Hajia Zainab’s surgery was successful. She was recovering smoothly. Imam saw the need to inform the elders and other members of his mosque about Aisha’s pregnancy. Therefore, he called a meeting. He gathered all the members and executives of the mosque. After a brief prayer, Imam Hussain started.
“Assalam ‘alaikum to you all. First, Jazzakallahu khayr (May God reward you abundantly) to everyone for responding to this call. It has been a very critical time for me. As you all know, my dear wife just had a major surgery because of the gunshot from the armed robbers. Insha Allah (by God’s grace), she is getting better. Thanks to you all for your love and support, prayers, visitation, and care. You have been such a wonderful family and I’m so proud to have you all... Attakbir!”
“Allahu Akbar!” They chorused. “Alhamdulillah!”
“Alhamdulillah, thank you.” He let out a deep breath.
“I know you would be all wondering why I called for this meeting. It’s no news that robbers invaded my house. The news here is that... I didn’t tell you, Aisha, my daughter was... raped.”
A’uzubillahi! Yaa Allah! Astagfirullah and many other exclamations filled the air. Some broke into tears.
“It’s unfortunate, indeed.” Imam Hussain continued.
“Though my daughter warned I inform you all about the rape when she was in the hospital, I felt ashamed. I couldn’t stand before you all and say they raped my daughter. I never knew a bigger shame was on the way.”
One executive, Ustaz Ladan, raised a question. “Imam, what bigger shame are you talking about? You’re scaring me!”
Tears gathered in Imam’s sad eyes once again. Trying as much as he could to conceal it.
“My brother, it’s with a heavy heart that I say this. MY AISHA IS PREGNANT.”
It filled the whole mosque with tears and wailings. ‘O God, Why?Yaa Allah! This can’t be true!’ People cried.
“No... This is a bad dream!” One woman exclaimed, choking on her tears. “Aisha, of all people?”
For an hour, there was deep sorrow. Alhaji Aliyu, One of the executives of the mosque and also an elder, broke the silence.
“Olorun oo!” He shook his head painfully.
“This is too heavy for me. I don’t know about the rest of you, but Imam Hussain. We are very sorry, we know you traveled to Ekiti with your son, Ibrahim, last week for your mother’s fida’u prayer. This is not your fault or Aisha’s, let’s believe it’s faith... It’s the will of God Almighty, this could happen to anyone. Please don’t allow this to weigh your spiritual strength, our Iman. Everyone would agree with me that this is the time to practice saber (patience). Now, the question is, what do we do?”
Everyone took in a deep breath of fresh air. Thinking of the heaviness, his last question...”WHAT DO WE DO?"
“Well spoken Alhaji.” Mama Barakah, popularly known as Iya Owala (With her tribal marks as she hails from Oyo state), an elderly woman of about 56 years of age replied in a low voice.
“Assalam ‘alaikum to everyone here. Wallahi, this is the saddest news I’ve heard and witnessed so far. It is indeed so painful and so unfortunate that this happened to our Aisha. Everyone here knows Aisha and every day, I pray for her kind of Iman (faith) and Barakah (blessing).”
She paused for a while as tears fell from her saggy eye sacks. She wiped it away with the edge of her wrapper and sniffed silently. “I never imagined this would happen to our innocent and beloved daughter. Aisha will not keep that child. It has to be flushed. Allah would understand. This is my point.”
Everyone in the meeting supported Mama Barakah except Alfa Luqman, the laden of the mosque.
“Please and please, with due respect, ma. I’m so sorry to say this but... We are in the mosque and Sin is Sin. No excuse justifies sin before God Almighty. Flushing that fetus is abortion! And abortion is second-class murder. Aisha has always preached against this! I can say in strong confidence that the Aisha I know will never agree to abortion!” He turns to Imam Hussain.
“Imam! You know your daughter well enough, don’t you? It’s painful, but she has to keep it to stop sinning sins. Her life is at stake here, please... Let her keep it!”
Alhaji Da’ud, the treasurer of the mosque, stood up.
“Alfa Luqman, you are villainous! Do you know what we stand to lose? The respect and fame of good work and hard work have brought us. Other mosques will make us a laughingstock, even the Christians! Imagine the shame and disgrace this will cause. Our Imam will be on the news headline of blackmail and it would implicate us all. I’m not ready to be part of any shame o, let’s just peacefully bury this within ourselves (as a family). Aisha must get rid of that pregnancy!”
Commotion reigned everywhere. Some were already threatening to leave and Aisha shouldn’t keep the baby. Only a few people supported Alfa Luqman, Mama Barakah and some walked out of the meeting angrily.
Hours Later, Imam Hussain drove back home. He dashed into the house, sank into the black sofa chair, and heaved heavily on his breath. Then, he called me and Ibrahim.
We stormed out of our rooms once we heard his voice.
“Oh, Dad. You’re back.” The corners of my lips raised as I sat down next to him. Hope filled my eyes, but the news still saddened him. It was clear from his droopy shoulders and eyes.
Ibrahim concentrated on his phone as if his mind wasn’t there.
“My children, I never foresee this evil temptation. It’s too heavy that I can hardly bear and I’m on the verge of losing everything.” He paused for a while and wiped his right hand over his tired face.
Ibrahim dropped his phone, a little pissed. He faced the white, cartooned ceiling.
“The police are still in this case, unable to find the robbers. How I wish I could... Do something. Today, I gathered the elders, executives, and other members in the mosque to inform them about your pregnancy, Aisha. It didn’t go down well. Sorry to say this but Aisha, you can’t keep that baby.” My dad spoke in volumes.
“Dad!” Ibrahim jolted up, finally facing us. “I said it from the unset, now see? We would have done this without telling them and nobody will know, but your over-pure daughter in her selfishness made us a laughingstock!”
A strange voice sounded in my heavy head. ‘What am I dreaming? Can someone just wake me up from this nightmare or tell me it’s all a lie?’
***
Translations
Da’ud: David
Olorun o: O God
saber: Patience
Iman: Faith or trust in God
Barakah: Blessing
Iya Owala: Iya, Mother. Owala, a Person with tribal marks.
Ladan: A person who calls for prayer in the mosque.
Luqman: An Islamic name.
Shaytan \ Ash-Shaytan: Devil or Satan
Fidau prayer: A special prayer after 40 days of prayer made for someone’s death.
Ekiti: A state in Nigeria where Aisha originally hails from. (In West Nigeria)
YOU ARE READING
A Tale Of Justice
General FictionSixteen-year-old Aisha Akorede, daughter of a religious Imam, gets into an incident that changes her life forever. Her family, honour, and even her future are tarnished. Now, Aisha has to convince the entire world who she is. Follow Aisha Akorede on...
