web of love episode 7

*WEB OF LOVE*

Episode 7

Ade smiled as he adjusted his cap, no one would see him without thinking he is a northerner. At least he will impress his father in law to be.
He waited in the General living room and admire the interior decoration of the room. In fact as soon as he stepped into the compound, he need no one to tell him how influential Halimah's father is.
"Salamualykum young man." Halimah's father said and extended a handshake.
"Walaykumsalam, " Ade replied as best as he could. Halimah's father sat down and not long they were joined by Halimah's mother who sat down beside her husband while Halimah sat at the dining table watching from afar.
"What is your name young man?" Halimah' father asked and told him.
"Don't you have an Islamic Name? That will be easier for me to pronouce." Halimah''s father told him.
"I don't have one sir. I am a Christian sir." Ade explained to Halimah's parents surprise and the father looked at him sharply.
"And why did you come here? Did you think I will let her get married to you? " he asked trying very hard not to raise his voice for he was burning with rage.
"I love your daughter sir. I am ready to accept her with her religion. " Ade explained
"I am not going to give me consent, so please leave my house now." Halimah ''s father ordered and left for his room.
Ade left disappointed but he was not ready to back down. He know he will eventually be accepted.
"Halimah, her father called on her immediately Ade left.
"What is wrong with you? Of all Muslim men in the world, why that man? What happened to you in school?" he asked her calmly, she is his only child but he can never accept this.
"Ade is a good man, I have met his parents and I have let them know I am not ready to change my religion to theirs. " Halimah explained.
"I am not going to give my consent and I forbid you to see him again." He said with an air of finality and left for mosque to perform Zuhr prayer.
After the prayer, Halimah's mum went into her daughter's room to talk to her, she is all she has and she had never dreamt her daughter will ever open her heart to a non muslim man. She is highly educated in Islamic teachings and even memorised the whole Quran, they had done that for her to always be guided right. What then happened to her? Why will she leave a Muslim man for a non Muslim. She know she shouldn't be angry with her, she is a mother and must do what a good mother does: talk to her, know what the problem is and how to tackle it. If they both shouted at her, what if she leave home? What if she go to Ade and was accepted by his parents, she might even get lost forever.
"Subuanallah!" she said and sat down on the bed where her daughter lied on the bed crying.
"Halimah, please sit, I want to talk to you. " her mother said and slowly Halimah sat up and faced her mother with tears in her eyes.
"Halimah, you know your dad loves you so much. You are his only child and he want nothing but your happiness and whatever he is doing is for your sake. He want you to get married to the best man in the world." Halimah ''s mother explained.
" what happened? How did you met that man?" she asked and Halimah told her mother how she met him.
"He is really a nice man and probably the first man you will ever fancy right? " she asked and Halimah nodded.
" but not all love lead to marriage. When he told you his intention, did you do an instikharah?" she asked and Halimah nodded.
"Probably, you don't even want Allah to be in control because that is what you want. Sometimes we pray to Allah to take charge of our life but we don't even give him the chance, because if you do it well, This relationship won't even grow. You know it isn't allowed for a woman to marry a non Muslim in Islam don't you?" Halimah's mother asked and quoted a verse in Quran saying
*Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 221:*
_وَلَا تَنكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكَاتِ حَتَّىٰ يُؤْمِنَّ وَلَأَمَةٌ مُّؤْمِنَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن مُّشْرِكَةٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ وَلَا تُنكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّىٰ يُؤْمِنُوا وَلَعَبْدٌ مُّؤْمِنٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن مُّشْرِكٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكُمْ أُولَٰئِكَ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ وَاللَّهُ يَدْعُو إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَالْمَغْفِرَةِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيُبَيِّنُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ_

*And do not marry the idolatresses (Christians, jews (unbelievers) ) until they believe, and certainly a believing maid is better than an idolatress woman, even though she should please you; and do not give (believing women) in marriage to idolaters until they believe, and certainly a believing servant is better than an idolater, even though he should please you; these invite to the fire, and Allah invites to the garden and to forgiveness by His will, and makes clear His communications to men, that they may be mindful.*
Halimah looked away.
Halimah's mother continue saying "Imagine if you marry this man, how will you worship separately? What do you want to teach your kids? Most kids with parents of different end up confused, they don't even know what religion to worship. How will you use your hijab? How about your iman? How will you increase it? What about the joy and reward women earn during fasting? " Halimah's mother asked as tears rushed down Halimah's eyes.
"Halimah my child, love before marriage is very different from love after marriage. I want the best for you but that man isn't the best. If you don't like Alhaji Ahmed's son, that is okay,we won't force you against your will, that too is against the Prophet (S.A.W) . So go back to school, finish up your project and come back home. " Halimah's mother said and left the room.
Halimah laid on the bed reminiscing her mother's words. She was lost on what to do as her phone rang, the phone call was from Ade.



To be continue