Abdullah wouldn't claim to be familiar with all the children at the orphanage, but he definitely knew almost all the children his age from there, and never once had he spotted the boy who seemed so intimately close with his Akhii. There was something about that that ticked him off.

"Ya Ibna Aadam, I'm one of the children from the orphanage."Little green smiled in their direction, still holding Arkaan around the waist.

"Liar!"A boy spat from amongst the children from the orphanage. Little green parted his bangs to better see his accuser, a look of shock and an opened mouth. It was the same boy he had told he was a green snake.

"Oh you poor thing, you can't have dementia at this age, can you?"Little green spoke with overt mockery, but he seemed to really be considering.

"Lil Khayr, that boy said he was a green snake. Is it true?"The other of the two boys he had sat between said with a terrified look, pointing at Little green. The elder boy he had called Lil Khayr hit the back of his head jovially,"Of course he was joking with you! What would make you believe him?"

"Oh yaar, it really is true."Little green smiled cheerily, much to the consternation of all,"I'm a green snake sometimes, that's why they call me Little green."

Little green.. Arkaan suddenly thought, remembering how the name had bugged him when he first heard it. It seemed a crap kinda name, but hearing the boy just now he was considering the possibility..

"Oh, ..You're right"Little green said as though he'd just remembered something. Then added in a matter-of-factly sort of way,"That's only my corporeal form."

"Daft brain!"Abdullah laughed, seeing all the shocked faces around. He really couldn't believe they'd pay attention to the boy's inane jibing. Even Ukashah and Zak seemed to be at a loss for words. Abdullah really couldn't believe an unknown child had come to take the spotlight whilst he, the scholar of scholars was sitting right there among them.

Deciding not to mind the boy again, he turned to Arkaan,"Yaa Akhii Arkaan, please do us a favour and clear our mystery. Apparently, no one knows him around here but you. We'd be pleased to make an acquaintance with the little brother."Abdullah folded his arms, looking much like a member of the senior generation. For some reason, he seemed to fit into those shoes very well. Was it because he was also advanced in Qur'an and Tajwîd? Arkaan chuckled. But yeah, it seemed he alone knew him from among them.

"He's Mar-"Suddenly, the answer seemed to confused him. Arkaan placed a hand over his forehead. No, Junnah's.. That's right, he never got to know what the true relationship between the two really was.

"Are you an orphan?"Zak tried to help, directly asking the boy. He also knew almost all the orphans in his family's orphanage, but what do you say, he might have missed out on one. Looking at Little green, the boy had an appearance which could be easily forgotten, except when cast into the light, which he had done by putting himself close to Arkaan who had a distinguishing presence.

"Oh yaar, I lost my sister, so I'm really an orphan."Little green answered, his eyes hidden behind his bangs.

"Daft brain,"Abdullah mocked. That was it! No matter what anybody said afterwards, that name was stuck with his head about the boy."Losing your sister doesn't make you an orphan. It's when you're without an Abii and an Ummi."

"Well I never saw the difference, small Ibna Aadam."The boy responded as though unfazed by Abdullah's earlier remark."Junnah was like my mother. Although I disliked her sometimes.."

"Little green, shut up! Abdullah, you too."Arkaan said, a stern warning on his face. Couldn't these two see that it was a sensitive topic with all the children from the orphanage here. He was even more shocked at Little green's declaration. He admitted being confused about the girl he always met at the bridge, - this Junnah. But it was awful hearing those words come from Little green. Especially since he remembered quite a fond memory between the two. But if Little green was human.., then perhaps that girl too was! Maybe his memories had just been muddled from fear of calling the adhaan. He felt relief upon this thought.

"You don't dislike her.."Arkaan said quietly, then turned to face the rest,"He's a brother to a friend of mine."

He turned to Little green, a soft expression on his face,"It's been long, rogue. Wher've you been?" He obviously had not forgotten that this delinquent who couldn't keep his hands to himself, had almost made him and his Ummi go hungry after a whole day's fasting. But he was her friend after all.

"Aww, do I take it that you miss me?"

Arkaan brushed it off aside, a more important question,"Where's Junnah?"

"Oh, she disappeared from the island, you don't remember?"Little green asked, an eyebrow raised in question,"I flew to Hidden Valley too after that."

As much as Ukashah wanted to eternally seal that child's mouth which couldn't stop pouting nonsense, they had a halaqah to start. "Arkaan."He raised a brow. Arkaan turned to him, a look of confusion on his face.

"This child is seriously delusional."Abdullah declared, rather mortified for the boy."A green snake that flies! Ya Allah, You need to go to an asylum, What do you really think you are?"

"Naah, that's my corporeal animal form, Silly,"Little green laughed,"When I fly, I'm in my original form."

"Which is?"One of the kids from the orphanage who first opened the discussion asked, fear clear on his face.

Pouting with his fingers to his lips, Little green answered,"Actually I'm a Ji-" His sentence was held back by a firm hand over his mouth. For a moment Arkaan thought of his bridge friend, and thought it was the same hand.

However as his eyes climbed up to the owner, he saw a pair of amber eyes staring back at him.

"You!"Arkaan and the others who had been with the guy the other day before he mysteriously disappeared all said at once.

"Mmf"Little green raised his eyes to see a dour-faced Shad barely through his bangs; towering behind him, one hand tightly immobilising him, and the other stifling his mouth.

"Eh-"Arkaan suddenly remembered another question upon the sudden turn of events; How had his chicken been stolen that day? Like -where did this guy even suddenly come from??

But Zak beat him to it, asking in shock,"Where did you come from?" He quite remembered the amber-eyed hoodie guy who had informed them of Arafat and the boys in the Mt. Shirah Valley. Recognition hit the others who also reminisced.

Haru's eyes narrowed. This guy.. He wasn't here until just now.. It's almost as if-he had just appeared. He looked up at Arkaan's eyes as Arkaan was the closest when he came. But Arkaan seemed even more baffled than him.

"I came and sat over there in the far back not long ago."Shad said without the bat of an eyelid. Arkaan looked at those there, hoping to confirm from their eyes, but no one seemed to have the answers. They seemed equally confused. They all hadn't seen the boy entering into the gathering.

"This is my little brother. His real name is Najaat. He likes to jest with people by telling them all sort of things. We're really sorry for causing such stress here."

"Ohkay.."Arkaan said, it was a hard pill to swallow. He particularly didn't trust this guy, but it seemed Little green knew him because, he had stopped struggling.

"Oh! Enough of this drama, Y'all young'uns! Let's start the halaqah!"An old and wizened-looking Khidr walked in, looking every bit the eccentric. He sashayed into their midst, their mouths opened agape.

"Wha-what are you doing here, yaa Sayyidi?"One of the young men dared to ask. Even Arkaan was speechless. He could only remember the beggar man from their first meeting, but he really couldn't superimpose this Khidr with him. Who at all was Old man Khidr, and why was he so enigmatic? He appeared as an aged poor, but had followers. When he spoke, he moved his lackeys into action. Why did they even follow him!?

"Why, never seen an old man come to learn Qur'an before? The little Abdullah here did invite me that day at the Chinese market, can't reject a good offer now, can I?"He frowned, taking a seat amongst them.

"You'd say: even if you had to summon your ancestors and bring your great grandmothers, right?

Could this be that one day in a thousand years time!?"Abdullah laughed, more than happy to forget Little green and his crazy charade. He happened to forget how he was fuming that day at Old man Khidr's open scorn.

"Oh Salaam, the punk remembers!" Old man Khidr said in jest, then turning to Ukashah, added shrewdly,"Well what're we waiting for, Qaari of Al Iskandarî?! Let the gathering begin!"

Ukashah turned to Arkaan with a death stare, all eyes followed in that direction.

"What're you doing there wasting our time, Arkaan lad!? The world doesn't wait on you! Get yourself seated!"Khidr reprimanded.

Arkaan turned around to realize he was the only one standing. Without caring whether they believed him or not, Shad had taken Little green to sit with him at the far back of the Circle. Little green was not frustrated at all, instead, he had an enigmatic smile on his face as he looked at Arkaan in a way that might give others nightmares.

•••

"How many of you can recite Surah Al Fatihah with a hundred percent Tajwîd..?"Ukashah asked, his lips pursed together slightly. He seemed to be thinking on how to go about things. Apparently, this was his first time doing this.

No one raised their hand in the Circle, amongst the supposed students. In the dead silence, they heard the circulating wind mock at them.

"Okay, just to be sure - How many of you cannot recite Surah Fatihah with a hundred percent Tajwîd?"Zak asked, trying to help his companion.

Haru raised his hand eagerly. He was the only one though. He looked around and saw all eyes focus at him, and felt singled out. Lowering his hand, he admitted,"I don't even know what that is."

"Old man Khidr, you know Tajwîd?"One of his lackeys asked quietly. The old man chuckled but did not bother to reply, his arms folded across his chest in open hubris.

"Guys,"Abdullah laughed,"It's obvious It's me, Zak, and Akhii Ukash against you lot.

Be sincere to yourselves otherwise how can we help you all. You have to belong to one of the two!"

"Well aren't you a part of us, small Ibna Aadam?"Little green chimed in."You've to raise your hand for one of the groups too, right?"

Abdullah would have scowled at the tasteless nickname, but that would destroy his image, right? So he graciously answered, returning the nickname 'favour',"Daft brain, just understand that I'm not at your level."He smiled smugly and challenged,"I've completed Qur'an. How many verses do you know?!"
His arms were folded in conceit. In his high, he had unwittingly mimicked Old man Khidr.

There were some among those in the gathering who felt overwhelmed and ashamed just now by Abdullah's declaration and dare. It created a feeling of inferiority among them. They kept silent to watch the exchange between the two.

Ukashah looked at Zak with a frown on his face. Zak shrugged. Ukashah shook his head, but kept silent. He was using the distraction to think - How'd their Ustadh go about things with them so successfully everytime?Why was there always never a moment without an enlightenment and insight into the words of Allah whenever they met?

Little green exposed his fingers. With a pouting expression, he was busily counting something. The gathering stared at him in wonder; Just how many Qur'an verses in single digits did he know? And why was he even proud about that..?
Shad chuckled. He'd let him contribute, as long as it kept him from mischief.

"How laughable!"Abdullah sneered,"Counting the number of verses you know on one hand."

"Whaleva. Back in the day I had so many gems Elder sister was always confounded!"Little green gave a smug smile,"I've lost count. It's obvious I know as many as you do."

Abdullah raised an eyebrow.

"You guys should stop your bickering. That's why we're here, right? - To learn."Arkaan said.

Ukashah looked at the center of the gathering in a contemplative mood. After listening in calm at the sentiments and reactions just now, his eyes gleamed as he remembered something.

"I've a question for you,"He turned to the gathering.

"Ask away yh, Al Iskandarî's Qaari!"Old man Khidr said avidly.

"What are the two characters one must do away with, as a student on the path in search of knowledge?"Ukashah asked. He perfectly remembered the words, ever since their Ustadh asked them. He wouldn't forget that gathering. No one knew the answer, but one person. He gave a perfect answer, Ustadh had said. But it wasn't even Zayn..

The whole circle was silent once more. This time, even Abdullah was was flummoxed. He couldn't boast on a sure knowledge of this one.

"Greed and interpreting verses your own way,"Little green chimed in with surety and confidence.

Feeling challenged, Abdullah tsked,"That's wrong. It's obvious it's laziness and apathy to studies."

"Those are pretty nice answers, but not what we're looking for.."Ukashah looked around, his eyes landing on Arkaan. Obviously he wanted his opinion, and he saw Arkaan had something to say,"Arkaan?"He raised an eyebrow.

Arkaan did have a thought, but wasn't sure if it was right and he could voice it. He had mulled over why Ukashah had suddenly asked this question out of nowhere. Then he thought back to the episode that had passed just now. One character was obvious.. He wasn't sure about the other one though. Upon Ukashah's prodding, he gave his thoughts,

"A student of Knowledge should never be proud, ..or shy."He said, his eyes lost in introspection.

Ukashah instinctively looked over at Zak. There was a deep sense of shock and disbelief present in both their eyes. Everyone at once knew that the answer had been correct.

"What does it mean?"Little green's voice washed over, like a cool breeze through the crowd.

"An arrogant student thinks he knows everything, so he does not ask. Thus, he learns nothing. A shy student learns nothing too. His shyness prevents him from asking for help. Without asking for knowledge, how can you ever know? Therefore the true seeker of knowledge must be humble, but not shy.." Arkaan said thoughtfully, his newfound confidence, brimming from his previous answer being correct.

"Say, Arkaan. Did you hear this from anyone before-"Zak asked.

"No, why..?"Arkaan snapped out of his deep thoughts.

"Because your statement just now, has been said before..in this place, by someone who achieved high levels of Tadabbûr."Even as Zak explained, Ukashah retreated to the mihrab and fetched a large piece of folded white canvas among many other present there.

"Who..?"

This time it was Ukashah who answered, his eyes darkened slightly,"Abdul Bâqi Al Aswâdi." He remembered it all too well.

Ustadh sat with them in the Circle of learning.

"What are the two characters one must do away with, as a student on the path in search of knowledge?"Their Ustadh asked, during one of their first sittings.

Everyone was silent.

Then Abdul Bâqi raised his hand, his eyes gleaming with fervour.

"Na'am, yaa walad!"

It was always nice when only you knew an answer to a question no one else knew in the class. Most at times, it took courage to raise one's hands because the possibility of being wrong was there. And most people feared the consequences of people's look on them. However Abdul Bâqi was one who was strangely always sure of his answers and didn't mind what the crowd thought of him. He proceeded to answer happily,

"A sincere seeker of knowledge is neither arrogant, nor shy."

"Explain."Their Ustadh just said, grabbing a brush nearby. A large white canvas was already spread open before them, middlemost the circle. He dipped the brush in ink, and began stroking elegantly on the canvas.
All the students stretched their heads in order to have a glimpse of what their Ustadh was writing.

Even as he wrote, Abdul Bâqi continued,"One needs humility to sit at the feet of scholars. But a shy student never learns anything..

A proud person is too proud to ask for knowledge. A shy person does not ask for knowledge when the need to ask arises due to his impediment.."

Gentle strokes, a calm brush, eyes relaxed like unrippled lakes, their Ustadh held the overflowing sleeves of the hand which danced across the canvas in the other, while manifesting a work of art in amazing calligraphy.
His face was tranquil, no creases, no furrows, the edges were relaxed, not even a smile, yet, it was such that if you looked at him at that moment as he inscribed, you'd feel tranquility induced to the very roots of your soul.

Their Ustadh was like that. Peaceful.
It didn't take long before he placed the brush down after his last stroke. Abdul Bâqi had long ended his explanation. He held the paper up for all to see.

"This was the moral code of conduct legislated by Ibn Al-Salah for aspiring students of ahadith.

We as students of the Qur'an must also apply it. I know you've not all mastered Arabic. So I'll read it just once in translation for you all to understand.

Whatever you retain would be its essence of which you've grasped. Learn it, keep it to heart, and live your life as students of Dîn with it.

As we start our path on seeking knowledge, let these ethics guide you."

Even as Sheikh Inaayat translated the work of calligraphy, the boys watched the beautiful inscription with devotion in their hearts and reverence on their faces. Hopefully, they'd follow the rules to the letter, Al Iskandarî thought. He smiled at Abdul Bâqi,

"Ahsant, yaa walad."

Arkaan and all the others stared at the amazing calligraphy. The beauty captured their hearts from looking elsewhere but the profound inscription that enthralled their hearts.

"What does it mean?"One of the boys from the orphanage couldn't help asking what was on everybody's mind.

Zak looked to Ukashah. Even though they had learnt Arabic here in the halaqah with their Ustadh, the language was Ukashah's tongue. So he answered,

"It reads:

"A student should venerate his masters and whoever is instructing him as a part of respecting knowledge and education.

He should not be a burden on his master by exhausting and annoying him with long talks and questions, otherwise the student will be punished by being deprived from attending the lessons of his masters or receiving his knowledge...

If one of the students managed to listen to his master and gained knowledge about something in the absence of the other classmates, he should be eager to share what he learnt with others who may ask him for it.

However, if he acted to be cunning and selfish and kept this knowledge only for himself, he will be ignorant and will never get any benefit of what he learnt...

As a student you should not be shy or proud to ask for knowledge as those two characters never get educated...

A student is expected to write and listen to whatever he was taught in a lesson and never try to pick up and choose parts of the whole to study, however, if it was hard for him to understand and there was a need for picking and choosing, this has to be done by himself if he's unique and good in the subject,

If not he may ask for the help of other experienced students."

"As a student you should not be shy or proud.."Abdullah said lightly, the words bitter and heavy on his tongue. He never thought he'd ever feel this way. He knew the words were due to his earlier conceited behaviour. It was a sore attack on him, but seeing Little green take everything in an airy fashion, he thought not to feel too bad about it.

"Okay, so starting with Abdullah, we're all going to have turns at reciting Surah Al Fatihah."Ukashah announced,"Based on my appraisal there, I'll group you into Tajwîd classes.

Everyone in a particular team would be at same level with his companions from that team.

You'll learn together, help one another, and move together.

If by any chance, one makes quicker progress in learning than his colleagues in the same team, he may be promoted to the next class before the rest. It means learning would be a team effort for each group, but promotion would be based on individual merits!

It also means, you can have a class all advancing together to the next stage. But you may also have a class advancing with only one left behind.

Do your best to not get left behind.

I leave you with Allah's own words:

..Fastabiqul khayrãt(So race to [all that is] good).."

At this all the hearts were fired up. Nobody wanted to get left behind, and be seen as the dumbest in the class!!!

Well somebody was already being left behind.. Haru smiled wryly, looking at Arafat who had been sleeping near him the entire while.

Moments later, Arkaan was seated in his own smaller circle with some others; Ukashah rotated between them with Zak, and Abdullah too. Their recitations filled every nook and cranny of the Masjidur Rahmân, brimming it with vigorous life.

Their smiles and happiness made Arkaan happy just by seeing them.
He realized how far he'd come, and how far the path in front of him stretched out. He smiled.

He had the answer to the question he'd asked before, on his way here; Was he willing to endanger himself by indulging in this quest, to save the Halaqah..?

His answer:

More than ever..

He was willing to solve this mystery and destroy the Stones, if it meant that was the only way to save the Circle of the Qur'an of the South district.
And he was willing to face the Tribes, if they stood in his way.

This was his first true circle of friends.. people whom he felt a bond with, through the Qur'an.

This was his ..Circle of the Qur'an.

•••

Next Crescent: The Marabout's 1000 Profound Steps.

Recitations thrummed the lower floors of the great masjid, as the boys from Sky Haven Legacy engaged one another in Tahfiz and Murajah of the Holy Qur'an. One boy sat alone, surprisingly at the very middle of the crowd, his head bowed low, his eyes, absorbed in the pages of a Mushaf spread opened before him upon a rehal.

__________________________________

Next update is when all the Eid updates reach a 100 plus reads with the regular number of votes or more in shaa Allah:D

Do you want to know if Abdul Bâqi Al Aswâdi truly betrayed his closest friends in the GQRC two years ago or not?..

If he did, was there a forgivable reason..!?

Or is everything not as it seems?!!!

Join me in 'The Marabout's 1000 Profound Steps.' to watch the Sayyid of Reciters of his generation prove his prowess and shock the masses!!!

The day the reads and votes on TCOTQ are soaring, updates might just be whenever readers ask for it! :)))))

Fee Amanillah!

WasSalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh!