Veil of Truth

Chapter 2

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recommended reciting Surah Al-Mulk before sleeping. In one hadith, it's mentioned that Surah Al-Mulk intercedes for the one who recites it regularly. The hadith says:

"There is a surah in the Qur'an which contains thirty verses which kept interceding for a man until his sins are forgiven. This surah is 'Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion' (i.e., Surah Al-Mulk)." (Tirmidhi)

Many people find that reciting Surah Al-Mulk before bed brings peace to their hearts, protects them from harm, and provides comfort in the face of anxiety. It's also known to help protect the reciter from the punishment of the grave, according to another hadith:

"The one who recites Surah Al-Mulk before going to sleep, Allah will appoint an angel to guard him and protect him from the punishment of the grave." (Ibn Abi Shaiba)

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Across the room, a figure stood leaning casually against the wall, observing the scene with the same detachment he always carried. Zayd, Layla's older brother, had arrived late—no surprise, since he rarely had any interest in these types of social events.

He glanced over at Amina briefly, his eyes dark and unreadable, but his attention quickly shifted back to a conversation with a colleague. There was no sign of interest in Amina's direction. And that was just how she liked it.

Layla, as usual, was the center of attention, moving seamlessly through the crowd, chatting with friends and guests alike. She introduced Amina to a few people, and Amina smiled politely, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the uneasy feeling in her chest. Was she really ready for this world?

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After the party, Amina returned to her small apartment, which was far away from her family home due to her higher studies.

She unlocked the door and stepped inside, the familiar quiet of her apartment greeting her. She removed her abaya and niqab, the weight of the evening's events finally lifting off her shoulders. She took a long, hot shower, letting the warmth relax her muscles and wash away the lingering exhaustion. Once she was done, she prayed Isha and read Surah Al-Mulk, grounding herself in the calmness of her faith before bed.

Afterward, she lay down in bed, but her mind kept drifting back to the party, to the mysterious boy who had caught her attention. He had seemed so distant, almost lost in his own world. His presence, though quiet and withdrawn, had intrigued her. She couldn't quite shake the image of him standing alone in the corner, looking like he was somewhere far beyond the noise and bustle of the party.

As her thoughts swirled around him, she wondered about who he was, what he was thinking, and why he had seemed so detached. She tried to focus on other things, on the tasks waiting for her tomorrow, but her curiosity kept tugging at her.

"Focus, Amina," she told herself firmly, shifting in bed. Her university life was demanding enough without getting caught up in distractions like this. She had goals, responsibilities, and dreams that stretched far beyond a fleeting encounter with a mysterious boy at a party.

But no matter how hard she tried to focus on her prayers or the verses of Surah Mulk that she had read just before bed, her mind kept wandering back to him. To the strange sense of connection, however brief, that she had felt in his quiet presence.

Amina sighed, the pull of exhaustion finally taking over as she nestled deeper into the pillow. The day had been a lot—emotionally, mentally, and physically. Slowly, her thoughts became more fragmented, more dreamlike, until at last, the quiet of the night enveloped her, and she drifted off to sleep.