RUNNING

Chapter Twenty-two

"Victory is gained through strategy and trust in ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala, not by wishful thinking."
Umar al-Farooq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho

"Maraya, I'm waiting!" Her mother called out loud from the sitting room. They both agreed to go shopping for some items needed at home last night before they both retired to bed and her mother has been waiting for about twenty minutes since Maraya entered to change her dress. She wondered why she insisted on changing the first place because to her, the gown she was wearing was modest enough to walk anywhere.
She noticed some changes in her daughter since she came home three days ago, she has become less aggressive and her manner has greatly improve, she wouldn't miss the fact that Maraya's attitude towards prayer is positive and she spend less time listening to music.
She did not know what makes her change but since the changing is for the better she has no objective to it.
She raised her head only to see her daughter dragging out her feet using a long hijab.
"What is this?" She asked with all the disgust she is feeling right now. "You can't be thinking going out with me like that?"
"What is wrong with this?" Maraya looked at herself in front of her mother, she knows her mother will be surprise, in fact she was expecting it if she is shock but the expression on her face shows not just shock but annoyance.
"Everything Maraya, what is wrong with you?" She moves close to her and hold her shoulder as if she is trying to sympathies with her, "I don't know what group you joined or what you've been through in school but this is pure extremities and I am never going to welcome it in my house." She pulled out the hijab before Maraya could understand what was going on.
"I am not going out without using the hijab." Maraya said stubbornly looking aggressive towards her mother. "What is wrong if I chose to wear hijab, you never complained all this while when I go out half naked, you find nothing wrong in me neglecting my prayer, why then do you care if I use this now?"
"Are you saying I am not a good mother?" She used to see herself as the perfect mother, she is a mother who love her children that she can do anything for them, she dedicated her youth taking care of them until her last born was ten when she finally start her business. She pay extra care to Maraya's upbringing being the only female, she makes sure she grow up to a hardworking, intelligent and beautiful lady, a girl that can be an envious to her mate, young and successful that can stand and compete anywhere in the world. She knows how much her friends speaks highly of her daughter and how much they will give to have a daughter like her. She believes she is a proud mother, where then is she fallen short?
"I never said that?" She regret it the moment the word came out of her mouth, how could she blame her mother for her negligence? She knows how much she has been through to see them all too where they are today. Both her parents have worked so hard to ensure that they have comfortable life, they trained them to the best schools and assist them in choosing good career, they provide for them more than they need and always support them in every step they take. How could she insult her mother?
"What is happening here?" Maraya's father said from behind which caught then off guard. He was in his library going through some files when he started hearing their conversation.
Both of them were speechless, he heard almost all their conversation and wonder what made them both to be sensitive to their misunderstanding. Maraya's mother is not someone who will easily get angry at her and her daughter is not the one to raise her voice on her.
Maybe there is more to it that they are both not expressing in words, he looked at the hijab that was lying on the floor and then to the two of them. Maraya's mother walk out of the sitting room leaving Maraya and her father.

........................................................................

She keep her gaze on the floor as she sits besides her father, she can't look at his face, it's not the first time she quarrel with her mother they usually have disagreement but it is the first that they will both be sensitive to their difference.
Meanwhile her mother is also contemplating inside wondering what has gotten over her, she should not have removed the hijab from her head, maybe she had gone too far but she is so scared of what her beautiful daughter may turn into if she did not caution her. She remembered one of her friends' daughter that joined a certain sect of islam who later drifted away from the family and later eloped, she believed they have not heard about her since them, maybe that is why she is so sensitive. She doesn't want to lose her precious daughter.
"Are you angry?" Maraya father finally breaks their long silence.
"I am sorry, I don't know what came over me I was wrong" she said close to tears and her father can sense her regrets.
"You are both wrong." He calmly said "I understand your desire to protect your faith but having faith is far greater than just using the hijab." Maraya looked up at her father wondering if he is also against her using hijab..
"I am not saying you can't use hijab but before that you need to work on your faith first, when your faith is strong, when you have gained deeper understanding of your religion, it reflects in your character and it is through your character that people will appreciate your words and appearance."
"Learn the spirit of religion, try to develop an excellent manners and character then you will be surprised at how people will embrace you and even used you as good reference point for others. Don't be carried away by just the superficial aspect of religion."
Maraya allow her tears to flow freely as she sinks in her father's advice, this had been the best advise anybody has ever given her.
She kneels and thanks her father who hugged her and gently wipe away her tears. She knows she had a long way to go and she knows that the process of change is going to take a whole lot of time, maybe her entire life remains. But she promised never to give up on herself or get tired of the process and prayed silently that Allah will give her strength and be her guide.
However, she knows that she must apologize to her mother and seek her support or at least tolerance. She was surprised to meet her mother crying, she begged her for forgiveness for days.
Her mother later expressed her fear and she promised her she will never do anything outside the teaching of her religion and she reminds her mother of how much Islam values mother and family relation. Her mother also apologised and they both promised to work together towards being better Muslimah. At last, their misunderstanding turns out to be a great blessing for both of them.
"What is tomorrow?" Maraya suddenly asked as if a realisation just hit her.
"Saturday. What happened?" Her mother asked with great curiosity.
"Please I will be going to visit a friend of mine tomorrow. I hope you don't need my help for anything?"
Her daughter is not the type to worry about others need so she was surprised to hear her request but she was glad.
"I don't think I have any errand for you tomorrow. Besides it is first time you are going out since a week that you returned."
Maraya Smiled at her mother's comment, it is true that she is not the "stay at home" type especially during her holiday.
"If I am not glad for any other thing about your present changes, I must certainly appreciate your habit of being calm at home."
....................................................................