Bismillahi Rrahmaani Rrahiiim

Sister aliyanaz7 May Allah reward you with kheyr.

6528 words, Where is my Snickers?
___________

From the bus stop, Arafah walked straight to her class in university. She couldn’t spot Lali, so she had to text her.

“Yow. Where're you?” – Arafah

“In uni.” – Lali.

“I am back. Can’t see you in class.” – Arafah.

“Oh. Come to the cyber then.” – Lali.

Arafah picked her bag and went to join Lali.

“Assalaam Alaykum.” She greeted her friend as she slumped on to the seat next to her.

“Waalaykumussalam.” Lali was playing bejeweled on the PC.

“Are you SYRIA!!? You playing games? ” Bad for her, she thought she’d find her friend studying.

You know that look you give your friend when she is freaking out for nothing. Or when she acts like she is your mother? That’s what Lali gave Arafah. “Are you on some drugs?” Lali asked, scrutinizing Arafah's face with a side glare.

“Whatever.” Arafah ignored her. “I just survived a life-death situation.” In her mind, those chores looked like a tigress planning to attack her and feed on her flesh.

Lali chuckled as she gave Arafah an attentive ear. Such was the life between Arafah and her mom.

“What was it this round?” She asked after pausing her game.

“Oh My Lord! They were cooking for the World. Like literally. Everything was scattered everywhere.” Arafah explained as she moved her arms in the air.

“NorWay!” Lali remarked. Hellow? It was a school day, not a holiday. At their place their mother did all the cooking. For washing the clothes, because they didn't have a washing machine, they would hire a maid, twice a week who would also mop the whole house.

The only work she would do; was iron her clothes and arrange her room. Doing the dishes would only happen if she felt so. Because her mom pampered them so that she never complained.

“Then?”

“Thankfully, I just remembered the assignment Prof. Dexter gave us. And decided ‘I was going to do it’ today.” Dexter was a nickname the students gave him. Due to his immense obsession with researches and experiments.

Lali laughed softly. She then resumed back to her game, while Arafah concentrated on her phone as she leaned back to the chair enjoying the cool atmosphere, thanks to the air conditioner in the room. The tiger that was about to clutch her long ago defeated. Or so she thought.

Half an hour later, which actually seemed like only five minutes had passed, Arafah spoke, “Lali look. There is a text in the group, Mrs. Jasmine wants us in class.” That was a normal thing for lecturers to make use of the student’s free time, to make up for what they have missed.

“Why the SPAIN? Can’t she let us R.I.P?” Lali looked annoyed, her game was going really good.

“Let’s go.” Arafah on the other hand was glad to have it. At least it would free her of the guilt she felt for misleading her parents.

Lali dragged herself as she took her time, first completing her level, then packing her things. Then before standing, she opened her phone.

“You’ll see me in class.” Arafah shouted at her and left. She was a few feet away to completely ward off the guilt she was ignoring. She wasn't willing to delay.

As she reached class, she realized the lecturer hadn’t entered yet. So she went to their favorite spot, the back bench.

Beside her, was Kareem and Yahya. “Assalaam Alaykum.” She greeted them.

“Waalaykum Salaam.” They both replied.

“Arafah, how are you doing?” Yahya asked staring straight into her eyes and made Arafah cringe. Ever since he called her Miss and how Lali interpreted it, she didn’t like being near him.

“I’m good.” Arafah replied boldly staring back, as she tried to send the message that I-don’t-like-being-too-friendly-with-you. And a wrong method she used.

Arafah was ever known for being courageous. Her cousins relied on her to chase the foolish cuckoos and unwelcomed bozos whenever they tried annoying the girls.
From the neighbors, to the shopkeepers or even the bus conductors. Sometimes with a glare and another with a craggy tweedy comeback. Unfortunately, she was not really accustomed to the lower your gaze slash keep your distance from non-mahram.

Unfortunately, she is not the only one. In our society nowadays, lowering our gaze is a forgotten norm. It has become the work of the mashayikh only, and even if it had to be done, then all fingers are pointed to the males; the boys and the men. Forgetting that it is equally waajib to the sister to lower her gaze and not just let her eyes wander on non-mahram ESPECIALLY not when that particular brother is staring back.

Allah has made eyes the mirror of the heart, so if the slave lowers his gaze, his heart lowers its desires
And if he let's his gaze loose, his hearts let's its desires loose.
-Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziy.

“Have you started researching for Dexter?” Yahya asked. Yahya wasn’t in their class from the beginning, he had deferred a year, which was what led him to join their batch.

“Not yet.” Direct-answers mood, ON!

“Oh! But I know you can do well, even in the last minutes.” Yahya smiled to Arafah as he said that.

“Can I have your number, in case I get some information?” And with that, he had crossed the border. Arafah felt grossed. This was a hanky panky trick and she wasn’t liking it.

Because for honesty sake, her number was in the group and all the boys had her number. It’s not that she minded either. She just wondered why he decided to ask her directly.

There, Arafah quickly unlocked her phone and texted Kareem who seemed to have no interest in what the two were talking about.

“KEN-YA just pull him away?” And right after the texts ticked blue, Kareem shifted from his position,

“Yow man! Check this new mantrap!” He asked him showing the latest motorcycle from his mobile phone.
“Wow look at that fox. R Nine T, man!” Yahya was suddenly distracted.

Arafah typed a thanks to Kareem.

Then Lali’s text came,
“She isn’t in yet, is she?”

“*rolls eyes* What’s taking you so long?” - Arafah

“My one and only true love. Bejeweled.” - Lali

“Just come in class. This Yahya dude was CHINA hit on me. Thanks God Kareem saved me.” - Arafah

It would have been better if she said Allah instead of God.

“What the…!? Arafah, this better Bhilai!
Note, Bhilai is a city in India, had to search in Google map for that.” - Lali.

“LOL. Lali. It isn’t.”

“Anyways am OMAN way.”

Then, Lali scurried to her class. She entered at the same time with their lecturer.
Because Mrs. Jasmine was a strict lecturer, the girls’ chin wag had to wait.

Right after a wonderful lecture from their deedy Mrs, the girls started on.

“He literally approached me. ‘I need your number.’ Eew.” If you have seen a girl imitating a man with a high-pitched and eye-rolls too, then, that’s exactly what Arafah was doing.

“Like how?” Lali asked with all eyes popped out.

And when Arafah told her what exactly happened, Lali dismissed her, “Come on! Arafah. You’re accusing him. He didn’t tell you anything indecent. And every body else has your number.”

“Exactly. Why can’t he just get it from the group?”

“What if he is not a guy who just picks girl’s numbers and start texting them?”

“I don’t know. I just find him creepy.”

“You’re just imagining things.”

“We’ll see.”

After that, they headed to the cafeteria for some cold drinks. Arafah chose Fanta while Lali picked mountain dew.

A while later, they joined the rest for group discussion and the day seemed to have ended well as they had a great moment helping each other in their courses.

“Am tired.” Arafah groaned, as she carried her side bag on her left arm.

“Because you went to your grandma’s and to your place.” Lali reminded her.

“Yeah.”

On their way out, they walked past a male’s washroom and spotted Ibrahim (the one who Lali mentioned that he kept beard), another of their classmates.

“Assalam Alaykum. I was actually waiting for you.” He spoke whilst lowering his gaze.

“Waalaykum Salaam. Wow, It will rain butterflies today.” Lali teased. Ibrahim was the most shy guy in their class, so everyone loved teasing him.

“I wanted to go and perform ablution, can you hold my bag and cellphone for me, please.” It was another reminder from Allah concerning the Asr prayer but the girls didn’t pay heed.

Because it seemed that he was talking to Lali more, Arafah didn’t bother answering, “Sure, why not?”

“Alright. JazaakaLlah kheyr.” He replied and left.

When he came back, he was still trying to lower his gaze as he flexed his arm to collect his belongings.
Lali picked the things and gave them back. Then she pointed out, “Ibrahim, you wearing  jeans that are dragging.” As both the girls giggled. Lali was just looking for a way to get him talk.

One common habit in our Muslim ummah is that, if someone takes a small step in pleasing Allah; then he was not allowed to err.

He was to remain perfect or else spend the rest of his life having mistakes pointed out at him. Something which was wrong, considering how Muslims especially youth, were always in a deep and real struggle to stay firm in the path of Allah.

“Oh this.” He gazed at his long jeans, trying to come up with an answer.

“Well, am still trying. Pray for me that I become perfect on my Deen one day. Because it’s a struggle.”

Lali instantly felt so embarrassed. She felt so ashamed of pointing out someone’s weakness in religion when she herself was nothing close to it.

“God! Ibrahim! Am sorry. I was just joking.” Lali tried to cover up her embarrassment.

“No. It’s fine.” Ibrahim replied with a faint smile as he got ready to leave.

“Yeah. Please don’t take it to heart.” Arafah was feeling as guilty.

“It’s okay. And I have to go now. I haven’t prayed my Asr yet.” He said that, assuming the girls have already prayed because after the discussion, girls being girls stayed longer in the room talking of this and that.

Allah was still sending them reminders. Allah loved them.

“God. That was so embarrassing! I didn’t mean it that way!” Lali whined as she covered her face with her palms.

She had that soft heart that never found joy in hurting others.

“I know.” Arafah placed her arm around her shoulders. “He understood, Alhamdulillaah.”

“Yeah. I hope so.”
“I’ll pray A’sr at home.” Lali stated, at least the reminders were noticed this time.

Arafah swallowed. This means she did pray Dhuhr. In fact, this means she is more steadfast.

Because, she felt bad that she hadn’t prayed dhuhr, she thought she shouldn’t miss A’sr, the well-known guilt crept back to her.

“I’d rather pray now.” Arafah blurted out.

“Why? You said you’re tired.”

“Yeah. I am. But by the time we reach home, it will be pretty late, A’sr would have left us.” Alhamdulillah, who touches hearts and changes them to His obedience.

Lali was surprised to hear that from her friend. The good kind of surprised. She and her friend though slow, did have the desire to be pious one day. Even if with baby steps but they did desire to reach there. The closest they can to Allah.

“Fine then. Let’s go and pray.”
They walked to their university’s prayer room and prayed A’sr. And after much debating, Arafah compensated for her Dhuhr.
Because as she stood in front of her Lord, praying A’sr, she couldn’t bear the shame of being a sinner. It’s like through that A’sr swalah, she was reminded of how great the Lord she worshipped was, she realized she had to ask more forgiveness and compensate her swalah.

Lali didn’t ask any questions. So, after Arafah was done, they left for their homes.

At their house’s gate, Arafah could hear her dad’s voice from their compound.

As she knocked, the door was immediately opened and Arafah was glad that no tantrums were played against her.

“Assalaam Alaykum, dad.” She greeted her dad cheerfully.

“Waalaykumussalam Arafaaaar.” Arif responded as he took his daughter’s hand.

“Dad! Am not Ara far. Am Arafah.” Arafah whined. She was pleased to see that the tigress was indeed defeated.
The verandah was clean and so was the kitchen. Way to go! She applauded herself.

“Ha! Maimunah! My daughter is teaching me the name I gave her.” Arif, emphasizing on the pronoun I faked being shocked. Maimunah never took part in their tantrums so she didn’t reply.

“Dad. She is ArRaafah.” Muhammad commented as he started laughing. In Arabic language, Arraafah (with double r) meant sorceress.

“See, dad! You started it. And Muhammad!! Shut your big toilet bowl.” To that, even Arif had to laugh.

Arafah went inside to her room lying onto her bed feeling so light. Apart from what they did to Ibrahim which they did apologize, she had no guilt. She prayed her two Swalaahs, and her excuse of avoiding chores became real afterwards. Everything was okay.

A few minutes on her phone, Maghreb adhaan called out. Unlike other days, she too got up like the rest and went to pray.

After Swalaah, she curled on her praying mat, busying herself on her phone.

“Arafah.” Her dad called her from the dining, “Come and eat.” She was ordered.

Since her moods were good and high, she got up jovially and with a sunshine smile, she headed to the dining room. The various dishes and drinks did but lift her spiritually adding to her happiness. UNTIL.

“Arafah, after we finish eating, you will wash all the utensils we used, we put them in the basins for you. They are in the kitchen. And. You will clear the table and also mop the kitchen. We only swept it.”

B. O. M. B. S. H. E. L. L. That was how the whole order spelled to Arafah. Mother tiger, seriously?
For goodness sake, why didn’t anyone understand that just because she wasn’t at home, it didn’t mean that she went on picnic and spent the day sunbathing.
Tears immediately started forming in her eyes.

As Arafah was in that state, her two little brothers were busy bickering.

“I’ll sit near dad.” Muhammad stated. “I will sit near him.” Muhdhar quarreled.

Their dining table had eight chairs, where three faced one another and two were across, one on each side.
Arif would sit at the one on the sides, and her wife would be adjacent to him. The other adjacent chair was always occupied by Mukhtar, but because he was asleep, the two thought they should add to their infamous fights list.

That evening, Mukhtar had gone to sleep earlier, which meant Maimunah was up for another night shift, despite all the workload she had done that whole day. And if we still don’t appreciate our mothers, we are never going to do it.

“My babies.” Arif addressed his eleven and twelve years old son with a smirk. “My babies, come and sit on my lap today.” He said with amusement, and everyone except Arafah laughed.

Muhammad chose to let go, “Fine sit. You are such a baby.”

And Muhdhar had to hold back his comeback knowing well that calling his elder brother, loser, would not be approved at all.

Her dad, upon noticing Arafah, said, “Mahya, why don’t you help your sister?”

“Aah dad.” She shook her head. And Maimunah was on her rescue, “Mahya worked like a donkey the whole day. It was just me and her. And what did she do?” She pointed at Arafah. “She only dropped the octopus and left.”

“But my daughter is tired.” Arif said as he smiled, and it didn’t take a genius to notice that to him it was just another playing moment. He was literally playing on her daughter’s life-death moments.

“Arif. Please let’s have food.” Then, everyone started eating the delicious food prepared by the mother and her daughter.

From octopus to meat balls, curry to chapati, rice&coconut pancakes. Milk tea and Mango juice was also part of the cuisine. Not forgetting the sweet ripe bananas cooked with coconut and cardamom and lastly, pudding as their dessert.

Because, sulking was strictly prohibited, Arafah joined the others to eat. She was silent all that time when jokes were cracked and she only nodded or shook her head whenever her dad addressed her.

“Yummy. Thanks for the food mama! It’s so amazing.” Muhdhar spoke.

“You should say Jazaaka Allah kheyr. You keep forgetting.” Muhammad corrected her.

“I want more pancakes, Mom. Please” Muhdhar asked not paying heed to his brother.

“Mahya, give him some.” And Mahya did as asked.

“Dad. Is Arafah sick?” Muhdhar asked noticing her sister’s unusual silence.

“She is mad that I asked her to wash utensils.” Maimunah decided to answer that question.

“Whaaaat.” Muhdhar’s eyes popped out. “Arafah, you get mad because of washing things.” Talk of adding wound to the salt.

“She doesn’t like chores.” Muhammad added making Arafah wonder when did she earn herself two extra dads, for free.

“Why don’t you save the day and do it then?” Arafah asked with anger in her tone.

“I have home work.” Muhdhar defended himself as he feared the threat might turn real. And when no other person was looking, he sent a tongue out to her sister.

"Because." Muhammad paused, then leaned in closer to Arafah as she was sitting next to him, and said, "We are the boss." Arafah just gave him a pathetic look.

After the meal, her dad ordered the boys to help her clear the table. And Mahya too got up to help with the clearing.

“Mahya I said stay! Let Arafah do it. She came back and went straight inside to rest, like she had left us her invented robot, this will teach her a lesson.” Arafah’s mother was angry.

Arafah felt more bitter upon hearing that, but said nothing. Real shock awaited her when she found the two large basins filled with dirty utensils.
It was pure horror.

A tear or two escaped her as she washed the cutlery alone in their kitchen. Negative thoughts attacked her from all sides, as patience seemed not to be found in her dictionary. Arafah had never felt as bitter.

She was probably deluded that, patience i.e Sabr was only regarded when big calamities strike us. Death, accident, disease or perhaps fire and theft.

Like many of us, patience doesn't count when it's so hot, or when there is a lot of flies in the kitchen or when the power is cut. We think that patience isn't required when we can't find the right powder or foundation, nor when our phone slips from our hands accidentally nor when your favorite dish gets burnt. We are wrong to believe so.

Because the Prophet may peace be upon him has advised us to observe patience whenever a muswiibah strikes us. Whenever something we dislike happen to us.

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَا يُصِيبُ الْمُسْلِمَ مِنْ نَصَبٍ وَلاَ وَصَبٍ وَلاَ هَمٍّ وَلاَ حُزْنٍ وَلاَ أَذًى وَلاَ غَمٍّ حَتَّى الشَّوْكَةِ يُشَاكُهَا، إِلاَّ كَفَّرَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ خَطَايَاهُ ‏"‏‏

Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that."
-Imam Bukhari.

“Arafah!” Her dad called her back inside.

“Pack the leftovers for me, I will leave it to Ya’quub when we leave for the masjid.” Ya’quub was their neighbor.
“But if people will eat in the morning, then fine.”

Theirs wasn’t a rich house where people abhorred left overs. That doesn’t happen in a house with Maimunah as it's queen.

Arafah bitterly nodded. Thanks for adding to the chores dad, thanks a lot.

And before she could leave Arif having sensed her bitterness added, “Maimunah. Why are you mistreating my daughter? What wrong has she done, this beloved daughter of mine.” He said whilst chuckling, making Arafah more and more displeased though not entirely angry at her dad, cause deep down she knew that it was him being his true self.

The other day, they were conversing and Arafah asked, “Dad when you sit with your friends, how do you praise your self regarding your kids?”

His reply was a grin which was followed by,“I tell my friends that all my children are very dirty. Except for the last born.”

It wasn’t really easy to stay angry at someone like that.

That was the Perks of having a father who took most things lightly. What Arafah didn’t know was that, that was what her mother felt, everytime her dad didn’t help in disciplining them.

Without speaking a word, she returned to the kitchen to wash the things. She wasn’t angry that she had to work, she did acknowledge that chores were part of her life since she was born to a mother who never understood the need to hire a maid, also, she did appreciate that it was important for a woman to know the basic chores, but what made her angry was the fact that no one cared whether she was tired or not.

After finishing her work, which really wasn’t as hard as she assumed to be, Arafah returned to her bedroom.

She found Mahya lying on her praying mat as she had just finished praying Isha.

Thankfully, due to her disturbed state of mind, Arafah did acknowledge that she needed to pray to her Lord, to be freed from such misery. Because only Allah had the power to heal broken hearts and send tranquil to disturbed minds.

(يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُخَفِّفَ عَنْكُمْ ۚ وَخُلِقَ الْإِنْسَانُ ضَعِيفًا)
And Allah wants to lighten for you [your difficulties]; and mankind was created weak.
[Surat An-Nisa' 28]

One thing though, she needed to lie down and rest a bit after all those chores.

Maimunah suddenly entered the room and spotted her. “Arafah, don’t sleep before you have prayed.” She said it as calmly as possible.

“Okay.” Despite not feeling like answering, her twenty years of living in planet Earth had taught her well that Maimunah never did rhetorics. When she speaks, she always and always expects to be answered.

“Arafah, get up before sleep overtakes you.” Mahya told her sister and Arafah got the chance to do what she couldn’t to her mom. She ignored her.

“Araf..” Mahya repeated, and before she could even finish her statement, Arafah snapped at her, “Am going.”

Despite the light flicking on her phone being so tempting, she thought she should go. Beneath her stubbornness and rebellious self, she did not enjoy being center of scolding every other day. Not when her heart was already enlightened by the Almighty and she had accepted it.

Because,
Allah is the Light of the Heavens and Earth.

She took a bath and when she came back, she noticed her sister had made her bed. She didn’t speak to her as she hurriedly prayed her Isha. She could feel the pain in her heart healing albeit slowly, and she loved the feeling. That night, she did take her time and finished all her prayer adhkar.

Afterwards, she took her charger from her phone and plugged it into the switch near her bed.

“No thanks?” Mahya asked her sister. She was sitting at her bed with raised brows and a faint smile on her face.

“Thanks. I was about to tell you.” Arafah replied honestly. A great deal of bitterness had been dissolved while in prayer. Alhamdulillah.

“Did grandma really tell that you eat much?” Mahya asked.

“Akh. Leave stupidity to its inventor, Abdullateef.”

“Haha. I knew he was lying.” Mahya continued and her innocence made Arafah slightly regret that she had accused her the previous night.

“Did you really not tell mom about the photos?” Arafah asked her sister.

“Hmm. Arafah.” Mahya smiled. “Trust me, I don’t prefer seeing mom startled just because her first born whom she loves the most, decided to go against her. Mom heard it from an outsider who saw them on snapchat.”
Arafah never posted her photos on social media, but she knew one of her cousins must have done that.

“That’s what she told me.” Mahya had no idea because she wasn’t on snapchat. Arafah looked at her and wondered, why does everyone keep telling me am the most beloved.
She admitted that her mom loved her, but number five out of five was the position she believed to fit in well. Number one was perhaps maybe how her dad loved her according to her.

She cut the conversation that way because she did believe what Mahya said but it was hard for her to apologize.

Picking her phone, she opened the chat box, Mahya sis, (luckily the number was saved when they were in good mood) and texted I'm Sorry.

Her gaze landed at her sister to see her facial reaction but unfortunately she had already slept, leaving Arafah wondering how people managed to go sound asleep in a fraction of a second.
Whether she got her reply or not, she was proud that she apologized to her younger sister.
_____________
When Lali arrived home, she found both her mother and Salim back.
The former watching some movie, while the latter busy on his phone.

“Lali. The silly.” Salim welcomed her home.

“Salumi. The zombie.” Lali used a nickname she had just invented as she took off her shoes and placed them on the rack. “Waalaykum Salaam.”

“Mom. Assalam Alaykum.” She raised her voice a bit to gain her mother’s attention. It turned out she was dozing off like she always did when watching movies.

Deciding to let her be, she slouched to one of the sofas.

“Hey! What’s for dinner?” She asked her brother knowing that her mother had prepared it.

“Water.”

Lali let out an annoying groan. “Come on.”

“I am here dear. How close should I come? ” The most annoying part of Salim’s jokes was that he would be the first to crack down laughing.

“Every food is cooked with water. Even fruits needed water once. But mom made rice with some beef curry.”

Lali looked upset. She didn’t like eating rice at night. “I don’t like rice at night.”

“Bread was brought for you.” Salim informed her and she instantly felt happy.

Lali could live on breads alone. Bread for breakfast, for lunch, supper and dinner. Bread at weddings or at funerals. Bread with tea, with water, with soup or with curry. With blueband or with jam or even dry bread. Bakery bread, home made bread. Bread cooked with oil, water, milk, yogurt or coconut. Bread was just her best.

“Am in my room. Call me if mom wakes up.” Their mom didn’t like seeing her kids isolated in their rooms. She wanted family to always be together in the living room.

In her room, she went through her routine; she arranged her books from her school side bag, and made the bed which she was too late to in the morning. The heaviness in her chest started bothering her.

Why am I guilty? What did I do wrong? It happens, sometimes amidst being joyful you remember a mistake and it starts haunting you. That was what Lali was undergoing, and at that minute it kicked her that it’s because of what happened between Ibrahim and her.

I think I should text an apology. She thought to herself as she lied on her bed under her blankets.

Without giving it much thought, she checked for his number on the class group then, she started typing.

Assalam Alaykum.
I know this is unexpected but I totally feel awful.

I really didn’t mean to degrade you or anything, I was just kidding.

Sorry once again.

She clicked send and luckily with the message went a part of the guilt that she felt.

Right then, the maghrib adhaan was heard and Lali heard Salim waking their mother for swalah.

She too got up to go and pray. She felt nice that her recent tawbah had stayed for long. She prayed all prayers albeit others late, but she had never missed a single prayer since.

Whenever she was in that period where Allah made prayers light for her, she couldn’t help but ponder.
It’s like it would strike her. How do I even fail to observe them regularly. They never cost me more than five minutes. Prayers that always leave me in a better condition spiritually, physically and mentally? (And such questions could be asked for any deed that one has hard time to remain steadfast)

She really hoped that this time she will never go back to abandoning prayers carelessly.

And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah ]
(Al-Baqarah 45)

With due acknowledgement, to their observing prayer, that doesn’t change the fact that while prayer is indeed the strongest pillar in Islam, it doesn’t rub the fact that Islam is living your whole way of life trying to please Allah.

Living your life with constant fear of Allah, constant fear of the Day of Judgement and constant fear of Hell.
There was much more to pleasing Allah that the girls had still a long way to attain. For instance, Maintaining distance from non-mahram, not watching movies, wearing proper hijaab etc.

Lali was the last to come out of her room after finishing prayer. “Assalaam Alaykum, mom.”

“Waalaykum Salaam. How are you?” Her mother asked her lovingly.

“Am good.”
If only she added Alhamdulillah and grace herself by attaining the virtues of sending gratitude to Allah.

Allah says,
“And remember when your Lord proclaimed, “If you are grateful, I will surely increase you in favour. But if you deny indeed, my punishment is severe.” [Quran: Chapter 14, Verse 7]

عن جابر بن عبد الله رضي الله عنه قال : سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول :
( أَفْضَلُ الذِّكْرِ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ ، وَأَفْضَلُ الدُّعَاءِ الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ) رواه الترمذي (3383)

Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah may Allah be pleased with him said, I heard the prophet may peace be upon him saying, “The best dhikr (remembrance) is Laa Ilaaha Illa Allah, and the best of du’a is Alhamdulillaah)”
Narrated by Tirmidhi 3383.
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{As I am writing this, in our neighboring mosque, a speaker is urging believers to be grateful to Allah by saying Alhamdulillaah.
He says and I quote, “Be grateful to Allah for having granted you the chance to pray Asr in jama’ah, least by saying Alhamdulillah and most by doing actions that please Him.”}
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“Salim! Where are you going?” Lali asked her younger bro. He was on a clean Tee shirt paired with black jeans with strong perfume in the air.

“Just hanging around.” He replied nonchalantly.

“You better not be going with someone’s daughter, you!” Layla warned. She was aware that his son talked to girls, not that she took them on dates.

“Mom. Chill.” Salim gave that 'whoa' expression.

“I wouldn’t eat if I was going out.” Lali said that to her brother as she munched her first sweetheart slice of bread.

“My dear mama cooked for me. I have to appreciate her efforts.” Salim started his drama. And Lali didn’t have to know that Layla had threatened him earlier, that if he left before eating, she would forcefully feed him in the morning.

“Lul, Mom’s planning a fashion show.” Salim stated as she winked at their mother, hoping she would join in the banter.

Lali almost choked at her food as she let out a gasp. “What!? Mom? Like a real show with women walking around.”

“Well, she will use your robots.” Robots were mentioned because she was studying engineering.

“Mom! You know it’s haram. And you will be carrying everyone’s sin!” Lali said that with a terrified look in her face.

She always knew that apart from the prayers and somehow the hijab, her mom did need da’wah when it came to her disinterest in improving as a Muslimah.

“Sheesh. She doesn’t have skimpy clothes. Just normal female clothings.”

“Yeah. It would start like that and what else will follow. I know how those industries work, and mom you know most of your clothing are tight fitting.” Lali kept on rambling.

“Salim. Don’t bother your sister. He is lying Lul.” Their mother didn't want it to go far.

Then Salim couldn’t help it anymore as he started laughing and her mother joined along. “Lord. Look at you. You look so cute.” He went on laughing.

“I hate you.” Lali looked at him with disgust. “I can't believe I believed you.” She huffed as she shook her head.

“Mom, if…” Salim was still laughing, “never try fashion if Lali is alive. Never.”

As he showed Lali that her glare weren’t having any effect on her, and unfortunately, their dining table had no pillow, Lali did what Salim compelled her to do.

She washed her curry filled hand in the hand washing bowl and threw the water all over him. “Do you know what my name state for? L.A.L.I Learn a lesson Intelligently.” She chanted to him with a smirk.

What they loved about their mom the most was that, she never took sides. She’d be laughing each time one of them got pranked and never ever tell them off.

“What the Spain, Luuul? You're so insane. Look at what you did to my tee shhirt! I was about to leave.” Salim was grossed out.

“Serves you perfect.” Lali was not remorseful, as she went on enjoying her meal.

“Aargh.” Salim muttered whatever disgusted people mutter as he went back inside to change.

This is where most of us fail. We fail to observe the conditions Islam has laid upon us when it came to jokes.

Naa'm, jokes were permissible in Islam but Allah and His messenger have drawn strict boundaries which the person in question must not cross.

One, jokes should NOT consist of LIES, NOR SCARING people.

In a World where pranks are a common trend between loved ones; siblings, cousins, friends or spouses we have easily succumbed to Shaytaan's traps by doing the prohibited.

I, personally, am not free from this fitnah and I ask Allah that this serves as a reminder and a benefit to us all.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Woe to the one who tells lies to make people laugh, woe to him.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood). 

And about scaring,

It was narrated that Abu Layla said: “The companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that they were travelling with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and a man among them fell asleep. Some of them got a rope and tied him up, and he got scared. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘It is not permissible for a Muslim to frighten another Muslim.’” (Narrated by Abu Dawood). 

“Don’t forget to come with Arafah this weekend.” Layla reminded her daughter. “You still haven’t seen the new outline.”

“Fine mom.” Lali replied hoping it was going to be possible. "Food's delicious mom, thanks for the bread."

There, Layla smiled. "You 100% took after your dad when it comes to bread."

Lali gave out her best smile, "Allah yarhamhu, Mom"

"Amiiin, dear."

Their adorable moment was interrupted when Salim merged out, ready to leave.

“Be back by nine.” His mom ordered.

“Alright mom.”

There Lali, stood up to go and lock the door. At least that what their mom was supposed to believe.

“A whole week’s ride from university.”
What Layla didn’t know that every time Salim went out, he always returned late, sometimes at midnight.

On more than one departure, the door was a witness to the transaction and negotiations of what Lali would receive upon opening the door for Salim without informing their mother.

“Make it two days.” Salim groaned. Lali’s university was far.

“Okay. If you come while I am awake, two days. But if you wake me while asleep, a week.” She said that as she leaned on their door frame.

Salim had to give in. “Fine, just don’t keep your phone on silent.” The last time it happened, Salim was forced to call his mom and earn himself a fair tongue lashing from her.

“Ok. Take care. And stop lying to little girls.”

“Nah. I’m just hanging around with my homies.” Salim denied going out on a date.

“Yeah. Cause you wear that much perfume when out with “homies”. And you wear those specific trainers.” Lali scoffed as she stated facts to his brother.

Salim just giggled and said, “Who knows?” Indirectly, he had just admitted to Lali that her accusations were valid.

May Allah help him and all Muslim youth.

Right after she locked the doors, she heard a knock at the door, "Lali open, it's me." Salim called.

Lali immediately rushed to open the door. She was surprised to see Salim with a Snickers bar which he placed on her palms.

"I forgot to take it from the bike earlier. It's for you." He

Back inside, Lali picked her phone and tried constructing a poem for her brother as appreciation, after much trials she ended up with this,

A little thank you,
From me to you,
Because I like you,
And I feel you do too,

Your love is pure,
You truly care,
You are ever there,
And you always share,

You are my little brother,
Your love surpasses no other,
You are my family,
And I love you so genuinely.

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A question: (May Allah reward you kheyr all who answer me)

What do you do when it's very hard for you to abandon a certain sin?

My answer:
I give someone naseeha to leave such a sin. So the fear of being a hypocrite would surpass and overcome my resilience.

******
Am yet to research on the fatwa on watching such pranks (with lies or frightening others)
But a quick note on my side,
Let us all ponder on this ayah:

Allah says,
And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together -

If someone knows about the issue, please share in the comments.
And may Allah bless you.