ﻭَﺑَﺸِّﺮِ ٱﻟَّﺬِﻳﻦَ ءَاﻣَﻨُﻮا۟ ﻭَﻋَﻤِﻠُﻮا۟ ٱﻟﺼَّٰﻠِﺤَٰﺖِ ﺃَﻥَّ ﻟَﻬُﻢْ ﺟَﻨَّٰﺖٍ ﺗَﺠْﺮِﻯ ﻣِﻦ ﺗَﺤْﺘِﻬَﺎ ٱﻷَْﻧْﻬَٰﺮُ ۖ ﻛُﻠَّﻤَﺎ ﺭُﺯِﻗُﻮا۟ ﻣِﻨْﻬَﺎ ﻣِﻦ ﺛَﻤَﺮَﺓٍ ﺭِّﺯْﻗًﺎ ۙ ﻗَﺎﻟُﻮا۟ ﻫَٰﺬَا ٱﻟَّﺬِﻯ ﺭُﺯِﻗْﻨَﺎ ﻣِﻦ ﻗَﺒْﻞُ ۖ ﻭَﺃُﺗُﻮا۟ ﺑِﻪِۦ ﻣُﺘَﺸَٰﺒِﻬًﺎ ۖ ﻭَﻟَﻬُﻢْ ﻓِﻴﻬَﺎٓ ﺃَﺯْﻭَٰﺝٌ ﻣُّﻄَﻬَّﺮَﺓٌ ۖ ﻭَﻫُﻢْ ﻓِﻴﻬَﺎ ﺧَٰﻠِﺪُﻭﻥ

"But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that their portion is Gardens, beneath which rivers flow. Every time they are fed with fruits therefrom, they say: "Why, this is what we were fed with before," for they are given things in similitude; and they have therein companions pure (and holy); and they abide therein (for ever)."
(Aaya 25, Surah Al Baqara)

Marriage is a bed of roses , yes but, even the most beautiful roses have thorns. In order to make a marriage work, many sacrifices have to be made, many faults have to be overlooked , your spoouses feelings  have to be taken into consideration, you have to accommodate for one another , to make one another comfortable, you have to walk hand in hand , through the rose garden, trying your best to avoid the thorns,  each beautiful rose has a thorn , yet it still remains beautiful and admired ,  for the roses attraction is so great , that the prickly thorn is ignored. The way we ignore the thorn on the rose , and focus on the beauty of the rose , we need to ignore one another's mistakes and focus on the good habits of one another. Love,trust, friendship, understanding, and most importantly , obedience to Allah Ta'allah is what makes a relationship last.  Assisting one another in deen, entering Jannah, hand in hand , that is what couples should aspire.

Shabana was not immune to living the life of a wife, it was all a new experience to her , for she had experienced motherhood even before becoming a wife. Although it was not a walk in the park to get used to her new life , Hamza tried his best to make it easier for her. He was a kind, gentle and patient person, he had a soft heart, and he was an amazing father to Raees. Although it was only a month that they were married, Raees had bonded so well with Hamza, he looked upto him as a fatherly figure, he even began calling him daddy. When Hamza had first heard him calling him daddy, he was overjoyed and Shabana was over the moon , for she had been afraid that it would be very difficult for Raees to adjust
She could never thank Allah enough for His kindness and mercy. If she hadn't turned to the right path , she didn't know where she would be. It was only through the infinite grace and bounty of Allah Ta'allah that she was , where she was at the present moment .

She felt peace flowing  through her entire body , as she prostrated before Allah, thankful that she was amongst those who were rightly guided. After completing Salaah, she remained seated on her musallah, making thikr and reciting Quraan. She folded her musallah and as usual , made her way to the balcony , to watch the rising sun.

She slid the doors open, inhaling the fresh, unpolluted, morning air , refreshing  her brain, and cooling her mind. She placed a blanket down , sat cross legged , with her hand under her chin , she gazed at the beautiful sight of the sun rising. Hues of red , orange, and gold , slowly streaked the horizon , leaving her awestruck at the beauty. She stood up , gazing at the hubbub of the city , watching as  many people scurried around , waving down taxis, leaving for work.

She felt two strong arms wrap around her waitst, causing her to jump in fright. Hamza chuckled , and kissed her head.

"Relax habibti it's just me ".

She blushed at the endearment, and smiled, content with her life partner. She snuggled closer to his chest and he tightened his grip around her waist.

"Do you always come out on the balcony, after fajr , or is it only since we are married?"

She shook her head.

"I always come out , I love watching the sun rise , it's so beautiful , and the morning air is so refreshing".

He smiled, and turned her around so that , she was facing him, his arms still wound around her waist.

"Aah , I see but, you know what is a beautiful sight for me early in the morning?"

She shook her head .

" No , please do tell me".

"Seeing you wake up in the morning , your eyes still droopy with sleep , your hair like a birds nest, drool on the side of your mouth, wobbling to the bathroom to make wudhu" , he teased.

She huffed , hitting his chest , she  pouted.

" That's not funny !"

"I don't even drool!"

She blushed in embarrassment, then buried her face in his chest. She felt his chest vibrating, as he laughed silently.

"I'm just kidding with you my love. Waking up to your beautiful face every day  fills my heart with joy , seeing you smile is such a refreshing sight. Indeed the creation of Allah is mesmerisingly beautiful, but in my eyes you are the most beautiful of them all."

She looked up at him, tears of joy filled her eyes. She blushed prettily , then buried  her face back into his chest, hiding her blush.

" Don't hide your pretty blush , Habibti, I like it when your cheeks turn rosy".

He lifted her chin , then kissed both her cheeks , causing  it to turn a darker shade of red.

"Mummmyyyy ", Raees's scream drew them out of their little moment , they both sprinted to the room, their hearts racing along with their legs.

" What's the matter ?" , Shabana asked, panicked.

She quickly switched the light on, and found Raees on the floor, face down, sobbing silently.
She quickly picked him up , and hugged him.

" Shh , don't worry, it's okay" . She rubbed his back , soothingly.

" Did you have a bad dream , my boy?" He nodded and began crying again.

Hamza touched Shabana's shoulder lightly. " Habibti , do not panick , I think he hurt himself when he fell off the bed, his forehead is cut."

She gasped and pulled him away, she saw a deep cut on his forehead , naturally when her son got hurt , she began panicking.

Hamza picked Raees up with one hand and squeezed Shabana's hand with the other.

" The cut is deep ! ", she said with a panicked voice.

"  Calm down , it's deep but it's not such a big cut. Bring me the first aid kit. "

She nodded , rushed into the bathroom , bringing the kit along with her. Hamza put the kit down and hugged her.

" He's fine, don't panic"  She nodded , calming down a little.

" Why don't you go and get him some water, while I clean up his wound", he knew that Shabana couldn't see blood. She gave him an appreciative smile and left the room.

* * *

Shabana fried the eggs, whilst humming to herself. Hamza had cleaned up the wound and was now helping Raees brush and wash up, while she prepared breakfast. Since it was a Sunday , and they both were not working, they decided to take Raees out for the day.

Shabana placed the eggs on the plate and popped the sausages into the frying pan to steam. She decided to wash up the dishes she used while , the sausages got done. 

"Hello beautiful ", Hamza hugged her from the back, whispering in her ear.

She smiled at him.

" Do you need any help ?" , he offered.

"Yes , please can you set the table for me". He nodded, but still didn't loosen his grip around her.

" Hamza! ", she whined.

" I want my reward for helping you out ", he said , a mischievous glint in his eye.

She swatted his hands.
" Raees is awake !".

" He's in his room , playing with his cars".

She shook her head and smiled.
" Go and set the table quickly  please" , she batted her eyelashes.

He huffed  and loosened his grip,
but not before pecking her cheek. She giggled in response, then quickly turned around , stood on the tips of her toes and kissed his cheek.

He smirked at her, them walked towards her, she walked backwards . He moved further and she squeled , running out of the kitchen, and into the living room.

"Hey !", Hamza chased her around the couch , while she giggled like a little girl. Finally he caught her and they both collapsed onto the couch , Shabana encaged in his arms.

"Gotcha ! ", he tickled her sides . She begged for mercy.

She blushed, putting her hands against his chest.

" Hamza , please let me go"

"Okay " , he kissed her nose , then sat up, setting her free.

" Oh gosh !", her eyes widened. Raees stood by the living room door, a look of amusement on his face.

  Hamza chuckled.

" Hey little man ".

He picked him up and put him on his shoulders.

" Hamza , I told you Raees is awake !" Shabana mumbled under her breath.

" So what ", he shrugged.

"Daddy , daddy ! Kiss my nose  like how you kissed mummy's  !" Hamza laughed.

"Sure my boy !"

" Oh god ! " , Shabana shook her head , and walked out of the living room, leaving behind her chuckling husband.

She ended up setting the table on her own, as Raees kept Hamza occupied, showing him his new collection of marbles. She smiled hearing father and son, conversing in the lounge.
Alhamdulillah! Raees may not have  got the love of his very own father, but Hamza loved him more than his own father ever did  and she loved him even more for that.

Hamza walked in with little Raees on his back.

"Hey darling !" Shabana smiled.

"Hey darling ",Raees repeated grinning at his mother.

They  both laughed , Shabana walked over to Raees and pecked his cheek.
"Hey my dear"

" How's your forehead now ", she gestured to the plaster on his head.

"Better , it's just a little bit sore still ".

Shabana smiled, and patted his head.
"You're my brave little boy ", she pecked his cheek once again , and turned to leave, but Hamza tugged her by her arm. She turned around and laughed when she saw him pouting.

"Yes ?", she asked folding her arms.

" Raees my boy , don't you think mummy is being so unfair ? She gave you two kisses  on both your cheeks, but not even a kiss on one cheek for daddy, even though daddy is also a brave boy !"

"Hamza!", Shabana warned.

Raees laughed. " Daddy is jealous !"

Hamza tickled his sides. Raees wriggled and laughed .
"Noo daddy ! Ppp...lease  's ss toppp "

"No you called daddy jealous , when you were supposed to be on my side !"

"Okayyy...sorry !"

Hamza stopped and narrowed his eyes at Shabana, as they settled upon their respective  chairs.

"Love, please can I have some juice !" Raees asked, causing his parents to laugh once again .

Shabana shook her head.
"Raees I'm your mother , call me mum."

Shabana smiled , praising Allah in her heart. Alhamdulillah for a beautiful family, Alhamdulillah for all the good times , Alhamdulillah for the joy after the difficulty, Alhamdulillah for the rainbow after the rain.