Life Under the Hijab | ✔

{13} The Nikkah

Zaynub Khalid

I woke up to birds chirping. Allah's warmth brought a smile to my cheeks. Today was the day. The day I always dreamed of. The day I patiently waited for my entire life. The day where I would get married. Today was the Nikkah.

I got out of bed and took a nice hot shower. After my shower I brushed my hair and prayed Fajr (first prayer Muslims pray). Then I recited some of the Quran (Holy Book of Islam). It was really early in the morning, so not many were awake. I sat there and read the Quran for an hour and a half, until Noorah came into my room, her swollen stomach prodding out of her dress.

"Assalamualaikum. Did you rest?" she asked as she took a seat next to me.

"Walaikumasalaam. Yeah," I answered while closing my Quran and placing it on my nightstand.

"Are you nervous?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm really nervous. I keep thinking about if this marriage will work out," I said truthfully.

I was crazy nervous. I mean you would be to if you were engaged to your old friend who bullied you. Plus, there was going to be a lot of people there. I had a slight fear of big crowds.

"Don't be nervous. Getting married was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I mean look at me now. I'm pregnant with a child," she said while pointing to her stomach.

"Yeah," I smiled.

"I just wanted to say that you are really lucky for this day. You're a beautiful and religious young girl. Living here with you has been a blessing and I'll miss you," she said while hugging me. "I love you like my own sister, Zaynub," she whispered.

"I love you too," I hugged back.

Noorah let me go and stared at my face.

"You might want to comfort your mother now. She's happy for you, but sad that her daughter is getting married. She doesn't want to let you go," she laughed.

I nodded and walked out of my room and headed to Amu's room.

"Amu?" I asked into the room.

"Oh Zaynub," she sighed.

She was looking at a picture of Baba. I walked over to her and embraced her in a hug. She returned the gesture.

"I wish he were here for this day," she said while letting me go. "He always talked about how he would get you married to a wonderful man. He loved you so much, Zaynub," she smiled.

"I miss him," I said with tears threatening to fall.

Every time I think of Baba I get emotional. It's still a sore subject to talk about.

"I do too," she sighed. "Zaynub, you have to understand something," she said while looking deep into my eyes.

"What is it?" I asked.

Amu took a deep breath before she began to speak. "For a mother it's very hard to let a child who you have protected and sheltered for many years go. Seeing you get married is something that I am proud to see especially with a young man like Zakir. But, it's also painful. A mother's bond to their child is so strong it-," tears started to fall from the corners of her eyes. "It just hurts to watch your kids go," she cried.

"Oh Amu," I went to hug her.

Amu had been through alot lately. It must be really hard for her to see me get married. I got where she's coming from. I was the eldest daughter and one of her kids. I was not a mother, so I won't exactly know what it's like, but I knew that Amu loved me a lot.