Zayyad

7. Leaving.

Friday, Amatra.

This morning, Zainab helped Zayyad pack the little stuff he was carrying without making any sound while he quietly watched her. She finished and their gazes met. She smiled faintly and grasped his palm before they walked to the door. Zainab suddenly stopped and faced him.

"Son," she spoke lightly and Zayyad tightened his hold on her small hand. She breathed and said to him, "I am sure that you are going to listen to what Saifullah told you yesterday. He gave you a mushaf, so always recite your Quran daily. Don't let go of your voluntary fasting. Try your best to pray on time too. Also, I know how your temper can flare sometimes, so no matter what, don't ever act up in anger. And please…" her fingers shook as she caress his cheek.

"Take good care of yourself, son. Protect yourself and stay alive for Allah's sake." 

"Yes, Ummiy, " Zayyad nodded heavily and embraced his mother tightly. His eyes were slightly red as he felt his mother's warmth for a while. 

"Let's go, you can't be late." Zainab pulled back and smiled. Zayyad smiled back and they left the house. 

Today, the narrow gate of Amatra was crowded because the families wanted to send their men off. Ustaz Ali stood together with Sheik Abdulazeez as he took the fof from different men. Most were older, in their late twenties, thirties, and above. Amatra had a few youths that were below twenty. By now three youngsters had returned the form. Zayyad finally arrived with his mother. She had a burqa on today that fully covered her body and she was holding her son's hand. 

"Go on and submit. You have my blessing." She said quietly. Zayyad nodded and walked over. Being someone with a history, the pair were known in the small town, especially with the fact that Zayyad was an outstanding youngster. Many expected him to register. 

He walked over to Ustaz Ali and gave him the form. Ustaz Ali smiled and read through it. A flash of surprise showed in his eyes but he hid it well. He watched Zayyad's calm expression and nodded. Zayyad went back to his mother and waited with the others. 

Eventually, twenty-five men were registered. 

"Salam everyone!" Ustaz Ali greeted. 

"Today, twenty-five able men from Amatra have chosen to join the Noor army for the sake of Allah. Their responsibility and protection are now on our shoulders and we'll make sure to train them well before sending them to the battlefield. They will be given breaks so that they can meet their families, so you don't have to worry about their safety much." 

He continued, "I am sure everyone is ready and the Noor army has the means to take them to the barracks and it has been confirmed by Sheikh Abdulazeez. We will be leaving in ten minutes." 

It can't be helped as the crowd turned rowdy to say goodbye again. 

"Elder brother Zayyad, are you leaving too?" Habiba asked with a pout. Saifullah brought her here with his parents and Zayyad went over to greet them. 

"Yes. I will be back soon." Zayyad answered and she folded her arms. Who knew if she was just missing him for the hair play? 

Zayyad shook his head and stared at Saifullah. "Help me watch over Ummiy." He said. 

"It's my duty." Saifullah smiled and walked over, giving him a brotherly hug. Zayyad tapped his back and nodded at the parents before going back to Zainab. 

"Ummiy…." He started and she shook her head. "Just be careful," she whispered. Zayyad stared at his mother with some reluctance before decisively walking away to his pairs. Zainab watched his back as his fingers clenched together. It was the first time in eighteen years that her son will be separated from her. The pain she felt was new to her. 

At the front now, standing before Ustaz Ali were the twenty five men. Besides Zayyad were three young men. Being age mates, they naturally grew up together and were friends. The nineteen-year-old Adnan, and the twins, Hassan and Hussain. Zayyad was the youngest among them but he didn't lose in build. 

Ustaz Ali nodded with a smile and immediately walked out of the gate.

"Follow me." He gave an order and they immediately joined him. Zayyad didn't look back and even if he did, Zainab had left already. She believed in her son and had tawakkul that Allah will protect him and his peers. 

The denizens of Amatra watched as the men left their views. What's going to happen in the future, has already been written by Allah. It's all fate.

……

"I knew you would join Zayyad. Won't it be fun to compete on the battlefield?" Husein spoke gleefully as they walked together. He had always been competitive and was sighting the battlefield as a competition ground too. 

"Pass through training first then talk." Adnan shook his head. 

"Don't break the fun when you are just afraid." Husein snorted. "Did you even pray?" Hassan berated. His brother was always talkative and he wondered if the guy did dhikr on the road. 

"Oh…" as expected, Husein scratched his head and started praying.

'Bismillaahi, tawakkaltu 'alallaahi, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata ' illaa billaah. In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no might nor power except with Allah.

"O Allah, I seek refuge in You from misleading or being misled or oppressing or being oppressed or from being ignorant or bearing the result of ignorance".

Allah is the Most Great. Allah is the Most Great. Allah is the Most Great. Glory is to Him Who has provided this for us though we could never have had it by our efforts. Surely, unto our Lord we are returning. O Allah, we ask You on this our journey for goodness and piety, and for works that are pleasing to You. O Allah, lighten this journey for us and make its distance easy for us. O Allah, You are our Companion on the road and the One in Whose care we leave our family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from from this journey's hardships, and from the wicked sights in store and from finding our family and property in misfortune upon returning.'

"Oh Allah, protect us." Husein prayed and the others answered, "Ameen!"

"Okay brothers, we will live together from now on and fight together." Hussein laughed but the others only hastened their steps.

"How is wish Saifullah came with us," he mumbled. They used to compete who fasted more, prayed longer, memorized the Quran faster, work faster and now they would compete who would shed the Kafirs blood more!

The group went down the hill and the escorts were there but it took them by surprise. There were five soldiers in white cotton uniforms and six horses. Ustaz Ali went over to one of the horses while the others were on others. How will they travel? They halted in their steps. 

Ustaz Ali grinned at their expressions. 

"Your training for the Noor Army begins now. The first test is to travel to Camp Rabi' on foot!"