Drawing closer to Allah.

  ﻭَٱﺳْﺘَﻌِﻴﻨُﻮا۟ ﺑِﭑﻟﺼَّﺒْﺮِ ﻭَٱﻟﺼَّﻠَﻮٰﺓِ ۚ ﻭَﺇِﻧَّﻬَﺎ ﻟَﻜَﺒِﻴﺮَﺓٌ ﺇِﻻَّ ﻋَﻠَﻰ
ٱﻟْﺨَٰﺸِﻌِﻴﻦ

"And seek assistance through patience and prayer and most definitely it is a difficult thing , except for the humble ones"

(Surah Baqara , Aaya 45) 

A true Mu'min is one who is thankful, and grateful in times of ease and comfort , and patient in times of difficulty, for a Muslim believes that every condition is from Allah Ta'allah and Allah Ta'allah in His infinite wisdom knows why He tests people in different ways. Trials should bring a Mu'min closer to Allah Ta'allah , and not drive one further away , if a trial distances a believer from his Lord it is a punishment but, if it is a means of him gaining nearness to Allah Ta'allah it is indeed a  test , and surely Allah loves those who He tests.

She sat in the waiting area ,  the acerbic smell of the hospital hit her with full force , causing her stomach to churn , increasing her anxiety, her  face buried in her palms,  as each minute passed , her heart rate increased , she made a silent supplication to Allah for the safety of her sister. 

Sameeha had been taken into theatre , the car had hit the passenger side , causing her to be hurt most severely, she had severe head  injuries, deep cuts on her arms , and some of her ribs were  slightly fractured, shukr to Allah  that she had no broken bones.
Shaakir sat besides Safwa , his arm slung around her shoulder , trying to to comfort her , as her tears sprouted , and trailed down her already tear stained face. He swallowed the lump in his throat, retaining his own tears that were on the verge of spilling. Khair sat besides Shaakir , his left arm in a cast , he had been sitting behind Samiha hence he was also injured, but his injury was minute compared to Samiha's. Khair sat with his head bowed , his hands clasped on his lap , he uttered silent supplications within his heart,  seeking assistence soley from Almighty Allah. Samiha's husband Hudhaifa  stood a few feet away, tears poured down his face , as he stood  before Allah Ta'allah in Salaah, using his jacket as a Musallah, all thanks to Allah , he hadn't recieved any injuries, not even a single scratch. Safwa's father sat opposite his children, despite being immersed in worry and concern for his daughter, a small smile graced his lips , when he observed how his children all turned to Allah and sought their Lords assistance , he silently thanked Allah , then took off his own jacket , placed it beside Hudhaifa, and  commenced with Nafl Salaah.

Amaani ambled out down the corridor , her little hand clasped in her grandmothers firm grasp , a  plaster on her forehead , and a lolipop in her hand. She walked proudly , showing off her candy , as if it was a trophy she had won ,  despite the  cut she had on her forehead she was a brave little girl, she hadn't cried much, she had just been in shock for a while.

They walked over to Safwa, her mother sat beside her, trying her best to smile, she gave her daughter a forced smile , unable to return the smile , Safwa burst into another fit of tears. Her mother embraced  her daughter, she blinked away her own tears , rubbing Safwa's back attempting to soothe her.

Amaani's big innocent eyes widened , seeing her aunty crying, she left her grandmothers side, dawdled to Safwa, and tugged her skirt.
"Aunty Saf why are you cwying? Did you get hurt too ?"

Safwa pulled back from her mother , wiping her tears , she gave her niece a watery smile, the little girl had no idea what happened to her mother. Safwa picked her up and placed her on her lap. Amaani turned towards Safwa , giving her a sloppy kiss on her cheek , she tried to console her aunty.

" Don't cwy Aunty Saf, Nani said that Mummy will be fine Insha Allah ,cos we all making dua to Allah Ta'allah, and also I asked Allah to keep Mummy safe , Allah listens to the duas of small children" , tilting her head ,  she looked at her aunty with those cute eyes , filled with innocence.

"Ma Sha Allah ! " , she hugged Amaani, smiling a genuine smile , her little two year old nieces words were actually a consolement for her , if her little niece could have faith and trust in Allah , why couldn't she ?

              *2 weeks later*

"I'm fine don't worry about me !" , Samiha waved her hand infront if her, dismissing Safwa after she hastily jumped off the couch to help her sister make her way to the couch. Samiha had become languid, she had lost some weight in just two weeks, she had been doing better than she was two weeks ago, but the pain in her ribs had not subsided as yet , and this made it difficult for her to move around or walk too much , she had become fatigued just sitting in bed the whole day , so she decided to come to the lounge for a change of environment, she was tired of looking at the white walls of her room.

She maneuvered around the couch carefully , she sat down on the couch , patting the empty seat beside her. Safwa sat down beside her, making sure not to accidently knock, or nudge her mistakenly.

"How's your headache ?"
Safwa gestured to the bandage that was tied around her head , beneath her scarf.

Samiha gave her a weak smile.
"It subsided slightly, but Alhamdulillah I can't complain ,there are hundreds of people that are sufering worse than I am, aren't there?"

Safwa nodded in agreement, she returned her smile , she admired the new and transformed sister. After Samiha had married Hudhaifa , she had changed for the better,  after eighteen years of acting like they don't even exist , despite being sisters , they had become so close that it seemed as if they always shared a close bond, indeed at times absence makes the heart grow fonder.

" If you didn't have an injury on your head , I would have rubbed that herbal cream on your forehead and massaged it , it works like a bomb" .

Samiha laughed.
"If my head wasn't injured I would have  never declined a head massage, but you can merely rub it on my forehead. "

Safwa stood up.
"Aye aye captain ,I shall return shortly", she saluted and headed towards the passage.

"Khadija can you please stop crying and tell me what's the matter ?" , Khair 's alarmed voice caught her attention. He walked out of Shaakir's room holding his left hand to his ear, he ran his right hand through his hair, frustration evident on his face.

Safwa stopped outside the bathroom door, wondering what must have happened that his sister was crying and couldn't speak.

"Khadija please calm down and tell me what's wrong ?"
He stood in silence for a few seconds, then suddenly raised his voice, causing Safwa to shake in fright.

"WHAT! YA ALLLAH !"

The phone slipped from his hand , and crashed to the floor , Khair fell to his knees , tears poured out of his eyes , his eyes moist and shoulders trembling. Safwa stood still , shocked by his sudden outburst,  she had no idea what to do.

Shaakir walked out of his room, hearing the commotion.
"Dude...why are you yelli...."
Shaakir trailed off when he noticed Khair sitting on the passage floor, crying , a look of sheer pain flashing in his eyes.

He crouched infront of him.
"Khair what happened ?" He asked alarmed.

He bowed his head ,  frantically wiping his tears, he shook his head from side to side.

"She's gone Shaakir, she's gone !" He repeated over and over again.

"Who ?"

" My ... my ..."