Chapter 7:

Mardiyyah's POV:

THE WEDDING DAY

We groaned and refused to wake up for fajr, tired out from the khatam the night before. Maryam had kept us awake the entire night with her nervous and excited chattering. The guests had only left at around one am, and Rayhana kala, Foi, Abbi, Uncle Imraan, the Tahmid boys, my nani and nana and Sameeha had stayed over, along with a few of Dihya's cousins.. The house was packed to the brim, mattresses and sleeper couches had been pulled from the attic at 02:00am and everyone had gone to their respective rooms and 02:30am.

Sameeha, Maryam and I were, as usual, squashed onto the one double bed in Maryam's room. The ladies; mummy, foi, Rayhana kala and nani had slept in one room and Abbi, Uncle Imraan, a few of Dihya's cousins and Zayyan (Sameeha's older brother) slept in another room. Faheem, Dihya, Daniyaal (Sameeha's younger brother) and a few of their friends and other cousins slept in the lounge, while Rumaysa, Anisa, Hayaa and Afraa- the snobbish cousins- insisted on sleeping in the other room downstairs.

 Maryam rolled her eyes and told mummy to make them sleep outside, but she told Maryam to keep quiet and mind our own business.

Finally, I managed to open my eyes, and found that I was the only one left in the bed. I groaned and pushed myself up, before running to the bathroom and bringing up. My head throbbed and everything spun. Sitting down on the floor, I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. I faintly heard Maryam ask me if I was ok, and then heard Sameeha yell for Daniyaal to call Dihya, who was there in less than a minute. Mummy, foi, Rayhana kala and nani all ran into the room behind him.

Dihya knelt in front of me and asked me what was wrong. I didn't say anything, just took in deep breaths and tried to fight the pain.

'Dhul Hun. Answer me darling. I need to know what's happening,' he said softly and wiped away the tear that had slipped.

'It's paining a lot... My head's throbbing and everything is spinning,' I told him while my eyes were shut tightly. 

I felt him move the hair from my face and pick me up. He brought me to the sink, and sat me on top of the basin.

'Open your mouth,' he said softly and I did as I was told.

He put a little bit of water in my mouth and told me to gargle. He washed my face and made me perform my wudhu, still sitting there. When I was done, he picked me up again and I wrapped my arms around his neck, laying my pounding head against his chest.

'Dhul Hun, read with me in Jama'ah?' he asked.

'Why didn't you go to the Masjid?' I questioned.

'I was about to when they called me to come and see you,' he said chuckling. 

All the ladies laughed along, and only then I realised that they'd all been watching Dihya and I the entire time. Maryam brought me an abaya and burqah and helped me put it on while Sameeha lay out two Musallahs for Dihya and I. The ladies all left the room as Dihya made the Iqaamah.

The entire salaah, my eyes were shut and tears flowed freely down my cheeks as I listened to my husband's beautiful voice, in the early hours of the morning. Only He Subhana Huwa Ta'alah had made that possible, and I was forever grateful to him.

An hour later:

After we'd read our salaah, Dihya and I went to the guest room downstairs, now empty, and slept away for an hour. I woke up when I heard Maryam screaming in excitement and Sameeha begging her to keep quiet.

I sat up slowly and tied my scarf properly before climbing off the bed.

'Dhul Hun,' Dihya's husky voice came, 'where are you going?'

'Going to see what Maryam's screaming about,' I said sitting back down and playing with his hair as he rested his head in my lap.

'Ihsaan probably bought her a bunny or something,' he mumbled sleepily. I laughed and tugged at his beard lightly, making him grunt.

'Let me go,' I said when he wrapped his arms around me tightly.

'No,' he said stubbornly.

'Please?'

'No. Now shush and lie back down. Let's sleep,' he said with his eyes still closed.

I smirked and put my hands near his nose and, with a disgusted look on his face, he sat up quickly.

He growled when he saw my shoulders bouncing with laughter.

'Fine. You can go, as long as you come back,' he said kissing my head and lying back down. As soon as his head hit the pillow, he was snoring, dead to the world. Laughing, I got up and wobbled over to the door. I was getting even weaker, and it was starting to worry me. Being pregnant and cancerous at the same time wasn't easy, it was terrifying. There was a constant fear lurking in the back of my head, that maybe one day, I'd kill my babies because of my disease. Or maybe I'd pass away with them still in me. Or maybe I'd pass away and they would live on...without a mother.

I pushed the thoughts away and reminded myself that today was a happy occasion, and that I needed to be happy.

As soon as I opened the door, I was met with a nervous looking Faheem talking to Uncle Imraan, Rayhana Kala and mummy hugging each other and crying, Maryam jumping up and down and hugging Sameeha and everyone else scattered around yapping away excitedly. Watching Maryam made my head hurt even more, but I willed myself to walk over to them and ask them what was happening.

As soon as Maryam saw me, she caught hold of my hand and dragged me into the kitchen, as Sameeha followed silently, a slight red blush visible on her cheeks. I sat down on the nearest chair and leaned back against it.

'What's going on?' I asked Maryam.

'Sameeha, you tell!' Maryam said, trying to contain her excitement but failing nonetheless.

'Mgetngmarid,' she mumbled.

'What?'

'I'm getting married!' she said, this time more clearly, breaking out into a grin.

'WHAT!!!??? WHEN, WHO, HOW!!!?????' I spluttered.

'Faheem,' she said shyly looking down.

My eyes grew huge and the grin on my face was so big, I thought my face was going to tear.

'HOW!!!???' I squealed.

'I don't even know myself,' she sighed.

'Papa just came back from fajr salaah and asked me if I would get married to Faheem, but I needed to give him an answer quick. I rushed upstairs and made Istikharah and after a while I got this feeling. There wasn't a dream, but...it was weird... like, a feeling that I have to, you know?'

I nodded when she said that and told her to continue.

'I went downstairs and found mummy, papa, Aunty Gori and Faheem sitting in the lounge, obviously waiting for me. Papa asked me again, and I said yes. Then he dropped the bombshell...I'm getting married...today...' she said nervously.

'WHAT!?' I asked in shock.

'Yeah... Papa says that I don't need a dress and shoes, because the best nikaah is the simple one. And anyway, Maryam's reception may have a lot of people attending, but from what I've seen and heard, it's a very simple one,' Sameeha said.

Maryam and I nodded in agreement. It really was very simple. There would be a few tables set for the older people, but the others were required to sit on the floor, on dastarkhaans. There would be food, of course, but not fancy 9 course meals. There would be savouries and chevro served first, for everyone to munch on. The main courses would then be served, a rice dish, steak and chicken. Salads were being made by a family member, so was the atchaar. Faheem and Dihya were in charge of getting the things to drink, and Uncle Imraan and my father were supposed to be at the hall making sure that everything was set properly. There would be no centrepieces, and everyone would receive a tasbeeh and Qur'aan as a gift.

Dihya says that it's pointless giving them useless gifts, so the bride and groom should rather give gifts that will be Sadaqa-e-Jaariyah. We agreed and had bought the tasbeehs and Qur'aans, but mummy insisted that we print out our own labels, since we'd spent a lot of money on purchasing them. They weren't printed out as yet, so we sent Zayyan to the computer room and told him to change the labels, and add in 'Faheem and 

Sameeha' as well.

'What about your family?' I asked Sameeha.

'Mummy and Aunty Gori are phoning them and letting them know. Most of them stay around here, so they'll be able to make it, In Shaa Allah.'

'Ya Allah! What about food?' I asked. There must be at least 200 more people added onto our list of 500.

'Mummy is sorting that out. She told Aunty Hasina who's cooking the chicken, and Aunty Zubayda, she's cooking the steak. Mummy sent Daniyaal to town to go and get more of the ingredients that she'll need and then In Shaa Allah it will all be fine,' Maryam said.

'Wait how old is Daniyaal?'

'16... But he drives,' Sameeha said with a laugh. I laughed and remembered Dihya telling me that he used to drive when he was 15 and Faheem started at 13.

'What will you wear?' I asked Sameeha.

'I...I don't know. I guess an abaya or something.'

She seemed a little sad about this so I thought hard and fast.

'No...No you won't!' I said, a brilliant idea forming.

'There's a wedding gown in the attic here. I'd bought it for my wedding, remember Maryam? But then I found out that my mother had left hers for me, so I wore that one instead. The shop refused to take it back, so I was planning on giving it away in charity. Now that you need one, you can use it!' I said.

Sameeha's face lit up, making her even prettier than she was. She hugged me tight and insisted that we show it to her then.

Maryam once again helped me to walk and we made our way up the stairs slowly. I felt like an old lady, holding the railing and someone else's arm to climb up the stairs. It was embarrassing, really.

In the attic, we began searching for the box containing the dress. Half an hour later, I found it.

'There! Found it!' I yelled tiredly. Sitting down on one of the boxes, I caught my breath. 

'Just...just look in there...it's there,' I said, clutching my chest.

'Are you okay, Diya?' Sameeha asked worriedly. I nodded and made them bring the box nearer.

'Take it out,' Maryam said excitedly.

Sameeha pulled the dress out and stood there, stunned.

'It...it's beautiful!!!' she gushed.

'Now it's yours,' I told her with a smile.

'But...but it must have been so expensive! I'll return it when I'm done, In Shaa Allah,' Sameeha said.

'Nonsense! You shall keep it with you. It's now YOURS,' I told her.

She flung herself at me and hugged me with tears in her hazel eyes.

'Jazakallah!' she said as she wiped her tears away.

'Here they are, ma,' Dihya screamed as he walked into the attic. When he saw me sitting down on the box and holding my chest, he hurried over to me and growled.

'Why are you so stubborn, woman?' he asked me through clenched teeth.

'What do you mean?' I asked innocently.

'I told you that you need to rest. What did you come all the way up here and strain yourself for, huh? Bloody mad woman. You're pregnant and you're sick. If anything happened to you, I'd blame myself for it! Don't you understand?' he growled.

I took his face in between my palms.

'What will you blame yourself for? Whatever happens is by the will of Allah Ta'alah. I came up here to give Sameeha my wedding dress. The one I told you I need to give away, remember?'

He nodded and helped me up.

'Come on girls,' Dihya said as he helped me to walk out, 'mummy is going crazy. She doesn't know where you'll are.'

'Oh dear God,' Maryam muttered and I laughed.

I clutched Dihya's arm and held onto the railing as I made my way down the stairs slowly, one by one.

'Let me carry you,' he whispered.

'No, there are other men here Dihya. Just help me to walk,' I told him softly, using the long tail of my scarf to cover my face since I didn't have my niqaab on.

'Take me to the room. I need to put on my things.'

'Your ninja gear?' he asked with a chuckle. I elbowed him and he laughed again.

I told Maryam and Sameeha that I was going to change and they nodded, telling me they'd be in the kitchen. Again, I felt the need to bring up.

'Dihya...uhm...bye!' I said before running into the bathroom and slamming the door shut.

Of course, Dihya didn't get the message and rushed into the bathroom, confused as ever. When he realised why I was bent over in front of the toilet, he walked over to me and rubbed my back gently.

'You okay, sweetheart?' he asked me.

Just as I was about to reply, I felt the urge to bring up again. Turning around just in time, I did.

I got up as quickly as I could when I was done, and ignored Dihya completely. He must think I'm an idiot. First I can't walk and now I can't keep my food in. Tears threatened to fall and I sniffled as I fought them back. I rinsed my mouth and washed my face, leaving the bathroom quickly and ignoring Dihya as he called me. The tears were falling now, and refused to stop. Just as I was about to turn the door handle and leave the room, Dihya grabbed my hand and turned me around to face him.

He looked angry first, but when he noticed the tears, his expression changed completely.

Wiping away my tears, he kissed me softly and asked:

'Why are you crying Dhul Hun?'

'I'm...I'm such a useless wife,' I choked out.

His eyes became the size of Jupiter and the angry expression was back.

'No. You're the best wife anyone could ever ask for. What makes you even think like that?'

'I'm more sick than most old people, I'm pregnant with your children and I might be the cause of their death, I'm more of a burden than a comfort to you, I can barely walk without your help and I don't even smell good most of the time, because I bring up so much. I'm worthless,' I said as tears poured out of my eyes.

Dihya pulled back and shoved his hand through his hair, pacing around the room angrily.

'Don't EVER say those things, EVER again. Shaythaan is putting those thoughts in your head. I don't care if you're damn lying on a hospital bed smelling like a dead bird...You know why? Because I love you. And whether or not you smell like flowers and waterfalls, that's not going to change. And not only the old are sick, darling. As for helping you, I love it. I love carrying you around and holding your hand. You're not a burden, and you'll never be one. On our nikaah, I promised to look after you and cherish you. And that's exactly what I'll do, Dhul Hun. And our children...' he let out a harsh laugh.

'I may sound heartless for saying this, but you're more beloved to me than they'll ever be. Sure, I'd love them to the moon and back. But you... I love you out of the galaxy, around the Kuiper belt thrice, Jupiter times five and back. Because you're the one that comforts me, you're the one that helps me, you're the one that listens to my nonsense, you're the one that looks after me and you're the one that's giving me children. You know, I always loved the Hadith "A righteous wife to help you with your worldly and religious affairs is the best treasure anyone could have." But I only truly understood the wisdom of it after marrying you. So don't EVER tell me that you're worthless, because you're not. You're mine and you're worth everything. You're my treasure,' he finished.

I stared at him for two seconds before flinging myself into his arms. I felt them wrap tightly around me as I sobbed into Dihya's chest.

'Come now,' he murmured after a while and carried me over to the bed. He placed me gently on the edge and got out my 'ninja gear' from the cupboard. He walked back toward me and helped me put them all on. 

'Go now. See what Maryam needs. I have to go and coach my brother because he decided that he fell in love and instead of falling prey to Shaythaan, he wants to make nikaah,' Dihya said with a grin. I laughed and wiped away my tears.

'Ok. Don't teach Faheem nonsense Dihya,' I warned before leaving the room.

Walking into the kitchen, I was hit by a wave of heavenly smells tickling my taste buds.

Maryam and Sameeha were sat on top of the counter and Nani was doing something weird to their face. She applied an ugly paste and made them sit and wait, while she busied herself with cooking some odd looking thing.

I looked at Sameeha as she ran her eyes over her hands nervously.

'What's wrong love?' I asked her softly.

'What if....what if Faheem doesn't like the patterns?' she replied nervously.

Maryam laughed and said:

'Faheem would like garbage bags on you darling. Why do you think he rushed so much? The guy never even came properly for a proposal and you guys are getting married! Ah, Ya Allah. Who would have thought that Faheem and I would get married on the same day, huh?'

I sat silently and nodded my head. It was true. None of us had expected him to get married for about four years. I thought then about how true the ayah was. 

We plan and Allah plans and verily Allah is the best of planners...

Soon, we were rushing to finish up the things in the kitchen. The nikaah was to be after Asr and the reception after Maghrib. Ladies kept pouring in, and, instead of being considerate and respecting that I was in niqaab, they dragged their husbands around with them, and so I had to keep on my jilbaab, niqaab and gloves. Dihya messaged me to tell me to meet him outside the back door quickly. I went outside and found him leaning against the wall and looking at his hand.

'What happened Dihya?' I asked, walking over to him quickly.

'I er...I hurt my hand...' he said.

'And how exactly did you do that?' I asked suspiciously. He was supposed to be setting tables.

'Let's leave that out, yeah? Please just do something. It hurts,' he said, still looking down at his hand.

'Dihya. What did you? I will not help you if you don't tell me how you go hurt...' I told him sternly.

'Really? Gosh. Promise you won't hit me?'

I put my hands on my hips and glared at him through my niqaab. He chuckled nervously and scratched the back of his head.

'I'm waiting,' I told him through narrowed eyes.

'Ok...I might have punched someone,' he said nervously looking down at me.

'Who did you punch? Dihya! What's wrong with you?'

'What? The guy was talking about you,' he mumbled.

I looked at him, baffled.

'Which guy?' I asked.

'Hurayvah's husband, Rayyan,' he muttered through clenched teeth.

'Why did you punch him then? Dihya, I don't even know this guy!'

'But I do! He likes women, ok? You're my wife and I'm not letting anyone even utter a word about you,' Dihya hissed.

'What did he say?'

'What could he say?' I thought. I'm all covered up.

'I will not repeat such filthy words. I can't stand disrespect toward women, especially when the woman is mine.'

Ya Allah, his possessive side was out.

I walked up to him and took his hand into mine. It was swollen, some skin was torn, and there were blood stains covering his large hand.

'Dihya... Look at your hand now. Ya Allah, what am I going to do with you?' I muttered and pulled him into the kitchen. No one was there.

'Where's everyone?' he asked, sitting down and taking a sip of my coffee. I swatted his hand and insisted that he put my coffee down.

'You can share with me anything else, but don't touch my coffee,' I warned as I made my way to him with the first aid box mummy kept in the kitchen.

'Can you move it? Is anything broken or fractured?' I asked him taking his hand gently in mine.

'No, nothing. It just hurts because, well, I punched the guy really hard.'

'Dihya, if anyone says anything about me, walk away. Control yourself. I'm not going to toddle away with anyone, you don't have to worry about that,' I told him as I wrapped his hand with a bandage.

He looked at me and sighed.

'I'll try, In Shaa Allah. Anyway, it's against the sunnah not to control your anger...'

'Exactly. Now go away from here, I'll see you later In Shaa Allah. Don't punch anyone,' I warned and he grinned.

'I can't promise you anything darling,' he said and I pinched him. He smiled and kissed my forehead.

'Don't tire yourself Dhul Hun... Just relax,' he whispered, kissed my head again and walked away.

I shook my head and walked to Maryam's room, struggling up the steps.

'Gosh...could you get any more annoying?' someone muttered from behind me. I ignored her and continued walking up slowly.

'Stupid sick people. Spoil it for everyone,' the voice came again, hissing this time. I gritted my teeth and walked on.

'Sheesh, you useless woman... Move out of the way,' the lady pushed me against the railing and stormed into the guest room upstairs. Tears threatened to fall again.

I really was useless. This woman just told me so. I ran into Maryam's room and, suddenly nauseous, I threw my jilbaab off, my scarf and niqaab following the flying pieces of hijaab. I rushed toward the toilet pan and brought up. Tears flowed down my cheeks and I shut my eyes to stop them.

'Diya? What's wrong?' Maryam asked softly from behind me.

 That was it. A sob racked through my body and my shoulders shook uncontrollably as I cried against the wall.

'Diya? Diya, tell us what happened,' Sameeha said sitting down next to me on one side, while Maryam sat on the other.

I lay my head against Maryam's shoulder and I held Sameeha's hand.

'I'm useless,' I told them quietly.

Maryam looked at me and then shook her head angrily.

'Are you mad? Diya, you are probably the single most important person in my life! Well, with mummy of course.' 

Sameeha squeezed my hand and looked me in the eyes.

'Diya...I don't know you very long, but I know something for sure. You are not worthless. Your mother-in-law adores you, Maryam treats you like her own sister, tells you her deepest-darkest secrets, goes to you for any advice she needs, and Subhannallah...your husband? Just the way he looks at you, you can see that you are his life. He treats you better than any king would treat his queen. So Diya, you are NOT worthless. To some people, you are worth everything...' Sameeha softly said.

Tears threatened to fall again and the two of them put their arms around me. I wrapped my arms around their shoulders and we sat there, like that, for a little while.

'Diya? You're gone very thin...It isn't good for the babies... You need to eat more,' Maryam said worriedly.

I nodded and realised that she was right. While I wasn't fat before, I had meat. I wasn't skinny like some girls were. Dihya used to tease me and tell me that I had thunder thighs because I kicked and thrashed about in my sleep, more often than not injuring my poor husband. Now, I had lost a lot of weight, and I was pregnant. You couldn't really tell, except that I had a small bump on my tummy, which only Dihya really knew about.

'What happened? What made you think that you were useless?' Sameeha asked gently. I took in a deep breath and told them what I'd been thinking this morning and then what had happened on the staircase.

Maryam hissed and stood up angrily.

'It's that Hurayvah,' she seethed. She got up and insisted that she was going to 'sort her out.'

I laughed and pulled her down again.

'Just sit down, little one. Dihya already got himself into trouble; I don't need any more drama.'

'What did he do?' Maryam asked curiously.

I told her the story and she nodded in understanding.

'Dihya and Rayyan don't have a very good relationship,' she told me.

'Why?'

'When Hurayvah was getting married, I'd gone to stay there a few days before the wedding. Rayyan had come over and might have tried to charm me, I guess. Me, being the aggressive woman that I am, kicked him. I know, I'm not allowed to touch a ghayr-muhrum, but I was stupid then. There was no sister-in-law to remind me of what I could and couldn't do,' she said grinning. I laughed and told her to continue.

'Anyway, Faheem and Dihya found out. They went up to Rayyan and I'm not really sure what they did, but they'd come back home with a few bruises, while Rayyan had to attend his wedding with a broken hand and leg, and bruises all over. Hurayvah's hated me ever since, and I guess the feelings are reciprocated,' she laughed and so did we.

'How many guys has Dihya beaten up?' I asked.

She looked at me seriously and shook her head.

'You should ask him that. Most have been for me,' she said cracking a smile.

I smiled and shook my head.

Mummy walked into the bathroom and screamed at us for sitting down when we should have been changing up and getting ready.

'But...there are still hours for Asr!' Maryam complained and Sameeha joined in.

Rayhana kala, who was now standing in the doorway as well, shook her head.

'These will be the fastest hours of your life, darlings...' She told them softly.

I smiled and agreed... I remembered my wedding day... How time has flown!

AN HOUR BEFORE THE NIKAAH:

'Diya, get that!'

'Diya, help me with this!'

'Diya, open this for me!'

'Diya! Come here!'

'Diya, where's it?'

My head was buzzing as Sameeha and Maryam started to get nervous and jumpy. They were stressing like anything now, only an hour left until they were married.

'BOTH OF YOU! SIT DOWN ON THE BED NOW!!!' I yelled. They looked at me sheepishly, before walking to the bed and sitting down.

'Just relax, both of you. We need to get the two of you ready quickly. Just now, both your muhrums will come and ask you for your affirmation to marry. You both need to be ready before that. After the nikaah, I'll help to put on your dresses and then we'll go to the hall, In Shaa Allah,' I told them.

Maryam nodded and Sameeha took in a few deep breaths.

Mummy, Rayhana kala, Nani and foi walked into the room a few minutes later and soon, the room looked as if a tornado had hit it.

People came in and out of the room; the house began to fill up with excited family members and friends. Soon enough, the rooms were filled with excited chattering, ladies changing themselves and their children, toddlers running around and playing, and us...waiting with the two brides who had resorted to biting their nails in nervous excitement.

Rayhana kala and mummy were tearing in the corner of the room, foi was muttering something to herself as she did her makeup, nani lay on the bed exhausted and Sameeha, Maryam and I sat together on the couch, me calming them down. A minute later, there was a knock at the door and Maryam and Sameeha looked at each other expectantly. Foi smiled at them and opened the door. Dihya and Uncle Imraan stood, waiting at the door for the two brides. They both were in simple abayas and scarves; their dresses were to be worn after the nikaah.

I walked with them and stopped just before the door, kissing both of their foreheads.

'Tawakkal thu Allallah,' I whispered and they both nodded, leaving the room with unshed tears.

Dihya smiled at me, before leaving with Maryam. I walked back into the room, with my own tears, thinking about my own nikaah and how much had happened in such a short while.

Makaru wa Makrallah... Wa Allahu Khayrul Maakireen...

__________________________________________________________________________________

DURING THE NIKAAH:

All of us, around 70 ladies, sat squashed together in the lounge, listening to the nikaah being performed. We heard Ihsaan go up first, say his vows and then Faheem straight after. When the nikaahs were done, the Imaam made a Du'aa for both couples, and there wasn't a dry eye there. As soon as the receiver was switched off, the room erupted into congratulations.

Both brides were hugged by family and friends. Mummy, Foi, Rayhana Kala, Nani and I stood to the one side of the room, waiting for everyone to finish and leave the room. As soon as Sameeha and Maryam saw us waiting, they ran over. Maryam hugged mummy and cried, Sameeha hugged Rayhana Kala as they both sobbed, I, remembering my own wedding day, cried into Nani's shoulder as foi comforted us all.

Soon, we were smiling again, and I hugged Maryam and Sameeha at once.

'Mubarak, both of you. Remember that it isn't going to be easy, but Allah Ta'alah is there with you, all the time. Never go to sleep with your spouse being angry at you, and try to be a wife like the Azwaaj Al-Muthaharraat. You will never go wrong, I promise you,' I whispered to both of them.

Maryam kissed my cheek and Sameeha hugged me before the ladies called us and told us that we needed to start getting ready.

Excited, Maryam and Sameeha ran up the stairs, stopping at the top to wait for me.

'I'm sorry,' Maryam said once I was at the top.

I grinned and pushed her forward, until we were in her room.

The next half an hour was chaos. Everyone was screaming at each other, accusing the other of stealing their things, before realising they hadn't taken it out, bracelets snapping, necklaces getting hooked on to the dresses, makeup being smudged onto someone's scarf and just. Plain. Chaos.

Finally, we were all ready. All of us wore dresses, since there wouldn't be any mingling at all. While we would be at the hall, the men would be at a venue down the road.

Mummy walked out of the bathroom, looking stunning. She wore a baby pink chiffon dress with a belt of silver jewels under the bodice. It had patches of the same jewels all over, and her scarf was the same colour, with a silver jewel patch on the side.

Rayhana Kala had a midnight blue dress with green blending in on the skirt part. It had jewel covered sleeves and the skirt flowed out like a princess dress. Her scarf was the same two colours, midnight blue and green, and the similar jewels were scattered on her scarf, bringing out her smoky grey eyes.

Foi, always different, had on a brown elegant skirt with turquoise beads all over. Her shirt was turquoise with brown beads all over the sleeves, her scarf the same colours. Not something people would normally wear to a wedding, but it was smart and really suited her, Alhumdulillah.

Nani had a lime green dress on, that had a swirl of silver jewels scattered on one side. That was it. Her scarf was the same colour and had a similar swirl at the end.

Maryam and Sameeha looked wonderful in their wedding dresses- Maryam in her lace dress, Sameeha in the other. Both were three quarter sleeved, showing their patterned hands.

I, on the other hand, was still in my abaya.

'Diya, come on, get ready quickly! Just now we'll have to go!'

I nodded and walked into the bathroom with my dress in a clothes suitor. A simple but elegant one. It was red, tight on the bodice and the chiffon skirt flowed out. Silver diamantes covered the bodice and the sleeves were plain, also chiffon. My scarf was a simple red one, with a few diamantes on the edge.

I walked into the bedroom and was met with shell-shocked, open mouthed, gob stopping stares.

'What?' I asked wondering if something was wrong with my clothes.

'You're...you're...WOW!' mummy gushed. I looked at them in confusion as they all rambled on about how beautiful I was looking.

'Ok people...Seriously, you guys are being weird. What's going on?'

'Red...really, really suits you!' Sameeha said.

'Yeah, it matches your constant blush,' Maryam grinned and I felt myself going red. They all laughed at me.

'Jazakallahu Khayran. Now come on, we need to start getting going. But first,' I looked at them and they all groaned, knowing what was coming next.

'Yes, come on. All of you, start tidying up!' I told them.

After 15 minutes, the room was significantly cleaner and we made our way downstairs, donning our abayas over our clothes. I put on a baggy, stretchy material abaya and a burqa with my niqaab, instead of my jilbaab.

We went into the kitchen, and let the ladies fuss over the food while I sat with Maryam and Sameeha and talked.

In a short while, the ladies began to leave for the hall. Hurayvah, Rumaysa, Afraa and another girl I didn't know walked into the kitchen, just as the men returned from the Musjid.

'Congratulations, both of you. I' so happy for you,' Hurayvah drawled sardonically, not showing much happiness. I rolled my eyes and got up when Dihya walked into the kitchen. He took me into the corner and kissed my forehead. I saw tears brimming his eyes, and I hugged him immediately. He clung on to me, and I felt a few tears fall onto my abaya.

'I can't believe that she's married,' he murmured.

I nodded and ran my fingers through his hair gently.

'I can't believe that idiot is married either,' he said, grinning as he pulled back from the hug and wiped his eyes. I laughed and asked him why he had come in.

'To tell you to tell the girls that their husbands are waiting for them.'

I nodded and quickly checked his hand, before going and telling Maryam and Sameeha. The two of them were undeniably nervous, and Sameeha looked frightened more than anything. I calmed them down and they walked out of the kitchen, into the rooms downstairs.

Mummy called Dihya into the kitchen again, much to his discomfort, and hugged the living guts out of him. 

Both of them cried for my late father-in-law, May Allah Ta'alah grant him Jannah. I also started to tear a little, thinking of my own parents. Mummy turned around and hugged me too.

'Jazakallah Mardiyyah. You are really a blessing, my dear,' she told me softly.

'Jazakallahu Khayran to you, mummy. I love you,' I told her and she smiled.

'My husband would've loved you, you know...' she said, a faraway look on her face, before kissing my forehead.

I smiled and turned around, only to find that Hurayvah was glaring at me. I frowned. She wasn't even supposed to be thee. Mummy had made it clear that only the immediate family were to be in the kitchen.  

What was wrong with this girl?

Dihya walked out of the kitchen, saying that he had to get the cool drinks. Two minutes later, a guy walked into the kitchen. I lowered my gaze immediately and heard Hurayvah run up to him and hug him.

'I missed you so much Waleed!' she said kissing him on his cheek.

Who was Waleed? I thought that she was married to Rayyan. A minute later, Rayyan walked into the kitchen and I walked straight out of the back door. Can't these people see that I was in Niqaab? Talk about 

disrespect.

'Waleed! Good to see you, brother,' I heard who I supposed was Rayyan say.

Brother? Maybe it was Hurayvah's brother. It surely couldn't be Rayyan's brother. I mean, the Hamuw shouldn't be anywhere near his sister in law, especially when she was dressed like Hurayvah was.

I was even more disturbed when I saw Rumaysa and Afraa go over to Rayyan and Waleed and hug them. 

What was wrong with these girls? Didn't they know that Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam said that the Hamuw is like death? As I stood outside, I heard foi screaming at them.

'What is wrong with you people? Get out of here if you're going to bring boys in!' Foi shouted at them, making me grin.

'Hurayvah, what has gotten into your head? You know that Mardiyyah is in niqaab, but you still tell these boys to come in! Go out,' mummy said.

'I don't see what the problem is, Gori kala,' Hurayvah said sweetly and Afraa and Rumaysa nodded.

'Yeah, the chick was already dressed like a ninja,' Rumaysa sneered, making my blood boil.

I remembered the Hadith where Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam warned us to stay away from anger, and calmed down a little.

'It's called hijaab, something you girls obviously don't know about,' Rayhana kala said eyeing them distastefully.

Afraa glared at her and said:

'Maybe you guys should tell your girls to loosen up a bit, and live life. Oh yeah, the one's going to die soon anyway,' she said and the others all burst out laughing.

Mummy and foi walked up to her and just as mummy was about to slap her, I told her not to.

'Leave it mummy. It's true, anyway,' I said softly. They began to argue but I pleaded with them to stop.

'If you girls are going to stand here like the Shaythaans you are you and talk about my granddaughters like that, I suggest you leave immediately,' Nani said to them angrily after mummy had calmed down.

They smirked and walked out. I saw Waleed take Rumaysa's hand and kiss her temple. Ugh, these people were gross!

I walked into the kitchen and shook my head. Mummy, foi and Rayhana kala were still glaring angrily in their direction, while nani muttered some things in Gujurati.

'Don't worry about what they said, beti,' Nani told me before hugging me. I blinked back my tears and nodded, forcing a smile.

'I won't...'

And I really wished that I wouldn't.

_________________________________________________________________________________

AFTER THE WEDDING:

I hugged Sameeha and Maryam one last time, before they got into their respective cars with their husbands and drove off. I walked over to Dihya and he wrapped his arms around me, while I lay my head on his chest.

He placed a kiss on my head, before sighing and leading me into the house. There was no one inside as yet. 

Mummy, foi, Rayhana kala and nani were out having ice-cream with Abbi, Nana and Uncle Imraan. They claimed that they needed a treat after the work that they had done. Daniyaal and Zayyan had devised some genius plan to drop water balloons on both couples as soon as they walked into their rooms. Dihya had helped them, and together they'd rigged both apartments while the wedding reception was carrying on. Now, Daniyaal and Zayyan stated that they were tired and so they had gone home.

Both couples would be staying in neighbouring houses, once belonging to Dihya's father.

I was so tired. It was approximately some crazy time after 01:00am and my chest was killing me.

Dihya told me to go and lie down, before checking to see that all windows and curtains in the house were closed. I went into the bathroom and looked around for my medication. Realising that it was in Maryam's bathroom, I groaned and walked out of the room, standing at the bottom of the stairs.

'Dihya! Get my medicines for me, please!' I yelled.

'Where are they?' he screamed back.

I told him where they were and two minutes later he was running down the stairs with the medication in his arms. I smiled and took them from him.

'Jazakallah,' I said, pecking him quickly before going back into the bathroom. He followed me in and hugged me from behind as I brushed my teeth.

'I bet you were looking the most beautiful tonight,' he murmured.

'You wish. The other girls were wearing such dresses, they put princesses to shame,' I told him after spitting the toothpaste out.

He spun me around to face him and looked at me.

'Nope. No one could possibly look better than this. You look stunning Dhul Hun,' he said before kissing me. I pulled back and walked out of the bathroom, blushing, toward his clothes.

'My bump is starting to show a little,' I told him as I rummaged through his T-shirts, trying to find my favourite one.

I heard him spit out his toothpaste before walking back into the room and putting on his pyjamas- white shorts and a baby blue T-Shirt. He bounced on to the bed and sat, watching me.

'Yeah... I can see it,' he said with a grin.

'Of course you can,' I told him before walking into the bathroom. I realised that he had to open the small zip for me.

'Open this, would you?' I asked, walking over to him and turning around. He stood up and opened the zip halfway for me before sitting back down.

'Go and change quickly. I want to talk to you,' he said.

I nodded and rushed into the bathroom. I stepped out of the red dress and put on my three quarter cotton shorts and Dihya's green and red Quicksilver T-shirt. I took off my scarf and let my hair loose before walking back into the room.

'Dihya, if you don't get me a glass of water I swear I'll punch you in the gut,' I told him before sitting down on the bed and placing my medicines next to me.

He looked at me weirdly before shaking his head.

'Why do you have to threaten me? If you told me to go and get you a glass of water, without threatening to punch me, I would have done it,' he grumbled before walking out of the room. 

I laughed and shook my head.

It was true. I always threatened him, telling him that I'd do something to him if he didn't do what I said. And every time I did that, he'd grumble and tell me the same thing. I smiled and thanked Allah Ta'alah for giving me a husband like him.

I remember once, about a week after we had gotten married, I woke up in the middle of the night, craving a slice of the chocolate cake I had baked that day. I woke Dihya up and insisted that if he didn't get for me a slice, I'd refuse to cook for him the next week. He looked at me, baffled, before getting up and fetching me a piece of the cake. He had told me what he said now. That was the night I realised that I was the luckiest woman on the planet. I shared with him my chocolate cake then, and he ate the pieces I gave him in his sleep. I still had the video on my phone.

I laughed at my thoughts and just then Dihya walked in.

'Why are you laughing?' he asked me, handing me the water before getting onto the bed and lying down.

I took my tablets and turned to face him, making him sit up and then sitting in his lap.

'I was remembering the time I woke you up to get me chocolate cake in the middle of the night,' I told him. He 

chuckled as he traced the mendhi patterns on my hand.

'Yeah...I was remembering that when you weren't at home,' he said quietly.

I intertwined our fingers and he kissed my hand.

'I used to cry myself to sleep...' I whispered, remembering how I would sit and look at his picture on my phone, into the early hours of the morning.

He sighed.

'Let's just say you don't even want to know the depression I went in to,' he mumbled quietly, resting his head in my neck.

I reached one hand back and tangled it into his hair.

'I'm sorry...' I whispered and he growled.

'What did I tell you about apologising?' he said angrily.

'But...it's true Dihya. I've brought you nothing but sadness these past few weeks. And that is exactly the opposite of what Allah Ta'alah has made a wife for.'

He looked at me and then took a deep breath before pulling his hair in frustration.

'Why can't you see that I love you?' he asked, hurt evident in his voice.

I turned around in his lap and buried my face in his neck.

'What do you mean?' I murmured.

'You've brought me nothing but happiness. You think I was sad when you told me that you were pregnant? Do you?'

'No...' I whispered.

'So then? I'm miserable because I can't stand the thought of losing you! Not because you're a horrible wife...' he mumbled into my hair.

I held onto him and we sat tearing a little. After a little while, Dihya sighed and kissed my head.

'Lie down, Dhul Hun,' he mumbled and I climbed off his lap, lying down. I snuggled into the covers and felt Dihya pull me to his side. He was still sitting up, and he looked down at me with a small smile as he ran his fingers through my long hair.

'Lie down with me,' I mumbled, closing my eyes. He immediately did so and pulled me into his arms, resting his head on top of mine.

'Why do I have to go so soon?' I mumbled into his chest tiredly.

'I don't know Dhul Hun... Because Allah loves you more than I do,' he murmured.

I smiled and kissed his chest.

'We will meet again,' I told him, 'in Jannah...'

'In Jannah,' he muttered before grabbing my hand and holding it.

'In Shaa Allah,' we both whispered and fell off to sleep like that.

__________________________________________________________________________

AN: If this is posted...YAY!!! FINALLY!!!!!

A Muslim woman should try her best to practice segregation from her brother-in-law, even if they live in the same home and even if he is years younger than her and even if the sister-in-law sees him like her brother or son. 

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam) said that,

"The brother-in-law is Death."

'Uqba bin 'Amir [Radhiyallahu Anhum] narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam) said,

"Beware of entering upon the ladies."

A man from the Ansaar said, "Allah's Apostle! What about Al-Hamuw?" 

The Prophet replied, "The Hamuw is death."

In Arabic, the 'Hamuw' refers to 'the husband's brother or his relatives; for example, his paternal uncle's son or his maternal uncle's son.'

It can also refer to the sister's husband. Let's quickly re-cap...

Hamuw means:

1. The Husband's brother & male relatives.

2. The Sister's Husband

Therefore, 'Hamuw' in Arabic has more of a general meaning than in English. In English the 'brother-in-law' refers specifically to the husband's brother and does not include his relatives, such as his cousins or the children of his cousins. In English the phrase 'brother-in-law' only refers to the husband's brother or the wife's sister. It is important to keep in mind that in Arabic the term Hamuw refers also to the husband's and wife's cousins.

In Islaam the a women's Muhrums have been clearly defined; A Muhrum is a woman's husband or a man with whom that woman cannot marry at all according to Islaamic Fiqh [Jurisprudence]. This can be due to blood relationship (such as father, son, brother, paternal uncle etc) or due to a foster relationship. For no other Non-Muhrum has the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam) used such clear and categorical wording of caution as he has for the brother-in-law. 

Even if our culture and traditions allow the mixing of a sister-in-law with her brother-in-law openly as if were her real brother, in Shari'ah (Islamic Law) the Hamuw is not considered a blood brother or like a blood brother. Therefore, the added 'in-law' in 'brother-in-law' is not referring to the Islaamic law.

Why the Similitude of 'Death'?

From the words of the scholars  we learn some of the reasons as to why the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam) referred to the brother-in-law as 'death':

· Just as a woman would run away from death, she should run away from mixing spending time and being in the presence of her brother-in law, as much as she possibly can.

· Just as death is inevitable, it is also inevitable that at times, due to the brother-in-laws strong relationship with the husband, a woman may be put in a situation with him in which seldom would she have to face with anyone else.

· His (i.e. the brother in law) coming near the wife of his brother resembles death in repulsiveness and mafsadah (cause of corruption & evil). Such as the brother-in-law may resemble her husband in looks and character or the sister-in-law may find her brother in law attractive, or vice verse. Such cases would be a cause of great problems arising; resulting in:

1. The marriage coming to an end, just as death brings an end to life.

2. Results in the death of her modesty and religiosity.

3. Resulting in her death metaphorically, when her husband's protective jealousy (gheerah) leads him to divorcing her.

4. By her being stoned to death if she commits adultery with him.

· She should have caution with the Hamuw as you would have caution from death.

· Just as a person flees from death, it is incumbent that the husband flees from allowing entrance of his relatives upon his wife and his family which aren't Muhrum to her.

We come to see how brief, concise and eloquent the words of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam) are. Every believing woman's heart should fill with caution and she must take heed to this.

Let's add strength to what has been said by diving into the explanations of this Hadeeth given by some of our 

leading great scholars of Islaam.

Imaam Al Qurtubi:

Imaam al Qurtubi said regarding the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam) statement, 'the brother-in-law is death':

"In other words: his entering upon the wife of his brother resembles death in repulsiveness and mafsadah (cause of corruption & evil). Therefore, he (the Prophet, Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), has prohibited it with a clear prohibition. He (the Prophet [Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam]) has emphasised the caution from that.

He (described it as) death, due to the indulgence of people in it (openly) from (both) the husband's and wife's side, because it has become the norm...the Hamuw entering upon the women necessitates towards the death of her deen (religion), or to her death by means of her (husband) divorcing her, when he becomes jealous, or by her being stoned if she commits adultery with him.

Imaam Al Baghawee:

The wording of this (hadeeth) means: certainly solitude with the Hamuw with her (the wife) is more severe than her solitude with any other stranger...it also means: have caution with the Hamuw as you would have caution from death."

Imaam An-Nawawi:

"Layth bin Sa'ad said: Al-Hamuw is the husband's brother and whoever resembles him (the-brother-in-law) from the relatives of the husband, like his paternal uncles son etc. The Scholars of Language have unanimously agreed that Al-Ahmaa (trans. this is the plural of Al-Hamuw) are the relatives of a woman's husband, like his father, his paternal uncle, his brother, the son of his brother, the son of his paternal uncle and their like. Also, the Akhthaan: the relatives of a man's wife and the Ashaar: husband of one's sister. So it occurs for both types.

As for the Prophet's (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam) statement 'the brother-in-law is death' then it means that apprehension from him is more than from other than him. And the evil which occurs from him and the fitnah (trial/temptation/discord) is more due to him being able to reach the woman and be alone with her,- without disapproval upon him-, unlike the stranger...

Ibn Arabee said that it is a phrasing used in Arabic, like they say, 'the lion is death' i.e. meeting him is like death. And Qaadhi said it means that seclusion with the Ahmaa' (trans. this is the plural of Al-Hamuw) leads to fitnah and destruction in deen (religion), that's why he referred to it as like the destruction of death. Therefore the phrasing shows weight (i.e. the weightiness of the issue at hand)."

Imaam As-Suyooti:

"'The Brother-in-Law is death' means: certainly fear from him is more than from others and the evil which occurs from him in privacy is more, due to his being able to gain access to the woman and be alone with her without it being disapproved of him, unlike the strange. Even though, he is more deserving of being prohibited (from access) than the stranger!"

Imaam Ibn Hajar Al Asqalaani:

"Seclusion with the Hamuw certainly brings about destruction of the deen (of a person) if a sin occurs or death if a evil occurs, (in which case) stoning becomes waajib.

[trans. here Ibn Hajr is referring to if they commit adultery together], or (it brings about) the destruction of a woman by being separated from her husband, when his protective jealousy [gheerah] leads him to divorcing her."

Shaykh 'Uthaymeen:

"'The Brother-in law is death' are the gravest words of caution. It means, just as a person flees from death, it is incumbent that he (the husband) flees from (allowing) entrance of his relatives upon his wife and his family which aren't Muhrum (to her). This shows the extreme reprimand of (allowing) relatives of the husband to enter the house of the husband, (which is more) serious than the entrance of strangers, because these people enter with the recognition that they are relatives, so no-one disapproves. And when they come to the door, seeking permission to enter, no-one denies them.

That is why it is haraam on a person that he gives his brother a chance to be alone with his wife. Some people take this matter lightly; you'll find him (the husband) with his wife and he has a brother who has reached the age of puberty and he (the husband) goes to work, leaving his wife and his brother in the home alone. This is haraam (prohibited), because Shaythaan runs in the son of Adam like the running of blood.

(The question arises): how do we separate them when the house is one (i.e. if they are living in the same house)? 

(The answer:) It is waajib (incumbent) to place a locked door between the quarter of the man (brother-in-law) and the quarter of the woman. The husband (must) take the key with him (of the door). Then he (should) say to his brother, 'This is your place.' and to his wife, 'This is your place.' and he (should) say to his family, 'This is your place.'.

It is not allowed that the door be left opened, since he (the brother-in-law) may enter upon her and the shaythaan may mislead him and he may rape her and maybe he will delude her to concord, then it will be like she is his (the brother-in-law's) wife, entering upon her (like a husband would) and leaving and he doesn't (even) care. We ask Allah to forgive..."

والله اعلم