26.Aaryan

Aaryan vowed never to put the Holy Quran down ever again

He got a new life.

A life in which he was not rebellious, he became more thoughtful, started to respect his parents, and became grateful for whatever he had. He forgot about everything else and remembered only his Lord. It's been a week since his life changed and everyone in his family was flowing in happiness.

A week ago Aaryan told his father that he was not ready to go to the mosque yet. He admitted that he didn't know how to pray properly and there were many mistakes. He wanted to make his prayer better before praying in the mosque. His father understood. The entire week, he learned it from his father, and Yusuf would sometimes cry because there weren't many Muslim fathers who taught their children how to offer prayer at this age, but in the end, he was just grateful to Allah Subhanu Wa Ta'ala for this blessing upon him.

The alarm rang at four in the morning and Aaryan was up two minutes before it. This was the day when he was going to the mosque to pray, starting from the dawn prayer

He jumped off the bed and ran to the door of his room. Aaryan looked at Amara's room and he won the bet today. Every day from this week Aaryan and Amara made a bet about who will wake up for Fajr first. After a moment Amara appeared at the door, frowning. Aaryan blinked an eye at her, telling him that he had won, and Amara rolled her eyes. Exchanging no words the two of them went back to their room.

Aaryan made the ablution and then headed to the living room where his father was already waiting.

Exiting the house, they walked while the dark covered the two of them as a light. Yusuf appeared a little weak to Aaryan as he was walking so slowly "Are you okay, Baba?" he asked, walking closer to him. Yusuf nodded his head in yes "I am so happy that I can take you to the Masjid" His father replied and he seemed to be crying "Alhamdulillah" Said Aaryan in the same tone "Alhamdulillah" his father repeated

•••

They reached the Islamic Center of Hawthorne. Aaryan's emotions were overwhelming when he saw the mosque as it was spectacular. The praying area was spacious with carpeted flooring. The entire hall was filled with aromatic pleasure. Behind his feet were markings to ensure the straightened rows. All Aaryan could feel was peace, a level of peace that he never felt before.

His father kept on introducing him to the people, telling them, "This is my son, Aaryan Yusuf," with pride. Aaryan didn't know many people there, except some of his father's friends who used to visit their house. Aaryan greeted everyone in a respectful way and then his father took him to the leader of the mosque, the Imam

"Assalamu Alaikum, Imam" he greeted and the Imam replied with "Walikum Assalam" The Imam looked old, and his hair and long beard were all white similar to the clothes

"I have a favor to ask," Yusuf requested, respectfully. "In Sha Allah, I'd be happy to help. What can I do for you?" he replied with a warm smile

"Can I be the Imam for the prayer today? My son is here with me, and I want to lead the prayer." Yusuf gestured towards Aaryan with the same feeling of pride. "By the grace of Allah, you can, Yusuf," The Imam said and gave a pat on the shoulder to Aaryan. Yusuf smiled and in a pleased voice he said "JazakAllah Khair"

His father was gone to the front, and Aaryan was feeling a little odd because before coming here, he thought people would stare at him weirdly as he had never come to the mosque before. But it was the exact opposite. Everyone was smiling at him as if they were genuinely happy for him. Receiving the warmth Aaryan went to find a place for prayer.

He found one in the corner and was about to stand there when someone said, "Chan khathor na, Phi but this is my place." Aaryan turned around to find a boy whom he didn't recognize. The boy looked younger than him, he had straight black hair and an innocent round face, and like every other person, he was smiling at him as well.

Aaryan didn't get the starting words, but he knew he would have to leave this spot.

"Oh, I am sorry," Aaryan said, stepping aside. "I am sorry too, Phi, but it's my favorite place, and I can't give it away," Was there a thing like that too? Aaryan was a little amazed, but he just nodded in reply, and then one more voice came to him.

"Ryan?"

It sounded like the happiest voice, and it belonged to "Taha." Aaryan suddenly felt a mixture of guilt and happiness as he saw him. Taha was smiling so widely that his face could hardly manage to keep it on. His eyes were shining and stretched. A combined expression of surprise and delight flickered across his face. His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something but was lost for words. Taha ran towards him "Welcome home, Man" he said, pulling him into a strong hug and Aaryan said nothing in reply but hugged him back

After a moment, the Imam called, "Straighten the rows." The voice of his father felt commanding, and everyone acted upon it. As the glorifying call to prayer echoed through the hall, a profound silence took its place. The worshippers started to arrange in rows, standing shoulder to shoulder with each other

As Aaryan heard the Imam saying "Allah Hu Akbar" the voice traveled to his heart, through his ears. His father sounded to be at the edge of crying while saying the powerful words, and as the prayer continued, he could hear the voice turning soft. When Yusuf started to recite Al-Fatiha and said "Alhamdulillahi Rabbil 'aalameen" he was crying and so was Aaryan. He could feel the reason why his father was breaking right in that moment. As the prayer continued, all of the people fell into prostration.

Their heads touched the floor at the exact same moment and it was magnificent. Aaryan felt at the top of the world when his head was on the ground. It was one of the best feelings one can ever feel.

•••

When they returned home, all of the family members sat in the prayer room, on the carpeted floor. Each of them had the Holy Quran in their hands.

This was started by Amara. She gave the idea of reading the Holy Quran together in the morning, and at the end, all of them would share the verses or words they found astonishing from the chapter they read that day.

After they were all done reading and placed their Qurans back in place, they sat in a circle, and Amina started, "Quran 3:185. Every soul will taste death," and then she went on explaining it "It's a hope and it's a fear. Everything will end. Every suffering will cease one day and every happiness will take a pause. So, instead of driving ourselves into this temporary home of the world that is worth nothing, we should work for the day when we will be taken back by our Lord. This world is nothing and that life is eternal and that's all we should care about" Aaryan felt the hope from it.

Amara went next "It's from Surah Bani Israel: 88, where Allah Subhanu Wa Ta'ala describes the greatness of Quran-e-Hakeem as a challenge "Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ 'If ˹all˺ humans and jinn were to come together to produce the equivalent of this Quran, they could not produce its equal, no matter how they supported each other."

They were some of the greatest words Aaryan had ever heard in his life, and they sent shivers through his body. He was mumbling Allah Hu Akbar on his lips.

It was now his turn and he felt like he just wanted to cry before reading it "Al-baqarah: 186 'When My servants ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about Me: I am truly near' It's hopeful to have this feeling that no matter what's happening to me, Allah Subhanu Wa Ta'ala is near me, listening to me and looking at me. No matter where I am or what I am doing, he is always there for me. He would never leave me alone and will always keep me in His protection" All of them nodded, and they had the brightest smiles on their faces.

Their father was the last one. He first recited the verses in a beautiful voice and then went on to the transition "Surah Al-Baqarah (2:161-162): 'Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers - upon them will be the curse of Allah and of the angels and the people, all together, Abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved' These are some of the most terrifying words, and we can never thank Him enough for this blessing that we, In Sha Allah, can't relate to them. We were born on the right path. We could have been disbelievers, but Allah Subhanu Wa Ta'ala chose us to be a Muslim and saved us from getting distracted" Aaryan was left stunned.

For a week, there was nothing in his mind except studying his religion, but upon hearing his father's words, his mind drove him towards Mary.

Aaryan was ignoring her, and even in the university, he would just find ways to get away from her and Raheel but now he could not stop himself from thinking about it. Amara looked at his pale face as if she knew what was happening to him. She stayed silent and Aaryan sighed in pain.

•••

One more day was coming to an end and Aaryan was saved from any type of interaction with his friends.

When Aaryan thinks about it, he remembers feeling angry with Taha in the beginning for not coming to him and helping him to get back to their religion because he wanted it forever, but now he can understand him. Aaryan ignored Raheel because he was afraid of going back there and living a life where his religion had nothing to do with him. The only thing he was doing for Raheel was to pray for his guidance. Maybe in the future Aaryan will go to him and talk to him about it.

But for now, he was just ignoring them both

Even at the end of classes, Aaryan would wait for half an hour so that Mary could leave before him and he wouldn't encounter her on the way back.

Aaryan was walking back to his home when he heard something, he was afraid of "Aaryan," Mary's voice.

He was left startled for a second. Aaryan could not turn to her, he kept his body in the opposite direction.

"Aaryan," She called again. Her voice was still so sweet, the one he wanted to keep on listening to, but Aaryan started to walk away from her.

"Aaryan Yusuf! I am talking to you," Mary yelled, and unwillingly, his feet gave up. Mary walked with giant steps, throbbing them to the road, and she stopped in front of him. "Why are you ignoring me?" She asked in fury "I am no…" Aaryan could not bring the lie to his tongue

"It's been more than a week, Aaryan. What are you playing at?" Her voice was thundering in the air yet it felt gentle to him.

He had no words. All Aaryan wanted to do was to look at her gorgeous hair, her eyes that had the prettiest color of the ocean in them, and her face. He wanted to look at her and check if she was okay. But Aaryan could not do it.

"I have some work to do," He said, staring at the road. "What work? Tell me, what the hell are you doing that is causing you to ignore me?" she wailed. What if something happened to Mary again? What if Matthew did something to her again that made her so angry? Aaryan wanted to ask them all and ask her how she was, but "I have to study." he just said

"What type of study is keeping you away from your girlfriend?"

You can not look at her.

Aaryan kept on yelling to himself in his mind but he wasn't sure for how long he could do it. All Aaryan was waiting for was a miracle to happen and save him because, in no time, he would break and might enfold her in a hug.

He was praying silently, and then it came to him, "Ryan, Mama is calling you home." Amara appeared behind him.

Aaryan's prayer was answered in an instant. He was somehow in disbelief and didn't even move.

"Hey, Mary, can I take my brother?" Amara asked and Mary didn't reply. She was silent and staring at him.

Amara shifted to Aaryan again. "What are you doing, Bhai? Mama said it's something urgent," she said, and since he was still not moving. Amara dragged Aaryan away from Mary