Echoes of Agony

Chapter Twenty Seven

Zaytun had been thinking about her and AbdulJalal's marriage. Today, she decided to visit her former Qur'an teacher, who was their neighbor. When she arrived, he was sitting on a mat in front of his house.

"Assalamu alaikum. Ina yini, Mallam?" she greeted.

"Lafiya lau, Zaytun. How is your husband doing?" he asked.

"He's doing well, alhamdulillah."

"I hope everything is alright."

"Yes, Mallam. I just came to ask you a question."

"Okay. I'm all ears. Go on."

"My friend is going through a lot with her abusive husband, who cheats, engages in haram relationships, and has repeatedly said he doesn't love her or their children. She's pregnant, and they're getting divorced. She doesn't want to observe her iddah period in his house and wants to keep the child a secret because she's scared he'll reject her baby. Can she do that?" Zaytun asked, tears welling in her eyes.

"I'm really sorry to hear about your friend's situation. The iddah period is a mandatory waiting time after divorce for a woman to establish paternity and ensure she isn't pregnant from the previous marriage. Normally, iddah is observed in the marital home unless safety or dignity is at risk. It's important to inform the husband of a pregnancy due to the child's rights, but if there's a fear of harm, seeking advice from an Islamic scholar is crucial. The woman's and her unborn child's safety should be prioritized, and legal counsel may be needed if necessary."

Zaytun remained quiet for a long time, staring at the mat in pain. Was this her fate? She had pictured many great things in her life, but a failed marriage at the age of twenty-three was not one of them. She sighed and got up to leave.

"Nagode, Mallam. Allah yayi albarka."

"Wait, Zaytun," the man stopped her. "That friend of yours, is that you?"

"No, Mallam, that's not me. Thanks once again."

~

"Do you need me to accompany you?" Asma asked Zaytun.

"No, you don't have to. Besides, you have a date with Usman; you better get ready right now, knowing how long it takes you to find a dress," Zaytun said, smiling at her friend as she crouched down to put on her shoes.

"Yeah, well, for that, I'm still not sure." Asma rested her head against the doorframe.

"Asma, I want you to think about yourself. You found a nice man who is willing to take care of you. Don't let the chance slide out of your hands, my friend," Zaytun said.

Asma's eyes widened. It was as if Zaytun knew that she was hesitant about Usman because of Zaytun's relationship with AbdulJalal, which hadn't ended well. To be perfectly honest, she didn't want to find a man so soon. She wanted to see Zaytun move on from AbdulJalal before getting married. When Usman had confessed his feelings to her weeks ago, she had been hesitant to give him a final reply. She knew she loved him and had been picturing a life with him ever since she met him. But the circumstances were different now. She felt like she was stepping into Zaytun's shoes if she went out to date Usman. Of course, he was different from AbdulJalal, but they were cousins. Imagine dating the cousin of your best friend's toxic husband. It didn't feel right for Asma.

"I'm thinking of my-"

"No, you're not. I love to see you happy. Just because I struggle in my life doesn't mean I'm going to drag y'all into this. You deserve to be happy as much as I do. So, go look for a dress, meet your prince charming, and make him whipped for you. I actually called Nana since she's been so much into fashion these days; she will help you," Zaytun said.