Salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu. Alhamdulilaah, this is another chapter; I hope you enjoy it. I've already added a picture of what comes to mind for the 'Sky Legacy Haven'( although in a bigger style, and with the breathtaking nature Royals would like to present, even in their efforts to make things simple :-D ) in the previous chapter. In shaa Allah, so we can all have an idea of it; but if your imagination is wild, I'd say stick to it. Why not?!

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"Lughatul-Arabiyyah, Tilâwah, Tajweed, Tahfiz with Murâjah, and Tafsir...That's basically what you guys would be teaching and learning in your Qur'an study circles, considering the knowledge of Zakariyya and Ukashah. That's only as far as you guys can go, that's if you were to revive your halaqah without a scholar to the level of Sheikh Inaayat."

A man in his midforties said, in all seriousness. This man had eyes that shone like stars, profound eyes that looked archaic and wise, yet his dignifying countenance looked younger than his actual age.

Clad in his extremely white garbs, coupled with a full dense beard that had a few white strands interlaced, this man possessed a charisma that would attract people's attention, and make anyone want to listen to and obey him!

He was generally a very tidy man, clever-looking, with an impressive countenance.

Perfume seemed to exude from his person to fill the room in which he was. He radiated a sense of Hikmah(sagacity) and sabr(patience). This gave him a domineering and profound aura without even trying, one that would distinguish him wherever he went.

Arkaan sat crosslegged, facing this elderly man, with awe and reverence clearly written on his face as he listened intently. He seemed to have forgotten that the elderly man was not the only one in the room.
Even all the Al Maghribi brothers, seated around the sufrah, were listening intently to their father, Hajj Ya'qûb as he spoke on halaqât. The food was getting cold...

"Perhaps, when you resume school, you could also reform the halaqât there, which form a part of your extracurricular activities. You'd then have a chance to participate in the Inter-High School Qur'an Musâbaqah!" Hajj Ya'qûb said, a light shining in his eyes.

The kids wouldn't have known what he was thinking, even as he deliberately encouraged them on reviving the Qur'an halaqah, and laid out the plans for them. He loved the Qur'an, and he loved to see the youth dedicate themselves, not only to learning and memorization of it, but also, practising and the propagation of it.
What is the use of learning and memorizing the Holy Book, if one was not going to show a proof of it through the actions, and impact upon others through it!

Thus, it was with all effort and passion that he inspired them," Having a win in such a major provincial event would grant you the qualifications to stand in the Grand Qur'an Ramadan Competition!" By this time, everyone in the room, around the sufrah, had their eyes glistening with fervour at Hajj Ya'qûb's words.

Hajj Ya'qûb laughed in his heart...children will always be children afterall, even his eldest son, Ismail was looking on, with yearn and desire.

But you see, it wasn't their fault afterall, Who didn't know about the 'Grand Qur'an Ramadan Competition'?! - Where all the people from around all seven provincial cities would gather to a grand competition, like the 'Celebration of the Holy Qur'an'!!!

There, great geniuses of Qur'an, who people had only ever heard legends of, would emerge. New black horses, unknown to the world would suddenly appear in challenge. It was a time, the expression 'Passionate celebration of the Holy Scripture' was practically expressed by all the people of Al Qalb-ul-Ard, and even people from beyond, attended. Great dignitaries from surrounding Nations were invited.

It was a competition of Tilâwah, Hifz-ul-Qur'an, Sawt, indepth understanding of the Qur'an verses, and...The Heart!!! Held every year in the month of Ramadan, among major national events celebrated, it was the most patronized and festive by all the people.

This was especially so, as Ramadan was the month of the Holy Qur'an, and hearts were softened, and seeking to increase good deeds and attain blessings.

"And you guys know what opportunities that would present, right?..." Hajj Ya'qûb looked at Arkaan and his sons with meaning.

Zak looked calm on the outside, but within, his heart was all fires and excitement. 'The Grand Qur'an Ramadan Competition' - the prospects for even qualifying were many, as it was personally supervised by the Country's Royal Family, - the least being the enrollment of all qualified participants in the College of King Dhul Qarnayn, the premiere tertiary institution in the whole country, under sponsorship of King Dhul Qarnayn himself! Even with the wealth of the Al Maghribi family, the qualifications for getting enrolled were extremely difficult! This was enough to show how grandeur of a school the College was.

Even all his brothers were willing to join it. Ismail had gone to a different college in the city of Yâ Sîn. In all their family, Ishaq was the first to have gotten admission to the esteemed school due to his brilliant performance in his final year High school examination, he was quite the exceptional student. He would usually return home during the vacation and fill their ears and hearts with the chronicles of the prestigious College, creating in them a yearning ambition to enroll there. The second to enroll was Zak's own full elder sister, the perspicacious Fatima Az-Zahra!

Now that Musa and Harun were preparing to write their final papers, they would literally dream of the legendary indomitable iron mountain-gates of the school every single time they dozed off in their late night studies - this was enough to keep them waking, and motivated to learn.

But something else was what sure caught all their attention and even Ismail had to show overt desire...

Zak sighed. In the past, that was to be their moment of truth- in the Grand Qur'an Ramadan Competition. But it had all gone done the drain by just one event! It wasn't that they weren't fit - it was just that they went out too far.

Zak knew that winning wasn't going to be easy, even if they were the famous five Quraa. That was because, there were others like them or even greater, with soulful recitations that would seem to possess the potency of cleaving the skies and causing angels to descend, whilst bringing about miraculous changes only prayers of the righteous would evoke, not to talk of the effect on the human heart. It was just that, theirs seemed to have taken the spotlight for the time.

Zak remembered two guys who were remembered from the year they would have represented Tâ Hâ, Irshad Ibn Aswad and Jârullah Ibn Luqmân, both from the city Sâd. Zayn-al-Aabidîn personally met Irshad, and was left in awe by the boy. That was before he suddenly disappeared...

Hajj Ya'qûb looked at the boys as they fell into silent contemplation. He smiled.

Actually, all he was saying was just to fuel their desire, and increase their determination, on the path to reviving 'Inâbah', the South district's halaqah.

Since the scholar, Sheikh Inaayat had left, a once fervent youthful generation that sought the understanding of the Holy Scriptures, its practice and propagation had declined. Till only his son, Zakariyya, and Ukashah were left. All this saddened his heart, and Allah knows how many more hearts were dampened.

With the light of learning and seeking knowledge of the Holy Scriptures gone, especially the Qur'an, the once flourishing conduct and attitude of the youth had degenerated.

Also, the once famous South district which he represented in the council hall was on the down. To him, it didn't matter how people thought about the South district which he represented; to him, he cared more about how the district as a whole would progress, and thus, the city too. But, attitude was key!

Though he had knowledge of how the Qur'an influences positive attitude, through the learning and teaching of its correct methodology, he had only gotten to see it live, and practically demonstrated when Sheikh Inaayat Al Iskandarī arrived in the South district and opened up a halaqah of the Qur'an.

That was the first time in the district, and had sparked off an age of study circles and learning in the once depraved city of Tâ Hâ, which was considered backwater amongst all the seven provincial cities, in terms of knowledge and development in the land of Al Qalb-ul-Ard.

The four competitive native tribes later on, invited over several scholars, to rival the South. The East and North districts then followed suit. The scholar then added a halaqah of ahadith, and then other sciences of the Dîn, lighting fire in the others' hearts, particularly the four tribes who were growing irritant at the South's progress. It became like a competition, but the entire city benefited as a whole.

It became the top subject to be discussed in the city hall meetings. With much raging fervour and excitement, as well as fierce rivalry, the councilmen would brag, provoke, and challenge, as they sang their own praises in overweening boast; this attitude was taken to a whole new overbearingly pompous level by the people in their various districts, and the city as a whole!

Sure enough, the city Tâ Hâ was gradually gaining fame outside, and was causing an uproar to the rest of Al Qalb-ul-Ard, the height of which was, the appearance of the five Quraa of Tâ Hâ; all students of Sheikh Inaayat who had received Ijaazah(certificate) and Tazkir(written approval to recite, and transmit the teaching), all in their very young age: ones who could rival the top geniuses in the entire country.

Inaayat was a Mu'allim, and had the right to confer such an honour upon approved students due to his level of scholarship. Apart from being a certified Qaari and Haafiz himself, he was a qualified Mujtahid and Mufassir, among his many other qualifications; if not for his polite rejection, Tâ Hâ would have even made him their Qâdí. And so everyone trusted his judgement.

Matters reached climax when the five of his approved students appeared in the densely populated urban towns of Hâ Mîm and recited the Qur'an for the first time. Only one of them was enough to cause the whole gathering to shake,...but with all five of them, a national uproar!

The profound effects and understanding they had attained was mindboggling. At that time, the oldest amongst them was fifteen, the youngest being just thirteen years - Zayn-al-Aabidîn, who was also one of the two echelon and cream of the group!

This was about the time Sheikh Inaayat suddenly disappeared, before the group even had a chance in the Grand Qur'an Ramadan Competition. Heartbroken and empty, over sorrow of separation, many left, leaving only Zakariyya and Ukashah.

Till now, no one knows why the scholar left, and it has only remained a mystery...

After that, whilst learning continued to flourish in the West, East, and North districts, the South had declined.

"Abii, if that's so, wouldn't it be better to hire a scholar for the South district halaqah, like the other halaqât have?!" Abdullah's little voice sounded, a little bit at the other end from his father.

With a doting smile on his awe-inspiring face, Hajj Ya'qûb said," With students to the level of Zakariyya and Ukashah, it's more than enough to revive Inâbah!" Abdullah had always been one inquisitive kid, and reasoned like a grown-up, sometimes; not easily gullible. Knowing this was not enough for the little kid's full comprehension, he continued," Both pupils of Sheikh Inaayat have long since passed the level they could began even forming their own halaqât, and teaching others, even for their young age!"

Having said that, he looked over at Zakariyya with a doting expression. Zak smiled back at his father, already used to his father's constant praises.

"Zakariyya has already also excelled in ahadith and sunnah, the traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, sallalaahu alayhi Wa sallam. This would be advantageous to you guys."

"Once in a while, you can organize a halaqah, apart from that of the Qur'an. There, you can learn Seerah, Hadith, Sunnah, Târeeh, discourses of the salaf, and even fiqh, when you have the chance!"

"You already have the Ijaazah for that, right - Zakariyya?" Casting a radiant smile at Zak, Hajj Ya'qûb spoke.

"Na'am, Abii...",Zak said nodding, feeling a bit embarrassed now. Amongst all his brothers, he was the most advanced in learning the Qur'an and ahadith. It was a fact, undeniable.

Perhaps in the whole Al Maghribi family, none held a candle up to him in the younger generation, except - Maryam!

"As for the halaqah of Qur'an, Ukashah can perfectly take care of that, In shaa Allah." Hajj Ya'qûb continued assuredly.

"At least, at their level, the basics and some more important lessons should be tackled. As you go ahead, once you all get the chance to advance your studies, you can go on to add Ulûm-al-Qur'an, and others... Though I know Sheikh Inaayat already took the former Inâbah through all that."

He sighed, remembering the sweet memories, "Back in the day, he first started with the circle of the Qur'an, then later on added the other sciences as time progressed."

"It got to a time, the other council elders got frustrated and exhausted in their vainful rivalry, then - they wanted to make things difficult for Al Iskandarī, Hmph!" Hajj Ya'qûb gave a cold snort as he remembered how he cornered those senile old dotards.