With her voice low and weak from the depth of her throat, she said,
“Tajj, please forgive me. I repent, forgive me. If you don’t forgive me, I will remain under the anger of Allah.”
He exhaled softly, his voice calm.
“Ma’eeshah, what have you done to me that makes you think I would not forgive you?”
Her eyes became teary, seeing that his eyes too had started shedding tears. With a trembling voice, she said,
“I keep crying because I failed to be your righteous wife. I know if you don’t forgive me, Allah will not forgive me either.”
Quickly, he pulled her into his lap and, in a gentle tone, said,
“Don’t cry. I forgave you even before you wronged me, let alone now when you’ve done nothing. It’s me who failed to be the man strong enough to suppress my desires that hurt your body and heart until they made you cry. Yes, truly, I long for you, but it’s no small pain to see your tears.”
Softly, she replied,
“In shaa Allah, I intend to relieve you from this pain.”
He answered with heartfelt joy,
“Alright, but for now, let’s have breakfast. It’s already past twelve.”
On the Journey to the Ship
After finishing their meal, she tidied the place. She turned to sit beside him but found him standing, pointing to his watch—it was a few minutes past one.
“It’s a forty-minute trip to where we’ll board the ship. If we arrive fifteen minutes to two, we can pray Dhuhr and Asr together in Qasr, because at exactly three, our ship departs.”
A worried thought struck her—what if they left Jordan without fulfilling the promise she made to Aunty Garkuwa? He stroked her cheek.
“Have you ever boarded a ship?”
Quietly, she replied,
“I’ve only seen one in a film—Titanic.”
Looking straight into her eyes, he said,
“Today you’ll board one as big as the one in that film.”
She began, “Tajj, let’s wait unti—” but he covered her mouth with his palm, pressing his index finger to his lips, silencing her. He packed their belongings, and they left.
When they arrived at the dock, Ishmah was awestruck at the massive ship bound for Qatar. Inside, she was even more amazed—there were small markets, moving vehicles, a hotel section, a hospital, gardens, restaurants, and even a shopping mall.
They lodged in an exclusive, luxurious guest room that looked like a royal suite, with a lavish canopy bed decorated with heart-shaped red flowers and the words “I Love You” embroidered on it. The breeze from the sea drifted through the windows, filling the air with a refreshing, calming scent.
“Masha Allah, Tajj,” she said in wonder.
He smiled warmly.
“I did it for your happiness, my wife.”
A Special Day on the Ship
He told her, “Today is special, because I’ve prepared to welcome Afisha.”
Her breath escaped sharply as she felt overwhelming affection for him.
“Thank you, Abu Afisha,” she whispered.
“You’re welcome, Oum Afisha,” he replied softly.
Later, after freshening up, he told her to wear a soft red dress to enjoy the weather. While he was in the shower, she got ready, applied her scented cream, sprayed her perfume, and put on her hijab for prayer. They prayed Dhuhr and Asr together, then he suggested two extra rak’ahs of nafilah prayer, making supplications afterward.
Gently, he placed his hands on her head and recited the prophetic dua:
“Allahumma inni As’aluka min khairiha wa khaira ma jabaltaha alaihi, wa a’uzu bika min sharriha wa sharra ma jabaltaha alaihi.”
Meaning:
“O Allah, I ask You for the good in her and the good You have created in her, and I seek refuge in You from the evil in her and the evil You have created in her.”
He explained that this dua strengthens love between spouses and protects their marriage from harm.
Afterward, he offered her a mug of chilled milk mixed with honey and grapes. When she hesitated, he gently insisted, “Sorry, but you must finish it.” She obeyed, feeling its cool sweetness linger on her tongue.
In her heart, she thought—she was the luckiest woman alive to have a husband like Tajj.
Description
Seeking Forgiveness
With her voice low and weak from the depth of her throat, she said,
“Tajj, please forgive me. I repent, forgive me. If you don’t forgive me, I will remain under the anger of Allah.”
He exhaled softly, his voice calm.
“Ma’eeshah, what have you done to me that makes you think I would not forgive you?”
Her eyes became teary, seeing that his eyes too had started shedding tears. With a trembling voice, she said,
“I keep crying because I failed to be your righteous wife. I know if you don’t forgive me, Allah will not forgive me either.”
Quickly, he pulled her into his lap and, in a gentle tone, said,
“Don’t cry. I forgave you even before you wronged me, let alone now when you’ve done nothing. It’s me who failed to be the man strong enough to suppress my desires that hurt your body and heart until they made you cry. Yes, truly, I long for you, but it’s no small pain to see your tears.”
Softly, she replied,
“In shaa Allah, I intend to relieve you from this pain.”
He answered with heartfelt joy,
“Alright, but for now, let’s have breakfast. It’s already past twelve.”
On the Journey to the Ship
After finishing their meal, she tidied the place. She turned to sit beside him but found him standing, pointing to his watch—it was a few minutes past one.
“It’s a forty-minute trip to where we’ll board the ship. If we arrive fifteen minutes to two, we can pray Dhuhr and Asr together in Qasr, because at exactly three, our ship departs.”
A worried thought struck her—what if they left Jordan without fulfilling the promise she made to Aunty Garkuwa? He stroked her cheek.
“Have you ever boarded a ship?”
Quietly, she replied,
“I’ve only seen one in a film—Titanic.”
Looking straight into her eyes, he said,
“Today you’ll board one as big as the one in that film.”
She began, “Tajj, let’s wait unti—” but he covered her mouth with his palm, pressing his index finger to his lips, silencing her. He packed their belongings, and they left.
When they arrived at the dock, Ishmah was awestruck at the massive ship bound for Qatar. Inside, she was even more amazed—there were small markets, moving vehicles, a hotel section, a hospital, gardens, restaurants, and even a shopping mall.
They lodged in an exclusive, luxurious guest room that looked like a royal suite, with a lavish canopy bed decorated with heart-shaped red flowers and the words “I Love You” embroidered on it. The breeze from the sea drifted through the windows, filling the air with a refreshing, calming scent.
“Masha Allah, Tajj,” she said in wonder.
He smiled warmly.
“I did it for your happiness, my wife.”
A Special Day on the Ship
He told her, “Today is special, because I’ve prepared to welcome Afisha.”
Her breath escaped sharply as she felt overwhelming affection for him.
“Thank you, Abu Afisha,” she whispered.
“You’re welcome, Oum Afisha,” he replied softly.
Later, after freshening up, he told her to wear a soft red dress to enjoy the weather. While he was in the shower, she got ready, applied her scented cream, sprayed her perfume, and put on her hijab for prayer. They prayed Dhuhr and Asr together, then he suggested two extra rak’ahs of nafilah prayer, making supplications afterward.
Gently, he placed his hands on her head and recited the prophetic dua:
“Allahumma inni As’aluka min khairiha wa khaira ma jabaltaha alaihi, wa a’uzu bika min sharriha wa sharra ma jabaltaha alaihi.”
Meaning:
“O Allah, I ask You for the good in her and the good You have created in her, and I seek refuge in You from the evil in her and the evil You have created in her.”
He explained that this dua strengthens love between spouses and protects their marriage from harm.
Afterward, he offered her a mug of chilled milk mixed with honey and grapes. When she hesitated, he gently insisted, “Sorry, but you must finish it.” She obeyed, feeling its cool sweetness linger on her tongue.
In her heart, she thought—she was the luckiest woman alive to have a husband like Tajj.