بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

Nawal

The room was bathing in the darkness, with only the daring breeze entering from the outside world and ruffling the room before exiting it with a giggle. The world outside had sunken into a deep slumber a long time ago. Even the handful of stars scattered on the vast sheet of the sky were lazily blinking at the world. The whole silence was a bit unnerving, except for the occasional sound of a passing car.

The lone occupant of the room was breathing very deeply. She was unaware of both the world outside or inside. Her white Chikankari dupatta covered the lower part of the face. Her arm was resting on her forehead. Her hair was spread all around her face on the pillow she laid on. The only part visible of her face were her eyes, which were unblinkingly and unseeingly fixed on the glowing stickers of the stars and the moons stuck to the roof of the room. She had been in the same position since she laid down on the bed after dinner. The reason of her distress was a certain pair of piercing brown eyes that had been intensely focused on her, not a long time ago.

Those eyes had stared at her with a predator like scrutiny but amidst the folds of his predatory gaze were the flashes of protectiveness that had flared on and off for the whole of the brief conversation they had had. It had felt like he was at war with himself regarding something and that had been shown clearly in his eyes. Asweera Shams sighed. why was this creepy stalker following her around. Or was it her imagination and coincidences that had brought them face to face again and again. She didn't understand and she didn't want to. But her heart had turned traitor to her desires and had been behaving oddly since their last encounter.

She had a very nice fiancé. Granted that he was a bit odd and didn't believe in love, but he showed her exactly how much she meant to him when she sometimes ignored him if she was busy. Her phone never stopped beeping during those times and when she checked her cell, she usually found countless texts from him in various shade of patience and impatience. Even though he never openly showed his anger for her absence and often tried hard to hide it, he usually let something slip by mistake and she caught on to it. And he was witty and smart. He was also very unafraid of situations that tended to rupture her heart. And she loved him truly. Even though she knew it wasn't a halal concept in islam to fall in love with a namahram even if that person was going to be married to you in the early future. And yet, this creepy stalker had sneaked in through her cracks and entered her thoughts. Wasn't she betraying her fiancé by thinking about that man in his weird intensity?

'And heart!' Her brain muttered.

'Hush! Do not speak nonsense." She admonished it.

'He is telling the truth, if the speed of my beats are any indication.' The heart had to speak. 'I am so tired by this speed. And yet it refuses to come down. I have been this way since your meeting with that guy!'

'This has nothing to do with that.' She defended herself, refusing to admit anything. Both her heart and brain rolled their eyes at her stubbornness.

'Then what is it got to do with?' Her brain asked sarcastically. She ended up being silent and silently ponder about their words.

'It has got to do everything with... Farhan!' She shouted excitedly, behaving like she had found gravity.

'Yeah the same guy who haven't bothered to message you since today evening.' The heart ached as it complained.

'He was busy.' She defended him and then realised that she was having a three fold conversation with herself. She shook her crazy head. Why was she letting this meeting ruffle her so much? He was just a stranger who kept coming before her. There was nothing more to it.

'What about those cryptic words he had spoken?' Her brain asked again to her irritation. Those words... She had almost forgotten about them. They were creepy and exhilarating at the same instant. She didn't know how to describe them.

When he had spoken them, they had seemed like a warning and a covenant. He uttered those words like he was sealing her fate and that was scaring her to her wit's end. How could he say something like that to her when he didn't even know her? Granted that she knew his name and knew that he was a brat but that was about it. She had to let go off this weird attraction towards a guy who she might not even see again. But her intuition negated ber hope.

'Beep!'

She hastily turned towards her cellphone that had lighted up, lighting up the dark room in he process. Farhan had finally messaged her.

'Itne hijaabon par to ye aalam hai husn ka
kya haal ho jo dekhlein parda uthake hum.'
(Even after hiding behind so many veils her beauty shines,
What would happen if I raise those veils finally?)

She blushed scarlet at his words. What was wrong with him tonight? He had never talked to her this way before. He was more of a logical and practical person who didn't give in to the demands of his heart. She had never expected him to express through couplets amd here he was sending her such messages. She shyly began typing.

'Aaj janab zara mood mein hain shayad (today you are in the mood to flirt)!'

'With you my mood slips into this territory quite often. What to do? For the sake of your innocence I have to rein in my words.'

'Oh so all dis tym u hv been hiding another side away? For my benefit? How thoughtful of u!'

'All for you I promise.'

'U r such a smooth talker.'

'N u r beautiful. Could you become mine sooner than fixed? I cannot take this agony anymore!'

'have someone stolen dis phone?' She typed with wide eyes.

'Ya I have n now am having conversations with someone on his list. Goodness! Nawal! How could you be so dumb?'

'Hey! No need to be rude! I was kidding!'

'I apologize.'

'U r nt frgvn!'

He stayed silent after that making Asweera frown. She huffed and banged the cell screen first on the bed and turned towards the window, where the sheer curtains were swaying dreamily in the gentle breeze. She sadly stared at the curtains and sighed in helplessness. She hadn't thought she was amongst those women who gave their all to a man. She had thought that somewhere she would hold that one piece of herself that she would never trade for anything with anyone. That piece would be her anchor to herself, which would keep her dignity and self respect intact. She had thought that she would be able to go on even if some guy would hurt her. But within these months she had come to realize that her fiancé wasn't some guy to her. His approval mattered to her. His words and silence haf the power to tilt her existence. His absence had the power to wilt her ever joyful heart. She had realized that if ever such a situation arose where Farhan would leave her move ahead she wouldn't be able to move on, because now she was thoroughly in his love. She had herself become the type of woman whom she had formerly unliked. Those woman who loved their men so much that they become a shell ofbtheir former selves. Now she was the shell of her former self and the rest of the matter was just his love. And if ever he broke her then she would shatter because his love would disappear and the shell wouldn't be strong enough, would it? She sighed. Why was she even thinking about this? Such situation will never arise. She calmed herself.

'Reid betarish wa lau anna...' Her cell phone rung loudly tearing apart the silence that had enveloped her world and she hastily turned towards it in alarm. The suddenness of it had turned her heart into a scared mess. Her finger trembled due to her faltering heartbeats as she forwarded it to pick up the phone and then turn it upwards.

'Farhan calling...'

Her heart stilled before going into overdrive and she marveled at how one name was enough to mess up her hardly obtained composure. She was breathing with a lot of difficulty right then and for a second she thought of letting the call go unanswered. She bit her lips. Her heart didn't allow her to follow through with that thought and before she realised it, she had already answered it shakily.

"He-Hello?" She stuttered and then facepalmed. Why was she behaving so nervously? This was Farhan, her fiancé. The one with whom she had chatting with for months. He knew her and she knew him... quite well infact. Then why was she behaving so awkwardly? Her brain whispered quietly that this was wrong just like the texting was but her heart overruled the weak protest. She had come too far ahead on this way and turning back wasn't an option now.

"Hi." The confident greeting made her breathless. For a second she was sure she had heard this voice and then admonished herself. Of course she had heard it. She had met him and talked with him, a few momths ago. She had just forgotten hos voice because she was so nervous then and she hadn't reallynpaid attention to it then. But she was glad that she hadn't. Because if she had then she would have been reduced to a mess right in front of him. His voice had the ability to make her tremble in excitement and her spine tingle. It was so deep, she doubted that if someone fell in it literally, they would go on sinking. If voices had tastes, then she was sure his voice would taste like melted chocolate with a hint of mint. She was thinking so deeply that she almost missed his next words. "Thank god you picked up. For a moment I thought you will ignore it." She gaped at the phone. He knew her well.

"I couldn't..." She shyly replied to him.

"Why?" She could hear the smile and mischief, both, in his voice. She smiled as a blush adorned her face.

"I dunno. I just couldn't." She told him. "How come you called?"

"Changing the subject?" He asked cheekily. She bit her lips as she smiled. "I will allow it for now but don't think am done with the enquiry yet. I want to know why you couldn't ignore me."

"As if you don't know why!" Asweera retorted. She heard his deep chuckle and the spine tingled yet again. His voice... so familiar yet strange. It felt to have been created just to make her crazy.

"I called because I had to apologize to a beautiful lady for my rash words. I didn't want her to go to sleep angry with me." She heard sincerity in his words and she sighed contently. He was perfect. "I also had to apologise because I couldn't message her the whole evening. I was busy."

"Hmmmmmm. Now that you have gone to such lengths for achieving my forgiveness, I will forgive you. But you should never repeat it in the future." She told him righteously. He laughed.

"Never." He promised. But there was strange strain when he said it. Asweera shrugged it off and concentrated on her present. They spoke for the whole night and slept only an hour before fajar. Asweera didn't pray tahajjud even on that night.

*****

Farhan ended the call and sighed as a smile played on his lips while watching the sky through his balcony. She was amazingly perfect and he was glad she reciprocated his feelings. Now if only he could solve the trouble that loomed for them in the near future. He didn't want to do anything that he would regret and this thing that he was doing he would regret it and he would regret it badly. If only...

*****

Nawal

Asweera entered the house and muttered a 'Bismillah'. She closed the door behind her. It was a thursday and her brother and his family had gone to meet her Bhabhi's relatives in Sharjah. So she was home alone and possibly would be for the whole day and also tomorrow. She wasn't scared of staying aone though as she knew almost alltheir neighbors.

She removed her niqaab and then her abaya which she proceeded to dump in the laundry basket. She then folded the sleeves of her georgette kurta and tied her hair into a low bun as she entered the kitchen to make herself something to eat. Her long kurta swished around her feet as she walked. She opened the fridge and removed a bottle of water from it and as she closed it, she saw the note.

'The pink tupperwave container has your favorite pasta, heat it and eat it.' Her Bhabhs was amazing, she declared and smiled as she reopened the fridge.

After a thorough lunch, which she relished she cleaned the dishes and went to her empty room. She pouted at the absence of her nephews. She missed their adorable questions and their heartfelt declarations on her return. She missed the noise they made and the scattered toys. Now it was a looming silence and uneasy loneliness that waited for her. Ignoring that train of thought she picked up her bag which she had dropped on the desk and settled comfortably on the chair. She proceeded to remove her diary and opened the lecture she had left incomplete some days ago. The day after tomorrow was her submission date and she had to finish it now. As she played the lecture on her phone, she began to note down the important points in her diary.

4) Two people who love each other for the sake of Allah. They meet and depart for the sake of Allah. Easy? Think again. Because this one is one of the most difficult thing to do if you do not have taqwa. In this world full of selfishness, you will find it very rare that people love each other for the sake of Ar Rahmaan. People usually love each other for their own needs or their own heart. They love each other because their heart beats faster when they see each other or think of each other. Some may love each other because there is some type of advantage in it. Have you seen people who love each other because they love Allah? Have you ever loved someone because they remind you of aakhirah? Because they remind you of death? Because they remind you to do good deeds? Because they maybe  somuch in love with Allah that their very actions proclaim it? Have you loved someone solely because they are in love with your Rabb? Do it! Because it's one way you can achieve that shade on yaume Hashr. Nowadays breaking friendships, family ties and even marriage has become so easy that you would find countless broken hearts and families in this world. There are so many cases of divorces that you would feel terrible just thinking about how many families are broken apart by these decisions. How many kids are broken apart, how many shaytaan are crowned on each day due to breaking the marriages and a strong islamic foundation for tomorrow's generation? Countless. Why? Just because tou find a reason to break it off. Because you may have loved each other for your own reasons, for your own selfishness, for your own needs. Find one reason to make the relationship a success then. Let that reason be your love for Allah. Let that reason be their love for Allah and wallahi you will find that this reason will be everlasting. This reason wont be fading anytime soon. You will achieve peace in this world and mercy in that. So do it. Love for the sake of Allah. Because thats one ibadah Allah Al Wadood loves.

5) A man who is called by a woman of beauty and position (for illegal intercourse) and he says 'I fear Allah'. I think the same applies to a woman too. In this world full of fahsh where haram is available in every corner of the world (Please do not take that literally!), you would find such character very rarely who would say 'I fear Allah!', when invited to do something enjoyable to the nafs. Fo you know the life story of Yousuf Alaihisalam? He was a man of beauty and was onvited to do fahsh by a woman of position and if he wanted he could have done it and gotten away with it but his character was ahsan. He was ahsan. And he said that he would prefer the prison rather than doing something which Allah Zuljalalah has prohibited. This is one of the major sins in Islam and a source of enjoyment to the nafs. If you could confrol that mafs and move ahead because you fear the wrath of your Rabb and because you fear that this would displease your Rabb then wallahi you are Ahsan and you will be shaded on that day when there will be no shade except His. You will be beloved to Him. Today's world has gone to sich an extent that sec education has become common in every school. The teachers do not teach children to abstain from it before marriage. They do not teach children that this is fahsh and this is something you need to stay away from before you make them your halal. No. The children are thought to practice safe sex. They are thought about things that would totally be unneeded if they are thought to mend their character. At the proper age the children should be taught about certain things and that's necessary. But the first point you teach them should be- Zina is haram (run away from it), zina is haram (may Allah protect our kids from all fahsh), zina is haram (may Allah guide them and may we give them the right tarbiyah). Teach them akhlaq character such that they would say 'I fear Allah!' and move ahead when invited to do fahsh (may Allah never make them face it). So that on that day you and them both are shaded. Teach our kids to stand straight and travel strongly on the right path and let not the fitnahs of today dirty their thoughts. Because today these things are common and majority of the world is practicing it. But that doesnt make the majority right. Remember in all the generations and ummahs majority has been the one that protested our Prophets. Remember that what others teach their children has nothing to do with you. You teach your own according to what we are advised by the Best Teacher sallallahu alaihi wasallam. Because when we reach that level where we can say 'I fear Allah!' and reject the fahsh on it's face, is when we make a place in His' shade. And in todays world this deed is very difficult. There are many factors. Peer pressure is one too. So be careful of what company you choose. Because according to teenagers today this is something they brag about. This is in. But no this is out as declared by our Rabb.

6)A man who gives in charity and hides what his right hand gives from his left. Charity... the deed which cools the anger of Allah. So beautiful and so pure. When you give charity you actually feel peaceful. Something so helpful to others. Nowadays you would find instagram pictures where people click their pics while giving in charity. They oublicise the deed to become famous, beloved and to have millions of likes. But remember each deed done will be judged according to the niyah (intention) with which it is done. So if your charity is for fame then you will get fame but if your charity is for aakhirah in sha Allah you will get aakhirah. This world has crossed the limit of what people could actually go to just so that they gain money and fame. They would do anything. They want people to know how kind they are because they are giving. But remember true charity is not for the world to label you as kind its for someone helpless to be helped. Its because you realise what you have is not yours its an Amanah from your Rabb so you could treat it rightly. Its a test from your Lord so he could see if you are truly a mumin. And beware this test might become your punishment if you do not be careful. Remember that Allah have tested people pefore you with wealth. Remember Qaroon. His pride on his money pushed him under the earth... alive. Remember that when Allah gives you He is testing you. So you need to cultivate a heart that gives to others the bounty He has blessed you with. And not because you want to be famous. But because you want His approval. So hide what you give in charity and do not do it because you want to be known and then Allah will love your deed to such an extent that he will give you His shade in sha Allah. Only a pure soul could part with something and not expect anything of this world in return.

7)A man who remembered his Rabb in private and so his eyes shed tears. Allah. Such a beautiful deed. If you achieve this then wallahi you are beloved to me. Because this cannot be done by all. The tears flow only when heart is moved and it takes a lot to move the heart. But if your Rabb's dhikr could move you to tears then you must love Him tremendously and if you love Him then i love you. If you cannot bring those tears then first start with crocodile tears and gradually move to the real ones but cultivate this habit. Pray Tahajjud because that's the time when you will be alone and in private with your Rabb and thats when your emotions would be on the surface enough to emerge from within. He who can hear your beats and your unspoken words and your eyes and your thoughts and still listens to you as you stutter out your feelings to him, He who loves you to such an extent that when you take one step towards him take ten steps towards you, He who made you and made you unique. He who is Allah and Is Wahid la shareek. Wallahi how beautiful of a sight it is when you speak to your beloved in provate and your eyes glows. Each time each second tou would want to go on conversing with the master of the universe. Is there anything more cleansing and more liberating then speaking with the Best Speaker? Then why wouldn't your eyes learn to shed tears? It will when you identify who your Rabb is. It will when you fall for him. It will shed tears when you realise just how much He loves you. My reader. Your eyes will start tearing up each time the ache for meeting your beloved will descend on your heart. When you reaise what a lousy slave you are and yet how the Master is loving you your heart will soften and temble. Being able to shed tears is a mark of a soft heart. Your hands will tremble when they raise to make a prayer to Him because you know that He is listening to you. Your lips will flow with words from deep within because you know that these words will not be just some words. They will be a prayer and they will be truly heard. And then those tears will make an appearance and one drop of a true tear will be enough to extinguish the whole fire of Jahannam. Thise tears are a mark of being in love with your Rabb so cultivate this deed within you and then you may get that shade.

Asweera jotted down all her points before she recapped her pen and sighed. Love for the sake of Allah... Rubdha had told her that she fell for Umar when she saw how much he strived to please Allah. Theor love was for His' sake but what about herself?

Her love...

Nawal

The room was bathing in the darkness, with only the daring breeze entering from the outside world and ruffling the room before exiting it with a giggle. The world outside had sunken into a deep slumber a long time ago. Even the handful of stars scattered on the vast sheet of the sky were lazily blinking at the world. The whole silence was a bit unnerving, except for the occasional sound of a passing car.

The lone occupant of the room was breathing very deeply. She was unaware of both the world outside or inside. Her white Chikankari dupatta covered the lower part of the face. Her arm was resting on her forehead. Her hair was spread all around her face on the pillow she laid on. The only part visible of her face were her eyes, which were unblinkingly and unseeingly fixed on the glowing stickers of the stars and the moons stuck to the roof of the room. She had been in the same position since she laid down on the bed after dinner. The reason of her distress was a certain pair of piercing brown eyes that had been intensely focused on her, not a long time ago.

Those eyes had stared at her with a predator like scrutiny but amidst the folds of his predatory gaze were the flashes of protectiveness that had flared on and off for the whole of the brief conversation they had had. It had felt like he was at war with himself regarding something and that had been shown clearly in his eyes. Asweera Shams sighed. why was this creepy stalker following her around. Or was it her imagination and coincidences that had brought them face to face again and again. She didn't understand and she didn't want to. But her heart had turned traitor to her desires and had been behaving oddly since their last encounter.

She had a very nice fiancé. Granted that he was a bit odd and didn't believe in love, but he showed her exactly how much she meant to him when she sometimes ignored him if she was busy. Her phone never stopped beeping during those times and when she checked her cell, she usually found countless texts from him in various shade of patience and impatience. Even though he never openly showed his anger for her absence and often tried hard to hide it, he usually let something slip by mistake and she caught on to it. And he was witty and smart. He was also very unafraid of situations that tended to rupture her heart. And she loved him truly. Even though she knew it wasn't a halal concept in islam to fall in love with a namahram even if that person was going to be married to you in the early future. And yet, this creepy stalker had sneaked in through her cracks and entered her thoughts. Wasn't she betraying her fiancé by thinking about that man in his weird intensity?

'And heart!' Her brain muttered.

'Hush! Do not speak nonsense." She admonished it.

'He is telling the truth, if the speed of my beats are any indication.' The heart had to speak. 'I am so tired by this speed. And yet it refuses to come down. I have been this way since your meeting with that guy!'

'This has nothing to do with that.' She defended herself, refusing to admit anything. Both her heart and brain rolled their eyes at her stubbornness.

'Then what is it got to do with?' Her brain asked sarcastically. She ended up being silent and silently ponder about their words.

'It has got to do everything with... Farhan!' She shouted excitedly, behaving like she had found gravity.

'Yeah the same guy who haven't bothered to message you since today evening.' The heart ached as it complained.

'He was busy.' She defended him and then realised that she was having a three fold conversation with herself. She shook her crazy head. Why was she letting this meeting ruffle her so much? He was just a stranger who kept coming before her. There was nothing more to it.

'What about those cryptic words he had spoken?' Her brain asked again to her irritation. Those words... She had almost forgotten about them. They were creepy and exhilarating at the same instant. She didn't know how to describe them.

When he had spoken them, they had seemed like a warning and a covenant. He uttered those words like he was sealing her fate and that was scaring her to her wit's end. How could he say something like that to her when he didn't even know her? Granted that she knew his name and knew that he was a brat but that was about it. She had to let go off this weird attraction towards a guy who she might not even see again. But her intuition negated ber hope.

'Beep!'

She hastily turned towards her cellphone that had lighted up, lighting up the dark room in he process. Farhan had finally messaged her.

'Itne hijaabon par to ye aalam hai husn ka
kya haal ho jo dekhlein parda uthake hum.'
(Even after hiding behind so many veils her beauty shines,
What would happen if I raise those veils finally?)

She blushed scarlet at his words. What was wrong with him tonight? He had never talked to her this way before. He was more of a logical and practical person who didn't give in to the demands of his heart. She had never expected him to express through couplets amd here he was sending her such messages. She shyly began typing.

'Aaj janab zara mood mein hain shayad (today you are in the mood to flirt)!'

'With you my mood slips into this territory quite often. What to do? For the sake of your innocence I have to rein in my words.'

'Oh so all dis tym u hv been hiding another side away? For my benefit? How thoughtful of u!'

'All for you I promise.'

'U r such a smooth talker.'

'N u r beautiful. Could you become mine sooner than fixed? I cannot take this agony anymore!'

'have someone stolen dis phone?' She typed with wide eyes.

'Ya I have n now am having conversations with someone on his list. Goodness! Nawal! How could you be so dumb?'

'Hey! No need to be rude! I was kidding!'

'I apologize.'

'U r nt frgvn!'

He stayed silent after that making Asweera frown. She huffed and banged the cell screen first on the bed and turned towards the window, where the sheer curtains were swaying dreamily in the gentle breeze. She sadly stared at the curtains and sighed in helplessness. She hadn't thought she was amongst those women who gave their all to a man. She had thought that somewhere she would hold that one piece of herself that she would never trade for anything with anyone. That piece would be her anchor to herself, which would keep her dignity and self respect intact. She had thought that she would be able to go on even if some guy would hurt her. But within these months she had come to realize that her fiancé wasn't some guy to her. His approval mattered to her. His words and silence haf the power to tilt her existence. His absence had the power to wilt her ever joyful heart. She had realized that if ever such a situation arose where Farhan would leave her move ahead she wouldn't be able to move on, because now she was thoroughly in his love. She had herself become the type of woman whom she had formerly unliked. Those woman who loved their men so much that they become a shell ofbtheir former selves. Now she was the shell of her former self and the rest of the matter was just his love. And if ever he broke her then she would shatter because his love would disappear and the shell wouldn't be strong enough, would it? She sighed. Why was she even thinking about this? Such situation will never arise. She calmed herself.

'Reid betarish wa lau anna...' Her cell phone rung loudly tearing apart the silence that had enveloped her world and she hastily turned towards it in alarm. The suddenness of it had turned her heart into a scared mess. Her finger trembled due to her faltering heartbeats as she forwarded it to pick up the phone and then turn it upwards.

'Farhan calling...'

Her heart stilled before going into overdrive and she marveled at how one name was enough to mess up her hardly obtained composure. She was breathing with a lot of difficulty right then and for a second she thought of letting the call go unanswered. She bit her lips. Her heart didn't allow her to follow through with that thought and before she realised it, she had already answered it shakily.

"He-Hello?" She stuttered and then facepalmed. Why was she behaving so nervously? This was Farhan, her fiancé. The one with whom she had chatting with for months. He knew her and she knew him... quite well infact. Then why was she behaving so awkwardly? Her brain whispered quietly that this was wrong just like the texting was but her heart overruled the weak protest. She had come too far ahead on this way and turning back wasn't an option now.

"Hi." The confident greeting made her breathless. For a second she was sure she had heard this voice and then admonished herself. Of course she had heard it. She had met him and talked with him, a few momths ago. She had just forgotten hos voice because she was so nervous then and she hadn't reallynpaid attention to it then. But she was glad that she hadn't. Because if she had then she would have been reduced to a mess right in front of him. His voice had the ability to make her tremble in excitement and her spine tingle. It was so deep, she doubted that if someone fell in it literally, they would go on sinking. If voices had tastes, then she was sure his voice would taste like melted chocolate with a hint of mint. She was thinking so deeply that she almost missed his next words. "Thank god you picked up. For a moment I thought you will ignore it." She gaped at the phone. He knew her well.

"I couldn't..." She shyly replied to him.

"Why?" She could hear the smile and mischief, both, in his voice. She smiled as a blush adorned her face.

"I dunno. I just couldn't." She told him. "How come you called?"

"Changing the subject?" He asked cheekily. She bit her lips as she smiled. "I will allow it for now but don't think am done with the enquiry yet. I want to know why you couldn't ignore me."

"As if you don't know why!" Asweera retorted. She heard his deep chuckle and the spine tingled yet again. His voice... so familiar yet strange. It felt to have been created just to make her crazy.

"I called because I had to apologize to a beautiful lady for my rash words. I didn't want her to go to sleep angry with me." She heard sincerity in his words and she sighed contently. He was perfect. "I also had to apologise because I couldn't message her the whole evening. I was busy."

"Hmmmmmm. Now that you have gone to such lengths for achieving my forgiveness, I will forgive you. But you should never repeat it in the future." She told him righteously. He laughed.

"Never." He promised. But there was strange strain when he said it. Asweera shrugged it off and concentrated on her present. They spoke for the whole night and slept only an hour before fajar. Asweera didn't pray tahajjud even on that night.

*****

Farhan ended the call and sighed as a smile played on his lips while watching the sky through his balcony. She was amazingly perfect and he was glad she reciprocated his feelings. Now if only he could solve the trouble that loomed for them in the near future. He didn't want to do anything that he would regret and this thing that he was doing he would regret it and he would regret it badly. If only...

*****

Nawal

Asweera entered the house and muttered a 'Bismillah'. She closed the door behind her. It was a thursday and her brother and his family had gone to meet her Bhabhi's relatives in Sharjah. So she was home alone and possibly would be for the whole day and also tomorrow. She wasn't scared of staying aone though as she knew almost alltheir neighbors.

She removed her niqaab and then her abaya which she proceeded to dump in the laundry basket. She then folded the sleeves of her georgette kurta and tied her hair into a low bun as she entered the kitchen to make herself something to eat. Her long kurta swished around her feet as she walked. She opened the fridge and removed a bottle of water from it and as she closed it, she saw the note.

'The pink tupperwave container has your favorite pasta, heat it and eat it.' Her Bhabhs was amazing, she declared and smiled as she reopened the fridge.

After a thorough lunch, which she relished she cleaned the dishes and went to her empty room. She pouted at the absence of her nephews. She missed their adorable questions and their heartfelt declarations on her return. She missed the noise they made and the scattered toys. Now it was a looming silence and uneasy loneliness that waited for her. Ignoring that train of thought she picked up her bag which she had dropped on the desk and settled comfortably on the chair. She proceeded to remove her diary and opened the lecture she had left incomplete some days ago. The day after tomorrow was her submission date and she had to finish it now. As she played the lecture on her phone, she began to note down the important points in her diary.

4) Two people who love each other for the sake of Allah. They meet and depart for the sake of Allah. Easy? Think again. Because this one is one of the most difficult thing to do if you do not have taqwa. In this world full of selfishness, you will find it very rare that people love each other for the sake of Ar Rahmaan. People usually love each other for their own needs or their own heart. They love each other because their heart beats faster when they see each other or think of each other. Some may love each other because there is some type of advantage in it. Have you seen people who love each other because they love Allah? Have you ever loved someone because they remind you of aakhirah? Because they remind you of death? Because they remind you to do good deeds? Because they maybe  somuch in love with Allah that their very actions proclaim it? Have you loved someone solely because they are in love with your Rabb? Do it! Because it's one way you can achieve that shade on yaume Hashr. Nowadays breaking friendships, family ties and even marriage has become so easy that you would find countless broken hearts and families in this world. There are so many cases of divorces that you would feel terrible just thinking about how many families are broken apart by these decisions. How many kids are broken apart, how many shaytaan are crowned on each day due to breaking the marriages and a strong islamic foundation for tomorrow's generation? Countless. Why? Just because tou find a reason to break it off. Because you may have loved each other for your own reasons, for your own selfishness, for your own needs. Find one reason to make the relationship a success then. Let that reason be your love for Allah. Let that reason be their love for Allah and wallahi you will find that this reason will be everlasting. This reason wont be fading anytime soon. You will achieve peace in this world and mercy in that. So do it. Love for the sake of Allah. Because thats one ibadah Allah Al Wadood loves.

5) A man who is called by a woman of beauty and position (for illegal intercourse) and he says 'I fear Allah'. I think the same applies to a woman too. In this world full of fahsh where haram is available in every corner of the world (Please do not take that literally!), you would find such character very rarely who would say 'I fear Allah!', when invited to do something enjoyable to the nafs. Fo you know the life story of Yousuf Alaihisalam? He was a man of beauty and was onvited to do fahsh by a woman of position and if he wanted he could have done it and gotten away with it but his character was ahsan. He was ahsan. And he said that he would prefer the prison rather than doing something which Allah Zuljalalah has prohibited. This is one of the major sins in Islam and a source of enjoyment to the nafs. If you could confrol that mafs and move ahead because you fear the wrath of your Rabb and because you fear that this would displease your Rabb then wallahi you are Ahsan and you will be shaded on that day when there will be no shade except His. You will be beloved to Him. Today's world has gone to sich an extent that sec education has become common in every school. The teachers do not teach children to abstain from it before marriage. They do not teach children that this is fahsh and this is something you need to stay away from before you make them your halal. No. The children are thought to practice safe sex. They are thought about things that would totally be unneeded if they are thought to mend their character. At the proper age the children should be taught about certain things and that's necessary. But the first point you teach them should be- Zina is haram (run away from it), zina is haram (may Allah protect our kids from all fahsh), zina is haram (may Allah guide them and may we give them the right tarbiyah). Teach them akhlaq character such that they would say 'I fear Allah!' and move ahead when invited to do fahsh (may Allah never make them face it). So that on that day you and them both are shaded. Teach our kids to stand straight and travel strongly on the right path and let not the fitnahs of today dirty their thoughts. Because today these things are common and majority of the world is practicing it. But that doesnt make the majority right. Remember in all the generations and ummahs majority has been the one that protested our Prophets. Remember that what others teach their children has nothing to do with you. You teach your own according to what we are advised by the Best Teacher sallallahu alaihi wasallam. Because when we reach that level where we can say 'I fear Allah!' and reject the fahsh on it's face, is when we make a place in His' shade. And in todays world this deed is very difficult. There are many factors. Peer pressure is one too. So be careful of what company you choose. Because according to teenagers today this is something they brag about. This is in. But no this is out as declared by our Rabb.

6)A man who gives in charity and hides what his right hand gives from his left. Charity... the deed which cools the anger of Allah. So beautiful and so pure. When you give charity you actually feel peaceful. Something so helpful to others. Nowadays you would find instagram pictures where people click their pics while giving in charity. They oublicise the deed to become famous, beloved and to have millions of likes. But remember each deed done will be judged according to the niyah (intention) with which it is done. So if your charity is for fame then you will get fame but if your charity is for aakhirah in sha Allah you will get aakhirah. This world has crossed the limit of what people could actually go to just so that they gain money and fame. They would do anything. They want people to know how kind they are because they are giving. But remember true charity is not for the world to label you as kind its for someone helpless to be helped. Its because you realise what you have is not yours its an Amanah from your Rabb so you could treat it rightly. Its a test from your Lord so he could see if you are truly a mumin. And beware this test might become your punishment if you do not be careful. Remember that Allah have tested people pefore you with wealth. Remember Qaroon. His pride on his money pushed him under the earth... alive. Remember that when Allah gives you He is testing you. So you need to cultivate a heart that gives to others the bounty He has blessed you with. And not because you want to be famous. But because you want His approval. So hide what you give in charity and do not do it because you want to be known and then Allah will love your deed to such an extent that he will give you His shade in sha Allah. Only a pure soul could part with something and not expect anything of this world in return.

7)A man who remembered his Rabb in private and so his eyes shed tears. Allah. Such a beautiful deed. If you achieve this then wallahi you are beloved to me. Because this cannot be done by all. The tears flow only when heart is moved and it takes a lot to move the heart. But if your Rabb's dhikr could move you to tears then you must love Him tremendously and if you love Him then i love you. If you cannot bring those tears then first start with crocodile tears and gradually move to the real ones but cultivate this habit. Pray Tahajjud because that's the time when you will be alone and in private with your Rabb and thats when your emotions would be on the surface enough to emerge from within. He who can hear your beats and your unspoken words and your eyes and your thoughts and still listens to you as you stutter out your feelings to him, He who loves you to such an extent that when you take one step towards him take ten steps towards you, He who made you and made you unique. He who is Allah and Is Wahid la shareek. Wallahi how beautiful of a sight it is when you speak to your beloved in provate and your eyes glows. Each time each second tou would want to go on conversing with the master of the universe. Is there anything more cleansing and more liberating then speaking with the Best Speaker? Then why wouldn't your eyes learn to shed tears? It will when you identify who your Rabb is. It will when you fall for him. It will shed tears when you realise just how much He loves you. My reader. Your eyes will start tearing up each time the ache for meeting your beloved will descend on your heart. When you reaise what a lousy slave you are and yet how the Master is loving you your heart will soften and temble. Being able to shed tears is a mark of a soft heart. Your hands will tremble when they raise to make a prayer to Him because you know that He is listening to you. Your lips will flow with words from deep within because you know that these words will not be just some words. They will be a prayer and they will be truly heard. And then those tears will make an appearance and one drop of a true tear will be enough to extinguish the whole fire of Jahannam. Thise tears are a mark of being in love with your Rabb so cultivate this deed within you and then you may get that shade.

Asweera jotted down all her points before she recapped her pen and sighed. Love for the sake of Allah... Rubdha had told her that she fell for Umar when she saw how much he strived to please Allah. Theor love was for His' sake but what about herself?

Her love...