"Aayatul Kursiyy is the greatest and most auspicious verse of the Holy Qur'an...", Arkaan said softly, his eyes gazing as if into space and lost in thought, as he remembered Hilya's voice: faint like the refreshing sounds of nature, the tip tap of rain droplets, the whistle of the breeze, the praises of arboreal songbirds, distinct yet a distance afar...sacred, holy and pure."But - it's meaning is not 'The verse of the Throne'."

"The Throne is the 'Arsh of Allah.. Kursiyy is literally a footstool. As according to the hadith of the holy Prophet, Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam; to the nearest meaning, the Kursiyy compared to the 'Arsh, is nothing but a ring, thrown in an open desert."

"..and yet, the expanse of the Kursiyy is that, it extends over the Seven Heavens and Earth! The Kursiyy spans the entire Universe!!!"

"How much more the 'Arsh of Allah?! Allah is the Creator of both, and it has been said by the learned religious scholars that, the Kursiyy is in front of the 'Arsh, and it's at the level of the feet!"Arkaan's voice resounded in everyone's ears.

It was as if they could see through his eyes what he seemed to be seeing; a Mighty and Domineering footstool, the size of which was unimaginable, stretching across the vast span of the Heavens and the Earth...Grand and Majestic!

Everyone looked on, as slowly, an enlightenment seemed to dawn upon them on the Greatness and Sovereignty of Allah, such Grandeur!

Fatima Az-Zahra who had a wide grin on her face before, now has a solemn expression as everyone else, who were lost in contemplation. She suddenly stood up in a daze and said, in a voice as clear as autumn breeze,"Can you tell us more about the 'Arsh of Allah, Arkaan? - We wish to comprehend the greatness of Allah..."

Arkaan looked calm as he silently observed his audience, who looked at him as intently as ever, like thirsty camels would an oasis: His heart was pounding though.

He only sincerely wished to correct Aasiyah, and clarify something of which he had little knowledge on, and yet...

It seemed the sincerity with which Arkaan spoke, had reached the hearts of everyone, even those watching from afar; and no one took offence to it, even Aasiyah. Rather, they all looked at him in curious suspense. Everyone of them was eager to hear more from Arkaan, especially Tasnîma whose eyes were wide open in shock and intrigue.

Arkaan didn't know whether it was the information itself, or how he spoke - with Hilya's eloquence, or even both; it seemed to have drawn the hearts and attention to himself.

Or perhaps, because he himself had strong conviction in all that he just said, to the extent of even seemingly seeing it in front of him as he talked. Either way, having garnered the attention of those present made him even more bolstered and gingered, with stronger confidence to speak more. This; we call 'Jazbah'!

"Comprehend the greatness of Allah? - Elder sister, that's simply impossible! So we're told in the narrations, 'Don't try to contemplate on the Dhâtillah, the Self of Allah, but contemplate on His creation if we would but ponder His greatness!"

"Haqq!!" Hajj Ya'qûb spoke calmly from where they were on the corridor, and yet, anyone could see he was anything but calm. His eyes twinkled like stars as he said,"What the boy said is true. Even in the Holy Qur'an, Allah draws us towards contemplating on the many signs of the Heavens and the Earth; That's the formula for understanding His greatness!!"

"Inna fii khalqis Samaawâti wal 'Ard
Wakhtilaafil layli wan Nahâri
La Aayatin li 'Ulil albâbi.."

"Alladhîna yadhkurûnallaha qiyaamaa
Wa qu 'uudanw wa 'alaa junuubihim
Wa yatafakkarûna fii khalqis Samaawâti wal 'Ardi
Rabbanaa maa khalaqta haazaa bâtilaa
Subhânaka faqinaa 'adhaaban naar!"

Lady Maryam who was standing by Lady Zulaykha recited the verses, explaining them,"Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding."

"Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire."

"Indeed,"Bibi Fatima said," The boy has taught us something today." Her eyes warm with praise.

"Even when the learned discuss on ahadith giving the expanse of the seven skies, anyone would be shocked."

Arkaan's words were eloquent and comprehensive, flowing like beads from a necklace,"It is said in the ahadith, and to the nearest meaning that, fifty thousand years before the creation of the Heavens and the Earth, Allah first created Al Qalam, the pen, and commanded it to write.."

"The pen asked 'O my Lord, what shall I write?' It was replied by the One whose Power and Glory is boundless across all time and space, He said 'Write the decree and whatever will throughout eternity...'!"

"Thus, the pen of destiny wrote down all fate and destiny of everything to be created, and to occur till the last day!..Wa kaana 'Arshuhu 'alal maa', and His Throne was over the water..."

Arkaan spoke like a holy saint, delivering a sermon on a mountain, all eyes were fixed on him as if they could vividly see what he was describing.

By now, even his trepidation was gone and he himself, was immersed in deep contemplation as he seemed to attain something of enlightenment on the Greatness of the Supreme Creator, Allah - The Lord of the Worlds!

"What the boy speaks of is also mentioned in a similar ahadith from Sahih Bukhari..", Lady Maryam said.

"Which hadith is that?" Lady Zulaykha asked curiously. Among Hajj Ya'qûb's three wives, it was no lie that Lady Maryam was the most learned amongst them all, though they all had knowledge of the Dîn. It was no surprise therefore, that her daughter took after her.

"Imraan ibn Husayn, may Allah be pleased with him narrated; some people from Yemen asked the Prophet, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, about how the matter was from the very beginning. He said: "There was Allah and nothing existed before Him, and His Throne was on the water. Then He created the heavens and the earth, and He wrote in all things in al-Lawh al-Mahfooz." "

"The Preserved Tablet in the Heavens!" Lady Zulaykha completed, her eyes shining.

"Look now, all the kids seem to be in a daze." Hajj Ya'qûb laughed,"Arkaan really has his ways."

"Good for them. I'm proud of the boy though. He did not give anyone the chance to look down upon him." Bibi Fatima added, fanning herself with a paper fan,"Even more interesting is his style of preaching.., it's almost as if he can see what he says before his very eyes."

"And not only that, but he dragged everyone into his vision with him. That only happens when you have full conviction in what you say, with no doubts attached. The level of Yaqîn!!"

"You mean, the boy has reached the realm of certainty in faith?" Lady Maryam asked curiously.

"Only Allah can tell. But his words carry the feel of it to it. No liar can reach such level!"

"True, a true Mu'min does not lie!"

"I only hope when the time comes, and in shaa Allah, 'Inâbah is revived, when they go to face the Eastern Waterfall, and many competitions after that, he performs no less than he's done today. He really is a child full of surprises. One may doubt his true abilities until personally having an encounter with him." Hajj Ya'qûb commented, his heart sighing in contentment.

Arkaan didn't know it, but in that short time of the competition held, he had marked himself indelibly into the heart of all the Al Maghribi household present; both the elder generation, and the younger one now had a deep impression of him. If at first, they were merely curious about him, then now, they were already developing something of awe towards him. His speech on the greatness of Allah had such profound effects on the heart!

"Now I wonder who's going to take the chores. They seem evenly matched even now." Bibi Fatima stated, her grin reaching her eyes.

It was a little while before Ismaîl awoke from the reverie, and looked at Arkaan with praise.

Everyone would have loved to continue on this discourse, including the silent Hayaa. Even the raucous brothers were calmly contemplating...

For Arkaan, his understanding on all this, was based on the research he'd done, through Hilya's indirect influence.

As for his knowledge on Aayatul Kursiyy, it was after the time he had met her and she recited it, in the Burning forest, he immediately understood - it was no small verse! He did his research personally on that verse, even while at his grandfather's. Afterall, his mother had already persuaded him to memorize it when he was young.

The rest of the ahadith he had mentioned, was among ahadith he had come across in his previous night all-night reading and research. It was one of those things about the creation of Allah that attracted him.

Arkaan was also such that, when he spoke about something he strongly believed in, it was as if he could see it before himself; and even his audience, based on the truth in his words would likewise view it in their mind's eye...

Ismaîl continued,"It seems younger brother Arkaan here is quite the Da'ī, a caller to Allah! In shaa Allah, one of these days, we'll invite you to speak in one of our Taalim sessions."

"As for Aasiyah's answer, since she gave the name of the verse accurately, though her understanding was not so, I would still give the girls the point for that. I hope none of you mind." He turned to Zak and Arkaan. They quickly shook their heads.

Maryam sighed in relief within her heart, though she appeared calm on the surface. That was a close shave.

She had suddenly began to fear the consequences of losing. It never came to her mind at first because, perhaps she believed she was at the very least on par with Zak. But now, with the emergence of Arkaan, she had to be cautious and thread carefully, that was as long as she was averse to the idea of doing the boys' laundry and seeing things. She shivered.

She looked at Arkaan with a new glint in her eyes, the boy couldn't be underestimated. Even as her competitive spirit became thicker, her general demeanour became more calm as she collected her thoughts. She didn't know why, but she absolutely didn't want to lose this contest to Zak and - Arkaan! She looked at the comely youth in front of her once again, his face carried to it an innocent look. It made her heart shake, there was something about him that wasn't right, something which whenever she saw him, caused her heart to try to - remember..

"Now we move unto the round of ahadith; memorization, comprehension, knowledge on narrators and isnaad..." Everyone silently agreed on it.

At this point, once again, the fire and ice brother-sister duo took over the stage. Uptill now, there was no evident weakness on any of the teams, and even Arkaan took them on surprise. Unless something happened to change the flow, the only thing that would be noteworthy, would be Arkaan's speech on Allah's greatness...

The second round also ended in a draw, as Maryam seemed equally on par with Zak who was a genius on hadith; though, when it got to the naming of chain of narrators, whilst Zak said it fluently like water, Maryam sometimes had to think for a while, and even mention the names one by one, to be perfectly sure of her answers.

Zak's forte was ahadith, but Maryam also had hers...

The final round began on Seerah. Seerah was the biography of the Holy Prophet, Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, and the events that happened in his life history.

It was in this round that the tie was broken suddenly...

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Maasha Allah, this is one of three crescents I've been working on lately, but I'm going to release them in a roughly weekly period, in shaa Allah.

So enjoy a steady ride!

Fatima Az-Zahra