"Isn't it obvious!"Arafat felt hilarious,"He's the Snitch!" Indeed, people do recognize their comrades in crime.

At once, everyone understood the story behind what was going on. Abdullah had probably caught the gang stealing the old man's luscious fruits from his backyard, and had threatened them with reporting.

Such a vile way to manipulate his fellow peers! He is literally using their fears against them.

Zak sighed. He was about to say something, when Ukashah caught in.

"Since that's so. You guys have no other choice but to be a part of our halaqah.." He said it so coolly, it felt like something natural anyone would say.

Only, - everyone else's mouth among those seated were left in gaping mode, except of course Abdullah who's smiled had suddenly seemed to spread to the very heavens themselves. I knew he'd support me, Akhii Ukash..

Arkaan was in his stupor. Just how far would Ukashah go in manipulating people, and using them just to form the South district halaqah?!

Was he for real?

Even Zak by this time, had noticed Ukashah's enigmatic tactics. The boy was refined, but actually possessed this slyness to him. How comehe never saw it during the time their Ustadh was around?

He only remembered how Ukashah would bully the notorious boys into submission. But now, this form of bullying was too much especially for it to come from Ukashah.

Seeing Ukashah's placid expression, even after saying what he said, Zak didn't know the difference of crying or laughing anymore. Whilst it was a hilarious case, it was also piteous - for those who were his victims.

With their last hope gone, the boys had no other option but to sit, as the circle was opened wider for everyone to be accommodated.

Soon enough, it was a large circle of about nearing half a hundred. That part of the masjid was actually large enough that, even such a number could still be considered small.

Ukashah later made the boys sit in concentric forms, facing him as he addressed them,

"I know most of you are here with grievances in your hearts, and unwillingness to be here right now.

So I'm going to give you all a time limit. You don't have to be part of this halaqah forever.

It may even come a day when all of you may decide and leave, and - no one would stop you!

But then, I wish to make a deal with you all. If you accept, you'll see that you're on a profitable side, no matter what you choose.

Six days..

Only six days, stay here after every fajr Salah for an hour or two, to learn something of the Qur'an and Sunnah. If after six days, you still wish to leave, then fine. No one would stop you.

Also, whatever strings by which you were chained down here in this halaqah.., we'll gladly help you resolve in an amiable manner.

Just six days. Be punctual and regular, then you'll have your freedom.."

At this, the whole group was silent. Even Arafat was left silent. He didn't know what Ukashah was playing at, but if the jaded boy thought he could permanently entice them to willingly stay in the halaqah within six days, then he was having a wishful thinking.

Even if he could enthrall the kids, he Arafat was no youngster to be easily manipulated with sweets like a two-year old!

"We agree to your terms and conditions,"Arafat gave a sly smile,"Only, ..you must not go back on your words!"

It seemed the little kids were looking up to Arafat as their speaker. The guy had easily attracted the kids to become his minions by his earlier bragging. The boys seemed to admire his escapades with the Old man Hao.

"I never go back on my words." Ukashah's voice frosted over, making the whole gathering as silent as the dead of winter.

Arkaan laughed in his heart, he didn't know why he was suddenly enjoying the show. He felt this bargain between teacher and student was such an epic way to start the halaqah. He was suddenly interested in the wager. What was going to be the end result of this seemingly binding contract? What tricks did Ukashah really have up his sleeve?

Was he just being overconfident, did he not really care, or was there really something he knew the others did not? Arkaan looked at the reactions around.

Even the usually chirping Abdullah had calmed down. What was that saying again, When the Nightingale opens its mouth to sing, what has the Crow left but to caw in shame. Or was it just he making it up?

Within the next moment, Arkaan had his sight filled with a white cloth like a curtain, hanging. It completely covered the minbar of the masjid that was previously in front of them.

Apparently, it was always there. Just that, it had been folded to the top. After Ukashah released its bonds though, the beautiful white and plain canvas came rolling down, exposing a beautiful art in Arabic calligraphy.

In cursive writing, a masterpiece, it read;

الرَّحْمَٰنُ
عَلَّمَ الْقُرْآن

"The Most Merciful God.. Taught the Qur'an.."Arkaan murmured, seemingly in a trance.
These were words that he had known, only because, the first time he had heard them, and later read their meanings, they had struck a cord in his heart.

Ukashah and Zak smiled, seeing the contemplative state all the boys had easily sank into. Abdullah included.

Even those who did not understand the meaning of the Arabic words were left in a stupor, and fell into a contemplative state. It was as if their very hearts were drawn into the writing, though they did not understand the meaning.

That time, when the halaqah first started and their Ustadh exposed the calligraphy to them, they were all left stunned.
That time, only one person had tears flowing from his eyes.

Their Ustadh had said,"

This art piece is one my master carried on his person since the days of our Qur'an halaqah.

It has no known ownership till my master was gifted it by an old travelling monk, only that at the bottom was inscribed the words,

Heaven's Gathering Clouds..

Thus, it's been passed through to two generations now. We were the first, you're the second..

The Ustadh looked round at the faces of his just newly enrolled halaqah disciples. All of them were without a doubt, deeply moved by the calligraphy.

"Zayn",he called to the boy who obviously was at a disadvantage in seeing the art piece,"Come and feel the words.."

Apparently, the calligrapher had made room for even a blind person, by using an embossed canvas for his work. Also, since Hilya had helped train Zayn in reading braille, it was no feat for him.

The beautiful blind boy passed his hand over the words carefully, as if the very words possessed life, and he wanted to connect with them.

Before anyone knew it, tears started flowing from the boy's eyes, and he held unto the words touchingly, as if filled with emotion upon finally attaining union with a long lost beloved one.

"Zayn, you.."The scholar looked at his disciple who had been his travelling companion all along.
Throughout his travels with Zayn, he had never once exposed this canvas to him. So this was also the boy's first time witnessing the writing.

If he had encountered it before, he'd have said, he had had enough time than everyone else, to decipher the profundity behind the words. But it was not so..

Al-Iskandarī sighed,"When my master first showed it to us, we were all affected like you lads, but - ..only one amongst us had shed tears that day.

Our master said, each had his own understanding of the verses, and what they implied to him.

But if a person truly grasped the profundity of the 'Rahma'(mercy) of Ar-Rahmân by His 'teaching' of mankind the Qur'an,

One would surely be overwhelmed by appreciation of the Holy Book and the One who revealed it.

Nothing less than tears would show of one's realization..

The Ustadh continued as if in resignation of the past,"That disciple had gone on to become the best amongst us. Till now, even though we of our master's halaqah all excelled in our disciplines, Zeeshan was unreachable. If he was the sun, then we were, - merely stars.."

The boys couldn't believe it. So even their outstanding teacher of a scholar was not the prime student of his batch??! Then who at all was this Zeeshan?

At this realization, all the boys turned to look at the only one in their generation who had tears flowing from his eyes.. Yet, ..those eyes were blind.

Like this, Zayn went on to become the number one disciple of their halaqah, and even though they four had shone, he still seemed to shine brighter than them.

The only exception was Abdul, who actually was said to be on par with Zayn. But everyone knew, this was not entirely true.. If Abdul were a star that could reach the heights of all in the generation of their era, then Zayn was the heavenly vaults itself. If he wanted, he could contain that star, and it'll be forever underneath him!

Looking round at the faces of all the boys present now, not a single eye was wet with tears. Ukashah sighed, and so did Zak.

This is the third generation to see this from Ustadh's time...

Seems the standards have fallen.. Not even one person of this generation of the halaqah had shed tears. Not even one person had grasped some profundity in it..

"Within the six days, you guys would only have an ahadith session where you'd learn the virtues of the Qur'an.

All the while, spending a few moments of the time to contemplate on this writing.

If you achieved an answer during that time to the question I'd ask you, then we'd begin active Qur'an studies. If not, when the time elapses and you still don't have an answer, of course you're still free to go."

"Wait, Akhii. So you mean no Qur'an studies during this time we'll be meeting here."Abdullah asked inquisitively.

"Uhmm."Ukashah nodded his head."No Qur'an studies till that time.

Even if the time reaches, and you still want to stay. Until you've your answer, you'll not be able to continue with us."

Arkaan scratched his neck at this. Why did this all look so familiar?.. Then it clicked.

Dammit! This is no doubt, Al-Iskandarī's method of teaching!!!

Even before he had the chance to raise objections, they heard the distinct sound of an instrument outside.

The sound flowed into the masjid in such melody, the gathering could not proceed due to it.

Distractions again? Zak wondered why the very first meeting in revival of their halaqah was being interrupted again. Although it was somewhat different this time, yet just because of its nature, it was simply unacceptable.

Ukashah was stunned for a sec..Is this.. - Music in the masjid??

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