Nikaah/Walima

🌟The object and purpose of Nikaah , Allah Ta'allah says:

لتسكنوا إليها
"So that you may find sukoon (peace and contentment in your partners."

🌟 Intention Of Marriage:

"Enter the marriage with the pure intention of pleasing Allah Ta'allah . The marriage then becomes an act of worship for which both the spouses will be rewarded. "

(The Perfect Knot)

🌟High Expectations Before Marriage:

"Don't have unrealistic expectations, hoping for perfection in all aspects. This often leads to dissapointment. Rather expect and be pleasently surprised when your spouse is more than you hoped for. This leads to greater contentment.

(The Perfect Knot)

The flash of lightning, a rumble of thunder, the harsh hailstones that were pelted against the windows, threatening to smash the window into shards of sparkling fragments of glass, these things made Safwa nervous and slightly fearful, added to this list was waiting for Khair to meet her after the Nikaah, her husband would walk into her room anytime now....

Husband!
It sounded so strange , it was so overwhelming , yet at the same time having her name attached to her husband's was a beautiful feeling.

She heard the door open with a click, her eyes cast down onto her lap, she gnawed her lower lip, feeling as though her intestines were doing summersaults in her tummy, she fidgted with the blue gossamer net, that covered the blue satin of her dress, suddenly she felt like racing to the balcony, swinging onto the tree, jumping down and running to the beach. She calculated how long it would take him to reach her, would she be able to escape before that? Her room was spacious, but he walked in long strides....

while she was having an inner battle whether to flee or not, he had already walked in and the stood beside her, smiling at her expressions when she was nervous.

"Assalamualaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu", Khair greeted , still standing in front of her.

"Wa Alaykumusalam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu ",Safwa replied softly, her gaze never left her hands that were now entwined on her lap.

She felt his hand on her forehead, as he whispered a dua. She never heard the beginning of the dua, but what she did hear was the ending, the translation which she understood to be "Oh Allah save me from the evil of this woman".

She was taken aback , she wasn't evil ! Is it not that refuge is sought from the evil of shaytaan ? he thought she was evil! Her eyes widened.

He noticed her shocked expession , not understanding what shocked her he asked her what the matter was.
Forgetting that she was the typical shy, blushing bride a minute ago , without thinking she blurted out
"You think I'm evil "

Khair threw his head back in laughter. His throaty chuckle and impish smile that was now etched on his face, made Safwa realise what a ridiculous question that was. She mentally face palmed herself.
Way to go Safwa you embarrassed yourself infront of your husband the first time you meet him after Nikaah!

Noticing her embaresment, Khair explained. "It's a Sunnah dua that the husband reads for the wife , you only heard the last part of the dua. Don't worry I don't think you evil, but being human, we are not flawless we do have bad qualities in us as well as good ".
Safwa nodded in understanding.

"You know I'm your Mahram now, it's not haraam to look at me, or you don't want to see how your husband looks? You do look beautiful in this dress, but you can look at your husband for while and then go back to admiring your dress."

Her cheeks splattered with rogue pink, she looked up bashfully , observing his attire , she smiled shyly. He had complied with her wish , he hadn't worn a suit, instead he was clad in a white kurta(thobe) , the cuffs, collar and buttons were blue , matching the colour of her dress.

Someone knocked softly on the door.
"Newly weds , sorry for being a nuisance, everyone is ready to go to the venue for the Walima".
Khadija spoke from behind the door.

"Okay just give me few minutes."
Khair shouted.

"Alright !"

" Ya Rabb ! Just few minutes of peace they can't give me !"
He muttered , walking towards the door. Safwa bit her lip surpressing a giggle.

He walked back towars her , holding a white shell in his hand. Safwa gave him a confused look , he was standing and she remained seated , so she couldn't see exactly what was in the shell. He sat down beside her, allowing her to see it. She gasped , a shy smile adorned her face. Cushioned upon the shell were two rings , her ring , as well as his.
Little pearls in the middle of the rings, the small lustrous diamond on the thin band , sparkled beneath the down lighters in her room.

Safwa stretched her hand out as Khair outstretched his own hand, the simple, yet beautiful ring held between his thumb and forefinger. He slid the ring onto her slender finger, that was decorated with a simple mendhi pattern. She was not fond of mendhi but on the insistence of her cousins and freinds , she gave in , only allowing them to draw a simple pattern, much to their dissapiontment. They had even insisted writing his name on her hand, but she had refused , rolling her eyes at them she told them she was not a typical wattpad bride, who wanted her husband to search for his name in her hand , neither did she believe that the darker your henna is the more your husband loves you, it was all pure fiction and superstitions.

She took the ring , hastily sliding it onto his finger. Khair chuckled, she moved away so fast as if his finger would burn her hand, he wanted to tease her about it, but chose to remain silent, she was already so nervous.

Khair scrathed his nape nervously.
"I don't really like the idea of exchagnimg rings infront of a crowd, neither did I want my sister to give it to you , I wanted to give it to you myself , so I thought this would be better. "

Safwa remained silent , her cheeks flushing once again.

"I know that it's not really neccessary to exchange rings in Islaam , I was hesitant at first but then I thought some people do exchange rings anyway , so maybe you would want to also !" , Khair rambled on, nervously glancing at her.

Safwa smiled, she replied in a soft voice. "It's okay we aren't perfect. May Allah give us all the hidaaya to carry out all our actions according to the Shariah and Sunnah."

Khair smiled. " Aameen".

"So shall we ?" , he stood up , stretching his hand out towards her.

She stared his hand, hesitating whether to hold it or not.

"My hand will not burn you , I promise.... or if you're worried that my hand is sweaty due to this humid weather, which I assure you it's not, but just to pacify you..", he wiped his hand on his kurta. Safwa just stared at him with an expressionless face.

This guy is crazy !

"Okay fine if you're really that hygiene concious I will go and wash my
hands ", he headed to the bathroom.

Safwa shook her head.
Ya Allah what kind of a crazy dude did I marry?

He opened the bathroom door , and she smiled.

"Khair it's okay you don't have to, I will hold your hand !" , she said shyly.

He turned back to her, a goofy grin etched on his face.
"So shall we milady ?"

She took hold of his outstretched hand , smiling at him.
"Yes we shall my sir ! "
She replied boldly. Khair's nervousness was evident , him trying to cover it up with his jovial and carefree personality, dissipated her nervousness as well. She never saw this side of Khair before, she always wondered how her brother and Khair got along , back then their personalities seemed so different from each other, Khair was always so queit and reserved in public and her brother was the total opposite, but now she knew why they got along ,
Khair also had a carefree and jovial personality that only a few people knew about , this consoled her to some extent, while she would also miss her brother dearly for a brother and sister relationship is completely different , atleast her husband had a similar personality.

Khair led Safwa until the lounge, suddenly she halted in her tracks, realising that she had to put on her jilbaab over her dress , as well as her Niqaab. Khair gave her questioning look.

"I urm....I forgot my ...uh I forgot something, you can carry on, I will come down with the girls. "

He left her hand, nodding at her , he walked out of the house.

"What's wrong , why didn't you go with Mr Hubby ?", Ayesha questioned.

"Because I started wearing the Niqaab today and I realised I can't leave like this."

"Say what !", Ayesha looked at her surpsised.

Safwa smiled. "I finally joined the ninja's". Safwa qouted Jauhaara.

Ayesha yanked Safwa's arm and pulled her into her room, she told Safwa to put on her jilbaab and Niqaab and that she would be back in a few minutes. As Safwa was tying her Niqaab, Jauhaara , Sabrina, Leyya, Khadija and Ayesha filed into the room, clad in their abayas, khimars and Niqaabs, one after the other they all hugged Safwa.

"Welcome to the Ninja club Saf!"
Jauhaara squealed after hugging her.

"You have officially joined the club. Welcome fellow ninja !" Leyya shook Safwa's hand enthusiasticly.

"May Allah guide us all to adorn the Niqaab in the best and most correct way and also guide us to lower our gazes from that which is not permissible to gaze at."
Khadija added. She hugged Safwa, smiling at her she pulled away.
"I'm so proud to call you my sister in law."

"And I'm so glad to have you as my sister in law"

After preforming Thuhr, the male and female guests, as well as Safwa's family proceeded to the venue of the Walima ,it was not far from home so everyone enjoyed ,walking in the slightly breezy wind. Only Khair and Safwa remained behind ,waiting for the girls to come downstairs.

"Ya Allah what is taking them so long!", Shaakir whined.

Khair chuckled , seeing his annoyed expression.
" Patience is a virtue Bro ".

"Indeed it is but, I am warning you women really test your patience. They will tell you they will be out in five minutes , you will wait in the car ...and wait and wait and wait and continue waiting, to such an extent you will die waiting, your body will decay and only your skeleton will be left and then only they will come out"

Khair rolled his eyes at Shaakir's dramatics. "You speak as if you are married" .

"I have a sister", Shaakir defended.

"And so do I , she never makes me wait till I feel like I'm about to die. "

"Then your sister is one of a kind".

"What was that?", Khair questioned , bemused.

Shaakir laughed." No no I didn't mean it like that. Chill dude."

Khair smirked.

"Finally ! " Shaakir yelled.

Khair turned towards the house , he saw six women clad in abayas and Niqaab walking down the stairs but, he didn't see Safwa.

"Where's Safwa ?", he asked Shaakir.

Shaakir shrugged," maybe she's having second thoughts."

Khair glared at him.

Shaakir laughed. "just kidding man"

Khadija tapped Khair's arm.
"Let's go"

"Where's my wife?"

"Right next to me ".

Khair saw Safwa , clad in a Jilbaab and Niqaab, but failed to recognise her.

"Khadija I'm serious!"

" I'm also serious !", she laughed.

"Safwa speak to him will you ? He won't believe me. "

"Can we please go now." Safwa urged, suddenly feeling flustered.

His eyes widened.
"Safwa ! "

" I hope you don't mind , I've started wearing the Niqaab today."

Khair shook his head, a smile formed on his lips.
"Why would I mind? You are fulfilling the command of Allah, and you are concealing your beauty only for me , I couldn't be happier! " he grinned.

Safwa sighed in relief, and silently thanked Allah.
That went well !

"Aww who knew my little brother could say such sweet things."
Khadija pulled his cheeks.

"Hey !", he swatted her hand away.

Khair opened the back door for Safwa, she sat in, Khair walked closed the door, then walked around sitting next to her. Shaakir jumped into the drivimg seat, flashing Safwa a teasing smile.

Khair tapped his shoulder, "sorry Bro I can't occupy the passenanger seat anymore, I'd rather sit next to my dear wife, you are going to be our driver now."

Safwa laughed , and Shaakir scowled.
"Hey control your speech that's my sister that you are calling dear! "

Khair chuckled.
"Close your eyes my dear!", he drawled, purposely annoying Shaakir.

"Why?"

"It's a surprise , now close", he put his hand over her eyes.

She was sure it was only two minutes she was sitting in the car, when Shaakir switched off the engine.

"We're here!" She heard Khair's voice. She couldn't see a thing , his hand was still over her eyes.

"What ! That was so fast ! "

"Can I see now".

"No just, let me help you out of the car. You will walk with me, only when I say open your eyes , you will"

Safwa nodded. She got off the car with Khair's help. He put his free arm around her shoulders, his other hand still blocking her eyes.

"You enjoying this way too much !" Safwa mumbled, embarrassed.

Khair chuckled. "Of course I am dear wifey."

After a few minutes, he removed his hand from her eyes, freeing her shoulders he held her hand. She opened her eyes, blinking. She stared at the surprise infront of her. She was at the beach front , but not just that , in front of her were two huge tents, one for the men and one for the women, long tables were covered with white table cloths, turquoise overlays, and small orange flower arrarrangements, along with little shells that adorned the table, the table was surrounded with white wooden chairs, a turquoise ribbon tied on the top of the chair, an orange ribbon placed in the middle of the bow, a rope with either shells or star fish hung on the side of the chair. Guests already occupied some of the seats, some engrossed in their chatter, some savouring the taste of their favourite ice cream, some sipping fruit cocktails, and some strolled barefeet , enjoying the soft sand brushing between their toes.

Safwa grinned , so hysterically excited she was, without thinking where she was and what she was doing, she hugged Khair tightly, strartling him.
"Thank you! I love it ! A beach Walima was always my dream."

"Ahem!" , Shaakir cleared his throat, bringing Safwa back to her senses, she pulled back immediately, blushing in embarrassment.

Safwa scurried to the womens side, she caught sight of Khadija, immediately she walked over to her and engulfed her into a hug, knowing this was all her idea, she truly was happy she had Khadija as her sister in law. She pulled away smiling widely.

Khadija helped her take off her Jilbaab and Niqaab. She took Safwa to an opening in the side of the tent.
"Come out with me , the men can't see us on this side. I want to make a picture of you from the back, with Khair. He will be here any moment."

Safwa nodded. She stepped out of the tent, a smile graced her lips as the fimiliar salty ocean smell , wafted into her nose. She breathed in, enjoying the wind that hit her face. She stood beside the tent adorned in her blue dress that cascaded down her hips, and kissed the soft sea sand, like a flowing waterfall.

She praised and thanked Allah, she was so happy , so very happy ...now she truly understood there was no need to be afraid about arranged marriages for Allah is the One Who creates love between spouses , and In Sha Allah , Allah would place love and understanding between her and Khair. In Sha Allah.