"Al-salaamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibaad-Illaah il-saaliheen" (peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allaah) Sulayman greeted no one in particular as he entered in their home, as per the sunnah of our beloved prophet may peace be upon him.

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his book al-Adhkaar (p. 49):

It is mustahabb to say Bismillaah (in the name of Allaah) and to remember Allaah a great deal, and to say salaam, whether there is any human being in the house or not, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“But when you enter the houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allaah (i.e. say: As-Salaamu ‘Alaykum — peace be on you), blessed and good”

[al-Noor 24:61]


Al Bukhari narrated in al-Adab al-Mufrad (1055) that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “When you enter an uninhabited house, say “Al-salaamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibaad-Illaah il-saaliheen (peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allaah.

Abdullah followed behind him making his way towards the sofa while Sulaymaan sat on the armchair.

"I need to go visit the library later on. For recipes and stuffs." Sulaymaan told his brother. They had just returned from job-hunting so he thought he should start refreshing his knowledge.

The task wasn't easy. Living in a world where even degree holders complained of lack of employment, the likes of Sulaymaan who had no papers stood extremely minimum chance of securing a proper job.

Sulaymaan's papers were confiscated at the time of his arrest, and unfortunately, he never got them back.

"In Shaa Allah. That's wonderful." Abdullah found it amazing, how Sulaymaan acted as if he had got the job already. Such great level of Husn Dhann Billah. (Thinking well of Allah.)

"I believe you will get a job." Abdullah promised. Why wouldn't he, when Allah himself had taught us that,

(وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا)
[Surat At-Talaq 2]
And whoever fears Allah -  He will make for him a way out.

(إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ)
[Surat Aal-E-Imran 9]
Indeed Allah does not fail in his promise.

"Indeed, because Allah is sufficient for us. Baaraka Allahu fiyk." Sulaymaan replied with a smile, trusting his brother's strong words.

"How did you get yours?" Sulaymaan asked randomly, referring to Abdullah's occupation as a gardener in a certain university. And surprisingly, Maa Shaa Allaah (as Allah had willed), he had a lovely salary.

Abdullah's lips formed a slight curve, and by staring into his eyes one could clearly see how his mind drifted far away into the unforgettable memories. A lot of events flashed back in a second, yet when he opened his mouth to speak, he started with the title of all those  memories,

"It's just by Allah's grace."

Allah. His best Friend. His Protector and Master. Whenever he recalled memories from the past, sweet or bitter, summer or winter, he would do his best to focus on how Allah's mercy enveloped him through out.

For the trials and tribulations were meant for expiation.

They taught him the sweetness of beseeching Allah, begging Him, calling unto His beautiful names.
Thus, he learnt through all the hurricanes.

The more storms he underwent, the stronger his faith felt.

The tougher the times he went through, the more his love for Him grew and grew.

Through bowing and prostration and prayer after prayer,
He thanked of Allaah for drawing Him nearer.

It was just amazing. As the author Dr. A'aidh Al-Qarniy wrote in his work, 'The happiest woman in the world', [Not a direct quote, for I read it more than two years back] Whenever you are in sheer darkness, just imagine the smile that awaits you, for you had certainly been in bad days before, and (by Allah's mercy) you smiled. So again, this too shall pass, and you will smile and so on.

"When I landed here, I was jobless with totally no plans and no friends, save for Allah." See, he never narrates his past without mentioning his Friend. "I slept in a bus for three nights, as I feared booking a hotel would cost me a lot of cash."

Sulaymaan winced on that. He felt really bad that Abdullah had spent a great load of his wealth to free him. Ya Allah fulfil his desires and grant him Jannah. He muttered silently.

"I was living with this principle that, Spend to Loan only." The way Sulayman's left eyebrow raised and how his eyes widened slightly showing how he had no idea what he meant was enough for Abdullah to go on.

"Spending it in Allah's way, for that is the most profitable loan, right? Abu Dah Daah."

He used that nickname to remind him of the noble act of that prophet's companion.

"It is true. Brother. True it is."

"After the third night I could no longer sleep there as the bus was departing, so I thought I should look for a way to go back home. I couldn't use aeroplane coz I had no passport, so land was my easiest means of transport. Or sea."

"I roamed asking this and that person, and SubhanaAllah, I came across this old lady, she was an Israeli like myself. Thanks to Allah, she was speaking Hebrew to someone or I wouldn't have noticed her identity. She invited me over, introduced me to her husband, who was bedridden by then, and gave me this bedsitter to live in.

I was adamant on refusing but she wouldn't take a No. She said I felt like her long lost brother. And to me, she felt like a sister I never had. Alhamdulillah.

When I asked her about my place, and how I can travel, she said that she had never heard of such a place. I asked her if I could get a job meanwhile I continue researching on how to get home, for I felt shy to eat from her earnings, and SubhanaAllah, in that same week, she took me to this university, from which she had retired as a lecturer.

That's why I tell you it's Allah's grace."

"Allah Akbar. Indeed Allah is marvellous." To Sulaymaan, that story felt like a chapter from a siyrah (our prophet's history) book. He was convinced that Abdullah was among Allah's chosen friends.

"Where are they now?" Sulayman wondered, he had  never heard him mentioning anything to do with visiting the couple.

"Her husband passed away, she now lives alone. My heart feels heavy to visit a non-mahram who is alone. Plus, my wife is one jealous lady."

Despite the distance. Despite the years. He still felt the same respect towards his better half's feelings. What A gentleman.

Sulayman stared in disbelief. And all that while he thought it was only him being all loving, here was his friend, protecting his love, even when he had totally no idea whether his wife was still alive or not.

They say, love starts at forty. Perhaps that meant Abdullah's love was more than twenty years old, the reason why it looked more matured and more beautiful. Truly Allah's words would NEVER go wrong,

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُمْ مَوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
(Sahih International)
And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.

-Surah Ar-Rum, Ayah 21.

"Ooh." Sulayman broke off his thoughts. “Once my wife is freed, we can visit her, then she will thank her on my behalf.”

“Soon In Shaa Allah.” Abdullah responded, believing it was a good idea.

“You know what keeps me strong?” Sulayman asked his brother intending to share the raw feelings he nurtured deep inside his heart.

“What?” Abdullah politely asked, curious to hear Sulayman’s testimony. He had that feeling that what Sulayman had to say would rise his Imaan, and it made him feel happy already.

“Allah’s mercy. The fact that He, subhanahu wa ta’ala named himself ‘the Most Merciful’, ‘the Most Gracious’, ‘the Kind’ and ‘the Subtle.’

Brother, I was in prison. Locked in a cell. Alone. Darkness, intense cold, foul smell, parasites were my day and night companions.

I had no one but Him, my Lord, ArRahmaan. Yet, through His Grace, the wardens allowed us to stay with our Qur-an. Alhamdulillaah.

I remember this one day, I was feeling so down. I was worried of my wife and the status she is in. I kept reciting “Hasbuna Llah wa ne’mal wakiyl.” I chanted that the most after I learnt so in Surah Aali Imraan,
الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
(Sahih International)
Those to whom hypocrites said, "Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them." But it [merely] increased them in faith, and they said, "Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs."
-Sura Aal-E-Imran, Ayah 173.

Then I just had this feeling to open my Qur-an randomly. Guess where I opened it? At Suratu Ddhuha, and the first verse my eyes landed upon was,
“مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ
(Sahih International)
Your Lord has not taken leave of you, [O Muhammad], nor has He detested [you].
-Sura Ad-Dhuhaa, Ayah 3.
[This part of randomly opening the Mas-haf is a true story narrated by one prisoner.]

It gave me peace and tranquility. Not just at that moment, but gradually I kept feeling it. Indeed the fruits of Swabr are sweet.

It reached a stage where they placed us three in a cell. Later on, they built toilets and bathrooms inside the cells, food became more edible.

Although home sickness was something I never managed to cure yet, throughout my journey till now as I am speaking, all praise be to Allah, I never ever lost hope.

The days didn’t get smooth overnight but you know, life is always as good as your mindset, and blessed are those whom Allah grants light to their hearts enabling them to see his blessings and favours.

أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَا أَوْ آذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۖ فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَٰكِنْ تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ

(Sahih International)
So have they not traveled through the earth and have hearts by which to reason and ears by which to hear? For indeed, it is not eyes that are blinded, but blinded are the hearts which are within the breasts.
-Sura Al-Hajj, Ayah 46.”
Sulayman concluded his heart touching speech.

“Blinded are the hearts which are within the breasts.”
Abdullah repeated the last part of the verse after him. “Allahumma nawwir quluubanaa.” O Allah grant light to our hearts. He prayed to his Almighty. “Amiiin.”

When you feel your days so hard and tight,

No matter how you attempt, nothing feels right,

Happiness and joy seems far from your sight,

Talk to Allah, the Sovereign Almighty,

Entrust your life to Him, He shall fill your darkness with light,

Soon you shall smile like a bride in her gown so white,

And In Sha Allah you will rise and shine like a colourful kite,

Enjoying the moon illuminating and bright

His Mercy is with us as it has always been,

We should strive to observe patience from deep within,

To enjoy our life with all its blessings,

For both me and you know, Allah’s plans are always amazing