Through the

Through the White Picket Fence -S Hafreth PART 1 “And it may be that you dislike something while it is good for you; and it may be that you love something while it is bad for you. And Allah knows while you do not know.” Al Quran 2:216 Unit #23 Umairah Hassan didn’t think much of the housing spaces here in Qld Australia. Let alone the sizes of the rooms and pantry space in a typical suburban unit or townhouse, the gap between neighbouring houses was so minimal, that on a relatively quiet evening, she could hear the tinkling of the cutlery form neighbour X’s kitchen when they opened their kitchen drawers! But she tried to wave that little annoying bug of thought from her mind. Her husband worked in the Government transport office downtown and they earned just enough to live simply yet happily. Jibrael, their three year old son went to daycare once a week whilst Umairah worked-as she loved to defiantly say it- as a live-in departmental and domestic liaisons manager, to her modest house and equally modest family. She owned an ipod which had all the surahs of the Quran stored in it from ten different Qaris. Her favourite was Mishary Rashid al Afasy. However she did not play the melodious recitation of the Quran on her loudspeakers for fear of her neighbours hearing it and lodging a complaint. The rules in this land were strict and one could not operate a vacuum cleaner or lawn mower between 7pm and 7am. However, in the first three months that they had moved in, Umairah discovered that Unit #25 on her immediate right was a house full of boisterous 20-something partygoers. Friday and Saturday evenings, and eve of holidays were likely times for them to crank up the volume on their stereo and party well into the night. But, it angered and saddened her that no one complained, yet, the media had portrayed Islam so negatively that to even consider listening to the Quran on her home theatre system made her think twice. But since playing Surah Baqara every day after Fajr and Maghrib had been a long standing habit of hers, she began on it without further ado. And during the day she would carry her laptop to the kitchen where she would listen to sermons while chopping onions for lunch, or concentrate on live streaming audio Tajweed lessons on her headphones while the child napped and she vacuumed the place. So the days passed by until Umairah glanced out her study window through the white picket fence that separated her house from number 25, and didn’t feel afraid for doing the right thing. Unit 25 Carmen ‘Caramel’ Rickerson was twenty five, honey blond and living life to the fullest. All her life she had been known as the beauty and the brains and she proved it by pursuing a degree in marine biology during the day and knocking down two or three shots at the pub by night. Her skin and voice rippled true to her name and she flaunted what she called her ‘God –gifted’ curves and lines, without ever knowing who God really was. When she met her latest boyfriend, Andy Miller, she decided she was ecstatically in lust with him and his don’t-care party attitude, that she might even keep him hanging around for a while. It was while she was rousing from the depths of a humongous hangover one Saturday morning, that she stumbled over to the washroom and happened to glance out the window. Through the white picket fence, she could make out the back of a petite lady hanging clothes on the line, a little boy of about three or there about scuttling at her feet on a trike. She squinted through bleary eyes for she saw an animal print cloth wrapped about the woman’s head, but she was too delirious, so she stumbled out of the washroom and back into bed again and didn’t think any more of the incident. It was evening around six, when the soft drones of some chanting wafted into the house. There was a light wind that day and their windows were open as it was still Summer. Andy was fiddling about the stereo, while his housemates Josh and Carter were out buying supplies for a barbecue that they were setting up for later that evening. Caramel was dressed in Andy’s oversize shirt and her tights, and her sensuous hair was rolled back in a loose bun. She felt happy and light on the surface but deep down her degree was poking into her mind. She couldn’t afford this life if she meant to study seriously. But she was having fun, wasn’t she? All work and no play makes Caramel a dull girl! She loved the way Andy’s friends raised their brows appraisingly at her, and how their girlfriends tried to hide their jealousy at how well her clothes hugged her curves and the light shone off her skin. She was happy. She needed this. It was like a vitamin to her tired brain. She sighed and stood up, yawning, as she made her way to the washroom to have a soak before the party that evening. That was when she heard the chanting-louder this time. The next day after another round of drinks and merrymaking between the sexes, Caramel found out from Josh that a family of ‘Muzzies’ lived next door, and she clenched her teeth in disgust. “Terrorists!” she said to Andy. “You live right next to them? I wish you didn’t!” “But they mind their own business, baby,” he said. She shook her head. She didn’t know what to say because she had nothing to say about them except that she hated Muslims or ‘muzzies’ and she didn’t even know why. PART 2 "Verily, you (O Muhammad) guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided." Al Quran 28:56 UNIT 21 Millie Mathers lifted the foil off the container and breathed in the exotic aroma of spicy potatoes and chicken and boiled vegetables with couscous. Her family ran on a very tight budget and she and her husband Greg often went on empty stomachs just so that they could give their growing girls standard meals. “Times are tough, children,” she said ladling out the lovely meal her neighbour had cooked, onto her daughters, Kathy (11) and Gemma’s (8) plates. “Be grateful our neighbour has a big heart!” She looked through her kitchen curtains at the white picket fence that separated her house from the generous occupants at number 23. In her own heart Millie wondered if all Muzzies were good or if it was just this one family. She didn’t realize that Islam, if it were followed wholly and correctly, would no doubt make every Muslim a good Muslim. UNIT 23 Umairah said “La howla wala Quwwatha illa billa” Nothing happens without the might and power of Allah, to stop Shaitan from making her feel proud for doing a good deed. She had merely followed a popular hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim that if you cook stew, add a little more water in it to feed your neighbours. She had made two dishes, one of potatoes and the other of couscous with chicken, and she had reserved a portion for themselves while handing out generous amounts to houses 21 and 24 which was across the street. Number 22 was unoccupied and the occupants at 26 were always travelling and rarely at home. That left only number 25, but Umairah frowned when she thought of the raucous party-tenants. She didn’t want to have to give anything to those beer-swigging, noise-loving fornicators next door. Besides, she thought to herself. I have done my part and may Allah accept it and make the halal food cleanse the mushrikeen at numbers 21 and 24 and help them see the light, aameen. UNIT 25 Caramel had fallen asleep in the bathtub and she opened her heavy-as-granite eyes, wondering where in the world she was. After several confused minutes, she remembered the events of last night and looked up realizing her surroundings. At her angle, the dark blue sky peeped in through the open window and the early pre-dawn breeze sent shivers across her skin. Everyone must be in a drunk sleep in the lounge and hallways, she thought, lifting up her head and rubbing her bruised neck. The heavy drumbeats of one of the songs that had played last night, pounded with the rhythm of her headache. And then, cutting across it like a cool wave of the purest water, the chant of the previous day floated in with the gentle breeze. Who could be awake at this time? She blinked, frowning. Now that there was no other sound in the world, this sound was clear even though it was not meant to be loud, and she listened spellbound to the rhythm and the melody of the voice as it spoke? sang? chanted?recited? some words in a strange language that sounded as if she had heard it before. In some other life perhaps. Little did she know that all human beings are born of the same fitrah- disposition, nature, instinct and that once, long ago, our soul matter had promised Allah that we would worship Him alone, but now we do not remember it and some of us have thus chosen to go astray. She did not know that she was listening to the holy words of Allah from the Quran and that her soul was recognizing the very essence of the words. She fell asleep to the peaceful recitation of Surah Ala- Imran by Qari Sa’d Al Ghamadi. One Week later Her grades were declining and she was in a mental trauma. The previous night she had been waiting for Andy to pick her up from a local nightclub when she had been nearly harassed by a biker guy. Andy, Josh and some friends had arrived in time and there had been a big brawl. She was pushed to a corner while the guys fought over her and she felt that this was the moment she should have been proud of herself. Wasn’t this what every girl wanted? Guys to fight over her? But she felt exhausted, sick and abused. Her black leather dress was low cut, tight and swished just below her waist. Didn’t that dweeb know she was a budding marine biologist? She was not a tramp! Who was he to have looked at her in a vulgar way? Then if you want to show everyone your worth, dress like it! said the tiniest, weakest voice in her mind and she was surprised. She shunned it and threw her long hair over her shoulder, proudly. This was her body and she had every right to flaunt it the way she wanted to! Nobody had rights to tell her how to dress. Then stop acting cheap! The voice said and she nearly screamed in anger. She opened her burning eyes and watched the brawl intensifying and choked on her own pride. “Take me to your home, Andy!” she tugged at his sleeve. “Just get me to the closest place of safety!” UNIT 25 Another day of food had arrived to the Mathers household and the four were digging into it longingly. They loved Middle Eastern cuisine. It replaced their bland everyday style of eating and reduced the cost of cooking. It also replaced the dull sounds of the chanting they heard from time to time from Number 23. Millie and her husband went to bed that night with full stomachs as well and they thanked Jesus for it. UNIT 23 Umairah said a small prayer asking Allah to grant hidaayah to the ignorant, while she wondered what sermon she should listen to on YouTube. She ended up listening to a lecture titled ‘I want to have sex, drink, party, die and still go to Heaven!’ UNIT 25 Caramel was trying not to sob as she slammed shut the garden door, leaving behind the throbbing music. She was seriously thinking that her attraction to Andy was fading, and it might be time to move on. She envisioned hooking up to a college nerd next so at least her grades wouldn’t suffer, but then getting back to the dating scene exhausted her mind. She drank in the cool night air and tried to shut out the grotty sounds of that annoying heavy metal band. It sure was loud here in the still of the night at 9 pm! That was when she heard the soft sounds of the voice of a man saying something seriously. She thought of Number 23 next door and wondered if it was the Muzzie husband about to thrash his wife. But as she inched closer to the fence, she realized it was a playback of some video that someone was listening to. “…people think religion is boring, Islam is boring, hence they are afraid to change,” the voice was saying. “They know that deep down in their soul that all the clubbing and the girls are merely exhausting and they keep going back for it-why? Because it never satisfies! They go back and they keep wanting more because they are never satisfied. Whereas all they have to do to satisfy that hunger is believe in Allah! Believe that He will give then a soulmate who is true and pure. Verily They (your wives) are your garment and you are a garment for them ... Caramel blinked and inched back. What was this?! She shook her head and unknown to her, the inner voice that had spoken before was reaching out once again and battling with her conscience. She ran back inside the house, slamming the screen door behind her. UNIT 23 Umairah thought she heard something and quickly reduced the volume of her laptop speakers. But only the music from next door answered her. She snorted in disgust and hit play again and continued to listen to the sermon. During the whole week she listened to a multitude of Qaris, sermons and lessons while giving food and sweets to her neighbours at 21, praying for their hidaayah for they were such humble, good hearted people, really. She didn’t realize that while she would pause a sermon or a qiraat to go nextdoor with the food, one visitor to Number 25 was waiting impatiently for her to get back and hit play again for this visitor was in a fit of turbulent emotions and she wanted to clear it all. UNIT 25 Caramel found that the reason for visiting Andy was steadily changing. She found that she was looking forward to him cranking up the stereo so she could slip outside to hear next door’s lessons on women’s rights to inheritance or modesty or true equality in ISLAM. Two Months later UNIT 23 Umairah received the heart stabbing news that the Mathers were going back to their home state of Warwick which was hours away, so her husband could become the Minister of a church there. “We will always remember your kindness, love,” Millie hugged Umairah. “Lord Jesus has good things for us from now on, I pray.” Umairah bit her lip and tried to smile, wishing she could tell her friend that as much as she loved Jesus too or Isa (Alai), she would never attribute Godliness to him, for nowhere had he ever mentioned in the Bible for people to worship him. And yet people were persisting in following a falsehood. She wondered if her Dua would ever be answered as she waved goodbye to them, but just as she closed the door there was another knock on it. Thinking it was Millie again, she opened it and to her surprise saw a strange woman who looked about her age. “Hi,” Caramel said nervously, trying not to dance on her toes. “I...you probably don’t know me but I...my boyfriend lives at Number 25 and I am here to ask you about...” she paused, not knowing how to continue. Umairah’s heart leapt to her throat. This blond cover girl model was here to complain! Oh no! Had she left her lappie on for too long and had it been too loud! “I couldn’t help listening to some of the stuff you play in one of your rooms that overlooks Andy’s garden...” Caramel took the plunge. “And I’m sorry for Andy’s music, really. It can be a pain, but I realized....it was a blessing for when he was occupied with his rock, I could head out here to listen to your...” “Qiraat?” Umairah asked, shell-shocked. “Oh, is that what it’s called?” Caramel asked politely. “That pleasant chanting?” “Yes, it is the recitation of the HOLY Quran,” Umairah whispered. “Aah...” Caramel said, thinking, this was the Most Wanted Book in the world as she had heard and yet...it sounded so peaceful and full of life. “Uh...wanna come in?” Umairah asked. “I..I have some roast chicken that has just come out of the oven...I don’t mind sharing...” Caramel hesitated. She looked to her left where Andy’s house was on the other side of the white picket fence and it was then and there that she made the first small, yet most important step into changing her life for the better. “Thank you, it sounds too good to miss!” she replied, smiling and stepped into the world of Truth, Purity, Salvation and Eternal Peace, and out of Andy’s world – the world of music, lewdness, partying and irresponsibility. ........................... Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of God: for God forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” - Al Quran (39:53) feel free to SHARE