy was a bit massive for that, however Murid shifted positions and made it work. Junaid nuzzled his nostril towards his father’s cheek. The boy smelled of applesauce. At that second, Murid felt fully glad and at peace. Junaid had that skill. His embraces have been so honest and pure, that being beloved by him was like mendacity in heat sunshine in a mountain meadow, respiration air as candy as sugar, and listening to the birds sing songs of renewal and hope.

“Do you ever make duaa’ for Dana?” Mina requested, referring to her mom by identify as all the time.

“By no means.” It most likely wasn’t what Mina wished to listen to, however it was the reality. “Do you?”

“All the time. Do you assume she is lifeless?”

“I don’t know.”

“However what does your coronary heart say?”

“What does your coronary heart say?”

“Answering a query with a query known as rorical affirmation.”

“You imply rhetorical affirmation? I didn’t know that.”

After a couple of minutes of silence, Mina stated, “My coronary heart doesn’t know what to assume. Typically it’s unhappy.”

Murid reached out and pulled the woman to him, and the three of them sat like that, in a huddle, because the clock ticked on the mantle. The wind gusted exterior, and someplace down the block a canine started to howl.

The Letter

The kids have been asleep. Murid sat on the couch and clicked by the channels to the soccer match. Settling in and crossing his arms, he felt one thing in his pocket. Hiba’s letter. He’d forgotten about it. Opening it, he discovered a single sheet of sunshine blue paper that smelled like lavender. On it was a brief paragraph adopted by a poem:

Expensive Murid, as-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah.

I’ve typically seen you on the masjid. I’ve observed you, and particularly how sort you’re along with your kids. Mina is feisty, and Junaid is cute, and you’re their steadfast angel, positioned on this earth to maintain them. I can solely think about how troublesome it should be to do the job alone. There should be occasions if you yearn and pray for a helper, and even higher a associate.

Time stopped, and Murid forgot to breathe. It was as if this younger girl had opened a window into his head and peered inside to learn his ideas. As if she had a map of his coronary heart, and had solely to have a look at it to name out the names of his hopes and prayers. He learn on:

I’m not somebody anybody would discover. I’m plain and quiet. However maybe, if Allah wills it, and if you happen to may look previous my plainness and see the colourful soul beneath, I may very well be the associate you want. Who is aware of? Stranger issues have occurred beneath the solar.

I took a poetry class in faculty, principally to fill the English requirement, however one thing about it snagged my soul. Ever since then I’ve discovered poetry to be a method to manage and distill the chaotic feelings that swirl inside me. I wrote this one for you:

I envy the street you stroll onbecause it travels with you.The street feels the blisters in your ft,catches the tears you weep,is stained by your blood because it spills,sees you collapse then riseby fierce and joyous will.

The street witnessedwhen you have been betrayed and burned.It adopted as you turned,rose as you rose,is aware of solely what you knowyet is with you each footfall.Like a beating coronary heart,the street feels all of it.

I’m jealous of the roadwhen it hears your songlike the dove at daybreak.I envy the roadthat you crouch uponin the fading lightnot realizing if you happen to can fightanother day.

The street forgives,welcomes once more,witnesses victories and pains,sees you embrace enemiesand exile friendsyet by no means in judgment weighs.

The street falls like a stoneand rises like a waveand is with you all of your days.

Darkness Into Mild

Murid’s face was sizzling with shock. Nobody had ever stated such issues to him. Definitely not Dana, his vanished spouse, who had been clever and enticing, however very targeted on her personal goals. She had not been particularly loving, and Murid had typically felt lonely inside the marriage, which is the worst form of loneliness.

Taking a look at this letter, studying it over once more, he didn’t know what to assume. Was this for actual? Did Hiba really really feel such ardour for him? And such fondness for his children? It appeared too good to be true. On the similar time it was just a little creepy. How lengthy had she been watching him? It didn’t appear regular, and it frightened him just a little. What did she imply about him being betrayed and burned? Was she referring to Dana abandoning him? Murid was a non-public individual and nearly by no means spoke about his previous. It was disturbing to have somebody he barely knew writing about his life in such an intimate method.

However, it appeared that Hiba by some means understood him deeply. Possibly extra deeply than anybody ever had. Her poem noticed as deeply into him as an electron microscope. Whereas it is perhaps creepy, being understood so profoundly was extremely validating.

He put the letter within the envelope. He didn’t have time for this proper now. Tomorrow was Junaid’s celebration. These get-togethers together with his household by no means went nicely. After that Murid would plan his journey to Hajj, inshaAllah. SubhanAllah. It was superb how Allah opened doorways in what gave the impression to be a strong wall. How Allah modified darkness into mild. It was true that Allah had energy over all issues, Murid noticed that.

Half 4 will probably be printed subsequent week inshaAllah

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See the Story Index for Wael Abdelgawad’s different tales on this web site.

Wael Abdelgawad’s novels – together with Items of a Dream, The Repeaters and Zaid Karim Personal Investigator – can be found in book and print kind on his creator web page at Amazon.com.

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