ALMISKEENAH

 

I used to present children with assorted badges for their sterling efforts when tasks were completed and the joy of learning shone from their innocent hearts. Then one day long ago they ‘awarded’ me with this badge which still proudly hangs with a little collection of memorabilia gathering Madian dust. Jokes are made that I still surreptitiously hand out homework.

 

The following may fall in this category of ’subtle coersion’, written by a dear and precious Hafizah/Alimah young mother of two. I have not attempted to edit it as I feel it would lessen the impact of its vibrancy.  Besides, the narrator, Umm Adam is fluent in two dialects of her mother tongue, plus Arabic and English. The English just seemed to happen by osmosis! SubhanAllah. So I let it speak in its own lyrical style. A poignant sharing for this Mubarak month, Masha’Allah.

 
I gaze deep into my kids eyes…

as he stares into the dark..

trying to conjure up his dear friend…his prophet muhammad

I try not to choke up the words as I tell him his bedtime sunnah story…

as he begs me again that he wants to see him..

kids will be kids u know..

how he wore his clothes?

he was not fussy abt his clothes like me?

he was very good?? an obedient boy?

he shared everything.. even his bike?..?

and the questions never end..

I try to answer all his questions..

but today I ache if somebody could answer me..

perhaps he himself if I see him tonight??

what would u do if u were me dear prophet…

now that we have gone too far..

following every other way but Yours..

muslims killing each other

each of them claim to be right..

oh how I wish you could come and lead us today

with your own precious self..

I try not to cry as I open my Hadith book..

trying to figure out a way we can get out of this mess..

oh Allah!

my heart calls out " my prophet.. my Muhammad"

just like he cried" Ummati Ummati

I wish u could be with me tonight…

im missing u so much.

"Well …which story u want to hear tonight?" I asked my 3-and-a-half-year-old Adam. "Bad.." I cut him short "NOT bad guy’s story! you have had your share of bad guys to last you a life time"

 "ok stupid boy’s?" He tried to reason.

 "Ya allah plz!! Adam I wish some day you would say you want to hear a good boy’s story" He kept giggling.

 Maybe some of you can explain it to me. Now come to think of it,, I think the reason why he shrinks when I mention the word good boy is that it burdens his little mind so much.. he naturally feels bound to follow and its hard for him.. why not hear a bad guys story.. laugh it out and feel good about it in the end that he is not THAT bad.

"Weelllll…here we go… One day a bedoin came to visit the prophet (peace be upon him) in his mosque.. he was kinda stupid and ignorant so ..

"And naughty??"

 "Umm yeah .. probably naughty"

"Yeah.. and he was bad.. was he a kafir mama?" He investigated further.

"No I dont think so honey I.."

"I think he was, but you told me kafir are humans remember? its just that they dont believe in Allah.."

"Yeah…" I said wearily.. yawning. Thank God he got this fact cleared up in his mind that bad guys, robbers, and kafirs are humans with two eyes and one nose..and they dont eat neither bite us humans.

" Honey im feeling sleepy… now let me finish the story.. dont interrupt again ok?"

"Ok"

"So where was I? umm yeah so that bedoin.."

"Stupid" he added. "Yeah stupid bedoin came, he felt like he had to go…

"He must have drunk too much water you know…. he didnt listen to his mama when she told him not to drink before going to the mosque?

"Wait a minute  Adam.. is it you telling a story or me?

"Sorry mama" he said sheepishly with a chuckle….

"So instead of asking where the bathroom was he went to the corner and pe peed there…

"Allah !!" he exclaimed. "In the mosque?"

"Yeah IN the mosque"

"Hhaaah tsk tsk tsk" he shook his head like old ladies. I wonder where he learnt that.. me?

"Well the companions were so outraged that they got up to stop the man and kick him out of the mosque..

"Just like you got out out raged when I peepeed in bed?"

"Yeah.. even more so because it was the prophets mosque.. one of of holiest mosques in the whole world..but the prophet was a very kind and gentle man.. he told the companions to wait and let him get done and then bring him to him..so when he was done,, companions took him to the prophet. Now the prophet was not an angry man so he didnt go screaming at him like "What have you done you stupid.. now clean up the mess and get the hell out of my mosque.. you know better than to peepee in the mosque blah blah.. Instead, he told him very gently that a mosque is Allah’s house and so should be kept clean so that everyone can enjoy visiting Allah and praying in peace..

"And remember how you yelled at me when I wet my bed mama?" He pulled a face."My prophet Muhammad would never have done such a thing. and you yelled so LOUD you almost.."

" Well Im sorry honey but a big boy like you should not have done that either.

"Never mind mama.. I forgive you. but dont hit me again next time ok?

"Ok" I rolled my eyes, giving up.

"So what have we learnt from this story.. boy.. Prophet was such a kind and gentle man I wish I could meet him.." I yawned.

"NO mama.. Nooo I dont want to meet him" he exclaimed as if we were going to visit the prophet right then.

"Why" he caught me offguard.

" I dont know.. I feel funny..umm  kinda shy" He cringed."You dont feel shy mama?" He sat up on the bed.. all excited.

Hmmm… hey how about that.. what if he really comes and visit us? I dont know why my eyes suddenly started darting around my bedroom. Wall-to-wall carpet and a thick rug…I imagined his hujra..my eyes swept over the double bed with a frilly bed cover.. I averted my eyes.. remembering how his thatch chatai used to leave marks on his body..I compared my wardrobe with his dear daughter’s…I wasnt feeling sleepy anymore…I touched my silk nightgown, why is it pricking me all of a sudden?. How come my celeste mattress feels so hard…

"yes mama?" "and I wondered for the hundreth time " Am I his mentor or he is mine?"

"well mama?? wont you feel shy if you meet him?" His green eyes sparkling like emerlards.

I hid my head in the pillow and whispered. "Yes honey.. I think I will"

 

JazakiLlahu Khairan Katheeran abada Umm Adam for sharing this moving piece of ‘homework’, assessed as 10/10 with a camel stamp!! Wouldn’t you agree?

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.