The little jinn sat upon the terrace of the building, his legs dangling off. He watched the boy enter quickly pass the threshold of the house and smirked-he had not used the 'Basmallah' and the 'Salaam', in his haste. Not that it'd stop him anyway, but the shayaateen could easily get inside.

He leaned against one window, listening to the one-sided conversation."Oh! How sentimental!"He thought, wiping fake tears. When he was sure the boy was lost in his own conversation with his non-responsive mother, he glided into the room(not that he would see him anyway, but how would he explain the disappearing chicken), and whisked the package away.

As he sauntered away, happily mimicking Arkaan's earlier behaviour and even whistling the same hum with the package in hand, he happened to spot Junnah-the Sayyidah. He paused. She was moving his way. He quickly tried to retrace his route, but ended up colliding into her black garment the moment he turned.

"Oh! It's Elder sister! Fancy meeting you here. What a pleasant coincidence, wouldn't you say!?"Little green chirped, a fawning expression graced his winsome face quite seamlessly.

"It is, indeed! Considering the fact that you didn't just turn the other way upon seeing me."She said in the same cheer, then raised an eyebrow,"What're you up to, Little green?"

"I was just on my way to break the fast. The fasting this year has been quite tough, wouldn't you say?! You're welcome to join me, elder sister!"Little green smiled.

"Well oh my, Little green-I never knew you had began taking the injunctions of Islam so seriously! -Cut the crap, Little jinn! What are you hiding from me?!"Junnah made a stern expression.

Little green shifted nervously, putting his small hands behind him. However, even as Junnah's eyes squinted at the large package he had unsuccessfully tried to hide from her, he disappeared in a blast of wind.

The little jinn continued running, the air shifted with him. If not for the package, he would have taken an animal form and gotten away from Junnah.

He looked back as he approached a cliff on the island, overlooking the sea. She wasn't there.

He paused and sighed, turning back to look at his catch, only to have it whisked expertly away from him, and him being hoisted into the air, dangling dangerously near the surface of the sea. He looked down and saw the murky waters crashing violently against the rocks down below. Even though he was a jinn, he hadn't yet learnt how jinns dived to the depths of oceans and back. Since he was in human form, if he fell, he'd drown. He gulped, turning back to the black-garbed figure who held him high up with one hand. Her other hand brought the package close, sniffing the contents.

"Is that - My my, Little green.. You went stealing again, didn't you?"She chuckled, shaking her head"Do you really want to go to the Hidden Valley."

"Elder sister, wait wait, this is the month of mercy, isn't it?"He smiled smugly at her."Say what, I got three gems from the Qur'an! If you let me go, I'll tell you."He quickly raised three small fingers before her, righteous indignation graced his adorable face.

She chuckled,"When did you start learning Qur'an?"

Ever since I had to deal with you. He thought, feeling sorry for his fate of meeting her here on the island.

"Elder sister, you know this is the month of Qur'an rite? Today I was at the Sheikh's sitting. Remember the one who teaches the little sons of Aadam Qur'an.."

Recognition and interest flashed in her eyes,"Inaayat..?"

"Yeah that one. Elder sister, say, I'll give you the three gems that I heard today at his sitting, in exchange you'll pardon me just this once."

Junnah seemed to consider it a bit, but it didn't take long for her to assent. She slowly geared him away from the edge. Little green's eyes shone with a bit of hope. He was of the Arwâh, one of a group of orphaned little jinns who sought the protection of the island from the danger of the outside world. Fortunately or unfortunately for them, they had met Junnah. She gave them Shahaadah and had taught them basic principles of Al Islam; upon the oath that they didn't cause trouble, she had allowed them stay.
All of them had committed one felony after the other, till finally she had them all sent to a neighbouring Muslim clan of jinns, where they were safe with their own kind and wouldn't bother the humans, except for Little green. He always had a way of keeping under her radar. Now though..

He waited for her to put him down, but it never happened."Start."Her voice menacing, as she sent her hand holding him hovering over the edge.

"Wa lahmi tayri mimmaa yashtahûn(And the flesh of fowls that they desire)!"Little green gushed, his heart thumping.

"Seriously?"Junnah raised her brows at him with a bored look.

"Elder sister, did you know that fowls exist in paradise? The people of paradise would have all types of meat there. A celestial bird would come and upon command, transform into a buffet of dishes of the finest meats, each taste is different than the one before it!

Elder sister, When I heard this, I wanted to know what the flesh of fowls taste like."Little green said with woe in his eyes.

"So you had to steal?"She put him over the edge of the cliff again. Little green held tightly onto her hands, unshed tears in his eyes. Even though he knew Junnah wasn't a dark jinn who'd harm him especially when he had accepted Islam, he still was instinctively afraid. Why was she bullying him like that!

He gritted his teeth, it was now or-the next Express to Hidden Valley would be his! If there was a way to the Sayyidah's heart, it was Qur'an. He had to act fast or she'd expel him to go live with the Muslim tribe in the Hidden Valley, and Allah knows how restricted everything will be.

"Elder sister what does Allah mean when He says,

Wa yu'thirûna 'alaa anfusihim walaw kaana bihim Khasaasah. Waman yuuqa shuhha nafsihi, fa ulaaika humul muflihûn..(And [they-the Ansâr] give them [the Muhâjirûn] preference over themselves even though poverty became their lot. And whoever is saved from their own covetousness, such are they who will be successful.)?"

At this her eyes gleamed.

"I know this verse.. Arkaan taught me today. It was part of the things the Ustadh talked about!"

Great. Little green thought, maybe there was hope.

"It was about the people of Al Madina, the enlightened destination to where the hijrah was made..."She said slowly as she put him down to sit with her, towards the edge of the cliff. Her eyes seemed to glow in augury, as she was slowly lost within herself, Little green gave a deep puff, elated his plan was working,"Tell me about it, Elder sister!"

Little green listened to her as she explained, making appropriate comments and remarks where they were needed, showing that he was indeed filled with great interest.
When she finally finished, she questioned,"Why did you ask?"

"Oh, how sad.."He murmured, keeping his fingers to his lips in shocked surprise,"Then I must have misunderstood the verse!"

Then he spoke in earnest,"You see, this chicken was gotten from that human you usually follow, the green eyes.. What was his name? Yh, Arkaan-

I thought I'd be doing him a favour by helping him put into practice what he had just learnt."He said so innocently with a harmless smile at Junnah who had her eyes widening in horrified shock, that one would think he benign.

"WHAT!?"Junnah felt her head splitting. No, this jinn was the headache.

"Elder sister, you're already created from a flame, don't burn the atmosphere with your anger. Everyone's afraid of global warming these days.."Little green said sanctimoniously.

"I'm going to be burning your sorry self if you don't get this back right away!"

"Elder sister, cool down. I've not finished explaining.."Little green licked his lips in anxiety, realizing the mistake of mentioning her human friend. Now he might not actually go scot-free. He continued,"That was just the second gem I got from the old man's circle."He raised two fingers in count.

"Don't you want to hear the last one of the Qur'an gems before you decide my punishment."He said righteously as though he were ready to accept whatever retribution came, as long as he delivered the Rabb's message!

Junnah considered for a moment, simmering in her internal wrath,"Go on."

Little green sighed, salvation was on its way. If he knew Junnah quite well, then the last verse was his door out of this musibah(calamity) he had gotten himself into. Perhaps she'd let him stay after all.

"The last one was,

..Wa in ta'fuu wa tasfahuu wa taghfiruu, fa innaAllaha Ghafûrur Rahîm(But if you pardon [them] and overlook, and forgive [their faults], then verily Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful)."

Quoting the ayah, he proceeded to explain, apparently he didn't need a tafseer on that one,"Elder sister, the first verse I quoted made me wonder what the flesh of fowl tastes like.

The second verse made me believe your friend would be happy to part with his chicken. But you clarified that for me. Now I'm reformed. I'd swear, but you forbade me from swearing."He added, with a hand to his heart. If not because he knew he could not escape the Sayyidah he wouldn't have wasted his breath doing all this. Allah only knows he always went to the scholar's circles to get ayat for this reason. They always came in handy whenever he had a confrontation with Junnah on something.

"Elder sister, obviously that last verse exists for a reason. And Allah didn't let me hear it just for hearing sake.

That one goes to you Elder sister."He licked his lips in anxiety,

"After hearing the first two verses from the old Sheikh, I wanted to know the taste of fowl, and thought I could take it. But now that you've explained, heavenly insight has dawned upon my confused soul. Now, I think I can return the chicken to Arkaan."Little green said cheerily, taking his point home. My three gems for safety! You know can't beat this, Sayyidah, he chuckled internally in victory.

Junnah kept silent for a while, then nodded.

"Yayy!"He jubilated,"Elder sister, you're the best!" One for me, zero for you, of course you can't stand my gems!

"Tonight the verses of the Rabb has saved your sorry self. But if I catch you stealing again, I'll give you verses of my own before executing some Hudûd. After all, we should not put into practice some verses and leave the rest now, should we?"Junnah gave an enigmatic smile.

Little green shivered, concealing his hands from view even further. His reason for being to the scholar's circles those few times was only to get verses to counter this jinni. Thus he very well knew some verses of Hudûd, particularly the one for stealing. Just she wait, he'd go to the scholars circle again for some more gems to counter her if ever the time comes!

Junnah smirked seeing his reaction,"There are all a part of Qur'an after all."

•••

"You - Why are you here?"Arkaan says before realizing he even shouted in shock. It was past Iftar time, in fact, late into night. Her parents might be worried sick about her.

They had met that day after 'Asr, so he didn't quite understand why she was here.

"Wait-"Arkaan suddenly paused,"How did you know where I stay..?" If he remembered correctly, he never did once reveal his home address to her, for personal reasons.

She smiled at him,"There's someone you should meet.."

She held a boy by the shoulder, pulling him gently in front. He was in an oversized shirt which concealed his arms, and had bangs of hair covering his eyes and freckles. But what caught Arkaan's attention the most was the stuff held tightly in both his hands.

The boy smiled when their eyes met, a whole piece of chicken stood between them.
Arkaan put one and two together.

"My WHOLE. GRILLED. CHICKEN!"

He almost but screamed, tears forming in his eyes."How..?" He never thought he'd be so happy for a meal.

"This is the package Inaayat gave you, isn't it?"She questioned, her eyes filled with concern."Have you and your mum eaten yet? I hope it's still in good condition for a hearty meal tonight.."

Little green handed the chicken to him.

Arkaan checked it with a faint smile of gratitude to the Rabb-He does answer the call of the distressed one!

"I think we're good. He didn't really touch it."

Silence.

"Who, How..?"Arkaan questioned, pointing frighteningly at the boy. There were so many questions and he didn't know which one to ask first.

"Little green. He's an orphan I've come to like as a younger brother. I met him on the streets with your package. I know he stole it but he doesn't have much, hence his behaviour."She carefully avoided the question of 'How'.

Little green..? Arkaan was held aback now by the queer name.

"Little green, apologize. NOW!"

"I'm sorry, son of Aadam."He said adorably.

Son of Aadam..? Arkaan didn't know what to think of that. But they had rescued he and his mother's night meal, so he was grateful. He couldn't actually be angry with a kid as adorable as him, right. She also called him 'brother', so..

"Apology accepted, Little one."He smiled.

"Little green, not little one. I'm older than-"Junnah's palms were already over his mouth.

"Why don't you come i-"

Junnah objected immediately,"We'll be leaving now. Home calls. It's late as you said."She smiled. Not giving him a chance to stop them, she was already halfway with the boy, from their front door.

Arkaan was going to say 'And have the Iftari with us', but it was also okay. She was from a rich family after all. He really couldn't imagine her coming to eat his meagre meal.

He watched them leaving, her crystalline voice rebuking the little guy who put up an air of righteous acceptance. Just when he thought she had finished, the boy raised a finger to her,

"Elder sister, I've another verse for you."He said ingratiatingly(Actually, he was still afraid she'd send him to Hidden Valley)."Did you hear of the winds of Sulaymân."

She laughed,"I know all his stories. Try another if you want to stay.."

He frowned, thinking. Nothing came to mind.

"Out of Qur'an gems?"There was humour in her eyes.

"Whaleva"He chimed, folding his arms across his chest in defeat. Arkaan smiled.

"Little green,"He called.

They both turned, facing him. By now they were at the main gate.

Arkaan threw a chicken thigh at him, which he swiftly caught and grinned.

"Nice catch"Arkaan's eyes smiled at him.

"Of course it'd be nice. I'm a j-"Junnah bumped his head. He stared at her with a scowl, rubbing it painfully.

"Say Thank you."

"Neva"

"Or-"

"Shukran yaa Ibna Aadam!"

She also smiled gratefully at Arkaan. They walked away.

Arkaan smiled at the funny episode that had just passed. At least he and his mother got something to eat that day. But he forgot to ask the most important question that day, among the many questions in his mind about the episode.

It was only later he realized - How had Little green gotten the chicken from the table that day?

Even if the door had not been locked, the little thief had stolen right from beneath his very eyes.
How was that whole incident even possible!

Arkaan never had the chance to ask those questions again, because - he never met Little green again after that.

•••

When Arkaan entered the Western prayer Hall, he was held aback by the numbers he saw in Salah. Were they all there for the Halaqah meeting, or were they there just for Salah..? He already had his wudhu, so he quickly joined an open spot in a corner of the long first row of Musallis.

Even as he said his Takbir, a boy in an oversized gaudy dress stepped into the inner halls of the masjid.

He looked at the congregation with a gleam of mischief, a smug smile on his face. Ah, the memories..

The little boy didn't have long enough to reminisce, when he noticed someone approach from behind, entering into the masjid. He lowered his eyes, a solemn air of righteous indignation covering him. Quickly, he proceeded to the first row, squeezing himself easily into a loose space where two guys didn't have their feet meeting close enough.

The 'Asr Salah ended shortly, some Musallis staying behind to do some Adhkar.

Seeing the boys loitering and sitting about aimlessly, Zak called for them to gather around him as he began some pep talk with them. Ukashah sat in a corner with his mushaf as the seconds ticked by. It wasn't yet time. They planned to begin about ten minutes post Salah. But it was also a good idea, especially as some were new here.

The children from the orphanage who didn't really know what to expect, hurried to sit around Zak, as did the children from Mt. Shirah neighbourhood, even Haru and Rafik. The rest who considered themselves too grown to sit with children stayed aside; they included Arafat and some of the men from Khidr's group who had decided to try out the halaqah thingy.

Once the clock struck the time for the meeting to commence, Ukashah closed his Qur'an and walked over, his very steps exuding some form of finesse.

The rest of those who were waiting for the halaqah to actually start, made their way over. By then Zak was wrapping up with his talk.

Seated there at the very center of the western prayer hall, the pioneering members of the South district halaqah seemed to be sizing up the sort of companions they were going to be spending a constant portion of their almost everyday time with.

There seemed to be a grouping among the members based on fraternity. Everyone sat among those they already knew; Arafat sat among Humayd and his group, children from the orphanage sat huddled together-ranging from people who were of Ukashah and Zak's peer group to those who were as little as Zak's and Abdullah's little brother, 'Isa.

The new faces from Khidr's group the day before, stood out as the eldest. Most of them were young adults, slightly older than Zak and Ukashah. The oldest wouldn't be above 25 years though. Ukashah thought, in assessing his and Zak's new students.

Rafik sat close to Abdullah who was near the front of the semicircle they had formed when Ukashah joined the group, Ukashah and Zak being in the mid-point.
Haru sat off to a side, at one end of the semicircle.

Among them was the gaudily dressed boy in his oversized hoodie. He easily sandwiched himself between two of the smaller boys from the orphanage. When the two boys turned to look at him - a stranger intruding into their lines, he smugly smiled at them and rolled his eyes.

"Who are you?"One of the two boys asked with a surly expression on his face."Why are you in our group?"

"I'm a green snake. Have you heard of green mambas?"He asked with excitement, looking at the boy's horrified face."Now if you don't want me to bite you, shalup!" He smiled all so harmlessly. But the little boys were more convinced of his words than his adorable smile. They both looked at him with horrified shock.

In their moment of stun of not knowing what to do, Little green turned just in time to lock eyes with Arkaan. Earlier, Arkaan had spent his time in the corner making a quite lengthy dua. It seemed he was praying for the success of the whole venture they had started.

As he walked over, a queer smirk spread out on Little green's lips, one that looked playfully mischievous. Arkaan was examining him.

Little green could not wait anymore to have Arkaan recognize him. It seemed everyone was sitting with their acquaintances and he was the only one left out. So he ran out to meet him first,"Arkaan, you're back..!"He called out in good cheer, hugging him by the waist. At this, everyone's eyes turned to the two.

"Little green..?"Confusion turned into cognizance within Arkaan's green orbs as the memory of their first encounter came to mind.

"Yaa Akhii Arkaan, who is he?"Abdullah called in overt interest, breaking the sudden awkward silence between the two and the gathering.

•••