The Orphan Child

ch2

Zahra Ismail was a clever girl. She was top in her class and loved to listen and learn about her creator and his religion. At the mention of her Lord her heart would swell in an inexplicable exquisite sensation.

Her favourite class was Islamic studies which she was currently waiting for to start.

Her teacher a very kind hearted soul and a very old but wise women entered the class. Something about the way her teacher presented herself made her feel the sweetness of faith by a simple glance.

"Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuhu." Ustaada Amina greeted.

"Wa Alaykum Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuhu." The class chorused in tune.

Ustaada Amina walked slowly to her seat raising her abaya off the floor murmuring words as she sat.

As routine she read and ticked off all the students present in class and sent the register off with Hana this time, who was a friend of Zahra's.

With a smile Hana skipped away out the classroom dashing off to the office to hand in the green register.

"How are my little soldiers." Ustaada Amina smiled to her 19 soldiers sat unblinking, eyes wide in class.

"Alhamdulillah." The class chorused in unison.

"Alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillah." Ustaada Amina said under her breath as she took out her board pen and began to write todays title on the white board.

"Now class. What we are to learn is a very important topic and our prophet Muhammad (SAW)..." Ustaada Amina paused as the class repeated the saying (SAW) before continuing. "...always stressed the importance of this topic because it was something very dear to his heart."

The moment Ustaada Amina moved out the way to reveal the title, a low and hushed murmur spread across the class until finally the voices settled and it was quiet once again.

Everyone knew the class rule of no talking in class and moreover they respected their elderly teacher who didn't like loud sounds.

"Yes. Our topic will be about Orphans today." Ustaada Amina confirms to anyone who didn't understand what was written on the board.

She takes her place and opens up a notebook where she had noted important points the night before while preparing for her lessons.

"An orphan is a child that has lost both their parents. And did you know, our prophet Muhammad (SAW) himself was an orphan?" Ustaada looks around the class with a smile at the innocent faces that were listening intently at the mention of Muhammad (SAW).

In their small community all children were brought up to love Allah and his messenger (SAW). It was unheard for a child to be unaware of the name of Muhammad (SAW).

Religion was one of the many important factors in the town which everyone was proud of and it was taken very seriously, but only a few remained firm on the correct methods while others had been taken astray by the devils that dwelled nearby in almost every home.

Majority of the people took certain topics lightly while other topics to an extreme height. This was one of the many issues Ustaada Amina had wanted to tackle for a very long time and it seemed that her age was closing to the very end and she feared she didn't have enough time and only prayed that Allah keeps her alive until she had to her utmost ability finished her goals in life.

There was only so much she could do which was why she had applied for a job at the school regardless of her age and limited ability. She had decided that even if she had to crawl, she would do so, just to teach the wonderful true religion of Islam to the future generation.