It is one of the spring peaceful days, the sky is wide and blue as the ocean and the
cotton shape white clouds are sailing through it quietly, the cold breeze is playing
with the trees leaves gently and the blossoming wild flowers covering the wet soil as
a florid rug and spreading their beautiful aroma around…
This day is the promised and desired day for Muhammad the seven years old son of
Abdullah; the young man who embraced Islam ten years ago…
Abdullah has promised his son Muhammad of a big fishing day as a prize for finishing
memorizing the first three chapters of the Noble Qur`aan…
And here is Muhammad; jumping from happiness and shouting:
- We are going to catch our dinner, right dad?
Abdullah said while he was busy filling the car trunk with the necessary stuff for the
trip:
- Yes, in shaa Allah son…
Then Abdullah closed the car`s trunk putting his warm hand on his son`s head
saying:
- So, you are ready now my champ, ha?
Muhammad with a big smile on his face:
-Off course and I am so excited.
Abdullah smiled in return:
-Then get into the car and let's fly to that lake son.
They both ride the car and before leaving the pregnant mother Azimah (who
embraced Islam after marrying Abdullah) was shouting to them:
-Hey…you forgot the baits.
She ran towards the car and handed the baits to her husband smiling gently
and saying:
-Was about to sleep with an empty stomach, big foot.
Abdullah said while rubbing his head:
-Naaah, I would come up with some ideas.
Azimah laughed to say:
-Yeah, I know you mister genius.
With a loud laughter; Abdullah said:
-Ok, may I leave now big stomach?
Azimah gently smiled and said:
-Yes of course. May Allah be with you both Ameen
Abdullah replied:
-And you too Ameen. Please take care of yourself honey.
Azimah replied comforting her husband who is worried to leave his pregnant
beloved wife alone in the house since she is in her last month of pregnancy:
-Don`t worry about us, we are under the Most Merciful sight and care.
Abdullah said:
- I told you before; we can postpone this day till after giving birth for our
baby… Azimah!! Don`t be stubborn.
Azimah looked at her husband`s eyes and said in a low tone:
-look at our son; he is so happy and excited Abdullah! And I don`t think
that you want to break his little heart now and at this happy moment of
him, right?
Abdullah took a deep breath then step on the fuel saying:
-Ok then, don`t forget the potato salad which you promised me.
Azimah laughed loudly to say:
-How would I?
Muhammad got out of the car window reminding:
-And the ice cream too mama.
Azimah replied:
-And that too my sweet heart…
Please take care of yourselves.
Abdullah moved away waving with his hand and saying:
-Don`t worry, we too under The Most Merciful sight and care.
While Azimah was watching the car disappears; she raised both of her
hands praying to Allah:
-O Allah, Be my Protector, my husband and children…Ameen
After few minutes in the car, Muhammad was singing some nasheeds
while Abdullah was watching him and smiling for the happiness his son
living…
Then Abdullah asked:
-Are you happy, champ?
Muhammad replied while smiling:
-Yes, I can`t wait to be there dad.
Abdullah:
-Be patient son, only few miles then will be fishing our diner in shaa Allah.
After 21 minutes; Abdullah and his son arrived and they were so amazed by the
beauty of the nature around them; the snow-capped mountain peaks which lie
behind the emerald lake, the flourishing green trees and the fresh green grass mat
which adorned with the wild purple Iris. It was so refreshing for both of them;
inhaling the fresh cold air in the arms of the nature there.
Abdullah and his son prepared the fishing tools in minutes then sat on the shore of
the lake after fixing the fishing rod waiting for their diner to catch the bait.
After a while, in wonderment; Abdullah asked himself looking at his son; who was
silent staring at the small waves of the lake`s crystal water:
-What does this little precious brain thinking of?
Then he gently strokes the back of his son asking:
-Where did you go, son?
Muhammad looked at his father with his innocent brown eyes smiling, but the look
of discomfort was apparent on his face so, Abdullah asked:
-What is the matter son? Don`t you like this?
Muhammad:
-No, not that dad but I was thinking.
Abdullah asked:
-Of what son?
Muhammad kept on silent for few seconds before asking hesitantly:
-Dad! …Is it right that we have to hate non Muslims?
Abdullah smiled looking forward then asked his son calmly:
-Who told you this, son?
Muhammad sadly answered:
- Our art teacher.
Abdullah said no word staring at the fishing rod for a while, then with a deep voice
he called:
-Muhammad!
Muhammad responded to his father while his eyes were getting filled with the
childish warm tears for the feeling of guilt, thinking that he has ruined the big fishing
day which is supposed to be the happiest beautiful memory for both of them.
Abdullah said:
-Muhammad! Listen to me son, I know that you are so honest and will always tell the
truth so, I am going to ask you and you answer me from your heart and try to
understand me, ok?
Muhammad nodded his head positively while looking towards the lake then
Abdullah asked:
-Son, what if your mother was a non Muslim, her brothers, their sons and daughters
too, would you hate her, your uncles and cousins?
Muhammad`s eyes got wide and directly raised his head looking at his father so
surprised to answer in negative:
-Nooo…
His father looked towards him kindly and asked calmly:
-Then why to do so with strangers?
No response from Muhammad, so his father continued:
-Son, Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta`aalaa says in His Noble Qur`aan:
"The food of those who have received the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food
is lawful for them. And so are the virtuous women of the believers and the virtuous
women of those who received the Scripture before you (lawful for you) when ye give
them their marriage portions and live with them in honour"
So, would Allah want us to hate them by making a kinship between us and them?
And says Sub`haanahu Wa Ta`aalaa:" Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and
kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive
you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity. "
So, is hatred what Allah was talking about in that verse son? And Abdullah repeated:
-To deal justly and kindly.
Abdullah held his son`s shoulder and said:
-look at me champ.
Muhammad looked at his father with his teary eyes saying:
-I am sorry dad.
In wonderment, Abdullah asked:
-For what?
Muhammad cried so hard and with a trembling sad voice; he said:
-It is my fault, I ruined our big day, and It was supposed to be a happy day but I
didn`t mean…
And before completing his words his father took him in his arms and said:
-Come here son, you ruined nothing but you got to know that; I am really happy
today more than any day. Do you know why?
Muhammad moved his head in negative which was on the chest of his father; then
Abdullah gave the answer saying:
-Because today you have proved for me that you are an amazing Muslim man and a
real slave and servant of Allah.
Abdullah took his son`s head between his hands looking at his innocent face and
wiping the tears of his son with his warm fingers, saying:
-Son, you did nothing wrong.
Muhammad was listening to his father words and looking at his compassionate eyes
then Abdullah pointed to the chest of his son and continued saying:
-You have a real pure heart within this big chest my champ, Ma shaa Allah.
Muhammad sadly said:
-But I was thinking about it dad.
Abdullah smiled saying:
-And you asked me about it then what does that mean but your beautiful white
heart couldn`t accept it and meant that that matter has annoyed you so much son
and forced you to wonder and ask, am I right son?
Muhammad took a deep breath saying:
-Yes dad, and to be honest with you; last night I couldn`t sleep well thinking about it
and I too remembered you dad.
Abdullah laughed and asked:
-Me son?
Muhammad smiled saying:
-Yes dad, I remembered when you told me that our prophet Muhammad (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say: love for your brother what you love for
yourself and remembered when you said to me that all human beings in this world
are brothers and sisters for we have one father and one mother.
Abdullah smiled and asked:
-So, do you believe in that son?
Muhammad:
-Sure, I do.
Abdullah asked:
-And are you happy for being a Muslim?
Muhammad answered directly:
-I love to be a Muslim always and forever.
Abdullah said:
-Then son, as long as you believe in our prophet and his words (peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him) then you must love for your brothers and sisters in humanity
what you love for yourself!
Muhammad asking:
-To be Muslims?
Abdullah affirmed:
-Yes son, and that love won`t ever fill heart if hatred is taking its place, understood
me?
Muhammad smiled:
-Yes dad.
Abdullah smiled and held his son with one arm saying:
-Come here my big man.
But still, there was a question concerns Muhammad so, he asked:
-Dad! What about our teacher? Is he a bad person?
Abdullah put his hand on his son`s head answering in negative:
-No son, don`t say this about him. He just misunderstood the mercy and wisdom of
Allah. May Allah guide him and all of us Ameen.
Muhammad:
-Should I talk to him?
Abdullah was talking to himself:
-I wish from that teacher to stick to his art and leave those children alone in peace.
Muhammad:
-What have you said dad?
Abdullah:
-Oh, no son. Just leave him to me in shaa Allah, ok champ?
Muhammad:
-Yes.
Suddenly, the fishing string has pulled so hard; Abdullah jumped on his feet catching
the fishing rod and pulled it strongly and calmly saying:
-Son, I need your help in here.
Muhammad held the rod with his father and they both started pulling their diner.
Then Abdullah in amazement:
-Wow, it must be a huge fish.
They pulled together but then the thing which was pulling the fishing string got
released while Abdullah and his son were pulling it from the other side with all of
their strength so, they fell on their backs on the ground so hard.
Abdullah looked at his son who was staring up without even blinking so, in fear he
asked:
-Are you ok?
But there was no response so, he again shouted repeatedly:
-Son? Son? Muhammad?
Then Muhammad wondered while looking up:
-Is that our diner dad?
Abdullah looked up to see a big black boot dangling above their heads so, he exhaled
his fear and laughed saying:
-I don`t think so.
Then both of them burst into laughing.
When the dusk came; the door of Azimah has been knocked so, she left the kitchen
opening the door to find her husband carrying two big fishes and another big one
was in her son little hands.
Abdullah directly asked:
-Where is my salad?
His wife laughed to say:
-Waiting for you on the table, I don`t know who has the big stomach here?
After 20 minutes for the three fishes on the griller; the family starts having the best
happy dinner of an amazing fishing trip which will be printed in the memory of a
small innocent child forever.
Bookmarks