He adjusted his sitting position, exhaled gently, and in a voice full of grace and dignity began moving his lips, speaking words of counsel:
“Such is destiny — it turns white to black or black to white. That is how Allah ordains matters, one after another. Everything happens exactly as it is inscribed in the Lauh al-Mahfuz (the Preserved Tablet). Nothing changes a dark fate to a bright one except drawing closer to Allah with sincere prayer and firm obedience to His commands. There is no life more beautiful than following Allah and His Messenger. Upholding all of Allah’s laws fills the heart with light, dignity, wealth, and honor. Follow Allah, and you will be at peace from the troubles of this world, for Allah Himself said that prayer prevents a person from lewdness and wrongdoing.
May the Almighty grant us the ability to follow Him wholeheartedly.”
Tajj concluded, closing the Qur’an and passing it to Laylah.
With composure, Laylah said, “Ameen, Ameen,” closing her own Qur’an and handing Afisha her toy.
The Birth of Twins
Ishmah entered, her belly taut, walking unsteadily as if she might collapse at any moment. She sat down carefully, her voice trembling:
“I think it’s labor pains…”
Quickly, he got up to help her stand, and they went to the room. Upon checking, he confirmed it was indeed childbirth. As he tried to help her get dressed, Addawa entered hastily.
“Laylah told me she heard Ishmah say she’s in labor…”
“Yes,” he replied in urgency. “We’re going to the hospital right now.”
Addawa moved closer to Ishmah with care:
“Easy, Ishmah, easy. May Allah grant you safe delivery. Insha’Allah, you’ll give birth easily, just like when you had Afisha.”
Tajj and Addawa helped her, though her whole body was trembling and the contraction pain was intense. In the car, she groaned in agony:
“Oh my Allah, Yah Afif, this pain! Please, O Lord of the worlds, ease it for me. Sheikh, pray for me.”
Sometimes she sighed deeply, sometimes sweat drenched her, sometimes she clutched her stomach tightly in pain, reciting:
“Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja‘altahu sahlÄn wa anta taj‘alu-l-ḥazna idhÄ shi’ta sahlÄn.”
At the hospital, Dr. Farida and Sister Nuraini took over. Meanwhile, Tajj sought the zamzam water he had prepared to pray for her.
About ten minutes later, her intense contractions confirmed the baby’s imminent arrival. He asked the doctors to step aside so he could support his wife himself. By Allah’s will, the baby came out — then, surprisingly, another baby followed. They were identical twins.
Their cries filled the hospital as Tajj cut the cords and placed them on Ishmah’s chest, overwhelmed with joy at Allah’s gift — once he had prayed for Afisha, now Allah had blessed him with twin boys.
Though exhausted, Ishmah’s heart swelled with gratitude. Tajj performed sujood ash-shukr (prostration of gratitude), then announced he would double the staff’s salaries for the month and make all patient care free for the day.
The news spread joy throughout the hospital, and visitors like Laylah, Hamisu, and Zulaihat came to celebrate. Laylah beamed:
“I’m so lucky! I got two baby brothers at once, plus Afisha. Alhamdulillah.”
That night, Afisha, though still a toddler, joined in the joy, pointing at the twins and asking, “Amty Laylah, are these my brothers?”
Later that night, Tajj named them Ayeed and Ayaan, names chosen long before they were conceived. Word of their birth spread as far as Ethiopia and Nigeria, where family and friends rejoiced.
Their naming ceremony (sunan) was filled with celebration, prayers, and gifts. Life moved on happily.
Seven Years Later – The Qur’an Competition
Seven years later, in a vast hall hosting a global Qur’an recitation competition, delegations from many countries sat in dignified attire. The male and female sections were separated; children in colorful uniforms sat together.
Ayeed completed his recitation and then names were called for those who had memorized all 30 ajzaa (parts) of the Qur’an. First was Afisha’s school — she was to represent them internationally.
The graceful eight-year-old ascended the stage with confidence and poise. Seated, she looked toward the judge, who began reciting from the middle of Surat ash-Shu‘ara.
With a clear, melodious voice, she began, her tone carrying both the sweetness of youth and the precision of her father’s recitation, though distinctively feminine.
In the audience, Tajj felt his heart race, though confident in her. As she read flawlessly, he leaned back, eyes closed, savoring the peace and pride in his daughter’s achievement. Ishmah sat with their younger daughter Fatima, tears of joy brimming as she watched the judges nod in approval.
The judge moved to verses from Surat an-Naml — she continued without hesitation, her mastery evident in every rule of tajweed. Many listeners were moved to tears by the purity of her voice. Then she recited from Surat al-Qamar and other chapters, each rendered perfectly.
When she finished, the hall erupted in takbeer (exclamations of “Allahu Akbar”), and Tajj felt immense gratitude to Allah for such a gift.
Later, Laylah also competed in the 50 hizb category, performing strongly despite stiff competition from the Chinese team.
When the day ended, organizers announced that results would be delivered to participants at home. On the way back, Tajj prayed for his children, while Ishmah excitedly spoke to relatives. He had even arranged decorations and a special cake in anticipation of their success.
That evening, the family gathered in the living room, watching the TV anxiously. Media platforms were already flooded with videos of Afisha’s recitation, with people calling her voice “amazing” and “soul-touching.”
Suddenly, Afisha’s joyful voice rang out from the courtyard:
“Alhamdulillah bini‘matihi tatimmu-s-salihat! Abeyna! I’m the winner!!!”
She burst into the room with Ayeed right behind her, both beaming.
Description
Reflection on Destiny and Obedience to God
He adjusted his sitting position, exhaled gently, and in a voice full of grace and dignity began moving his lips, speaking words of counsel:
“Such is destiny — it turns white to black or black to white. That is how Allah ordains matters, one after another. Everything happens exactly as it is inscribed in the Lauh al-Mahfuz (the Preserved Tablet). Nothing changes a dark fate to a bright one except drawing closer to Allah with sincere prayer and firm obedience to His commands. There is no life more beautiful than following Allah and His Messenger. Upholding all of Allah’s laws fills the heart with light, dignity, wealth, and honor. Follow Allah, and you will be at peace from the troubles of this world, for Allah Himself said that prayer prevents a person from lewdness and wrongdoing.
May the Almighty grant us the ability to follow Him wholeheartedly.”
Tajj concluded, closing the Qur’an and passing it to Laylah.
With composure, Laylah said, “Ameen, Ameen,” closing her own Qur’an and handing Afisha her toy.
The Birth of Twins
Ishmah entered, her belly taut, walking unsteadily as if she might collapse at any moment. She sat down carefully, her voice trembling:
“I think it’s labor pains…”
Quickly, he got up to help her stand, and they went to the room. Upon checking, he confirmed it was indeed childbirth. As he tried to help her get dressed, Addawa entered hastily.
“Laylah told me she heard Ishmah say she’s in labor…”
“Yes,” he replied in urgency. “We’re going to the hospital right now.”
Addawa moved closer to Ishmah with care:
“Easy, Ishmah, easy. May Allah grant you safe delivery. Insha’Allah, you’ll give birth easily, just like when you had Afisha.”
Tajj and Addawa helped her, though her whole body was trembling and the contraction pain was intense. In the car, she groaned in agony:
“Oh my Allah, Yah Afif, this pain! Please, O Lord of the worlds, ease it for me. Sheikh, pray for me.”
Sometimes she sighed deeply, sometimes sweat drenched her, sometimes she clutched her stomach tightly in pain, reciting:
“Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja‘altahu sahlÄn wa anta taj‘alu-l-ḥazna idhÄ shi’ta sahlÄn.”
At the hospital, Dr. Farida and Sister Nuraini took over. Meanwhile, Tajj sought the zamzam water he had prepared to pray for her.
About ten minutes later, her intense contractions confirmed the baby’s imminent arrival. He asked the doctors to step aside so he could support his wife himself. By Allah’s will, the baby came out — then, surprisingly, another baby followed. They were identical twins.
Their cries filled the hospital as Tajj cut the cords and placed them on Ishmah’s chest, overwhelmed with joy at Allah’s gift — once he had prayed for Afisha, now Allah had blessed him with twin boys.
Though exhausted, Ishmah’s heart swelled with gratitude. Tajj performed sujood ash-shukr (prostration of gratitude), then announced he would double the staff’s salaries for the month and make all patient care free for the day.
The news spread joy throughout the hospital, and visitors like Laylah, Hamisu, and Zulaihat came to celebrate. Laylah beamed:
“I’m so lucky! I got two baby brothers at once, plus Afisha. Alhamdulillah.”
That night, Afisha, though still a toddler, joined in the joy, pointing at the twins and asking, “Amty Laylah, are these my brothers?”
Later that night, Tajj named them Ayeed and Ayaan, names chosen long before they were conceived. Word of their birth spread as far as Ethiopia and Nigeria, where family and friends rejoiced.
Their naming ceremony (sunan) was filled with celebration, prayers, and gifts. Life moved on happily.
Seven Years Later – The Qur’an Competition
Seven years later, in a vast hall hosting a global Qur’an recitation competition, delegations from many countries sat in dignified attire. The male and female sections were separated; children in colorful uniforms sat together.
Ayeed completed his recitation and then names were called for those who had memorized all 30 ajzaa (parts) of the Qur’an. First was Afisha’s school — she was to represent them internationally.
The graceful eight-year-old ascended the stage with confidence and poise. Seated, she looked toward the judge, who began reciting from the middle of Surat ash-Shu‘ara.
With a clear, melodious voice, she began, her tone carrying both the sweetness of youth and the precision of her father’s recitation, though distinctively feminine.
In the audience, Tajj felt his heart race, though confident in her. As she read flawlessly, he leaned back, eyes closed, savoring the peace and pride in his daughter’s achievement. Ishmah sat with their younger daughter Fatima, tears of joy brimming as she watched the judges nod in approval.
The judge moved to verses from Surat an-Naml — she continued without hesitation, her mastery evident in every rule of tajweed. Many listeners were moved to tears by the purity of her voice. Then she recited from Surat al-Qamar and other chapters, each rendered perfectly.
When she finished, the hall erupted in takbeer (exclamations of “Allahu Akbar”), and Tajj felt immense gratitude to Allah for such a gift.
Later, Laylah also competed in the 50 hizb category, performing strongly despite stiff competition from the Chinese team.
When the day ended, organizers announced that results would be delivered to participants at home. On the way back, Tajj prayed for his children, while Ishmah excitedly spoke to relatives. He had even arranged decorations and a special cake in anticipation of their success.
That evening, the family gathered in the living room, watching the TV anxiously. Media platforms were already flooded with videos of Afisha’s recitation, with people calling her voice “amazing” and “soul-touching.”
Suddenly, Afisha’s joyful voice rang out from the courtyard:
“Alhamdulillah bini‘matihi tatimmu-s-salihat! Abeyna! I’m the winner!!!”
She burst into the room with Ayeed right behind her, both beaming.