Shirk in Disguise

Chapter 1

If only Azeema had known, she wouldn't have taken such a drastic step towards self-destruction. If only she'd known, she would've stayed content with what the good Lord had already blessed her with. If only she'd known...

Azeema came from a low background; from a home which could best be described as 'self-sufficient'. However, she never lacked anything that was necessary for her continued existence on earth...except one thing which her doting father couldn't provide her with during his lifetime – a mother.

Fanna, who died while giving birth to her beautiful daughter, not even living long enough to catch a glimpse of her new-born child, was the beloved wife of Yusuf Adam, a hardworking teacher in the ancient city of Kano. She'd been the apple of his eyes and the center of his world, the one with whom he lived the best fifteen years of his life – the fifteen years before the arrival of Baby Azeema.

Having been married for more than a decade without an offspring, Yusuf's family had been mounting pressure on him, wanting him to marry a second wife but he adamantly refused.

"If God wishes, then Fanna and I will certainly have children; and if not, then it would probably be for the best," he was fond of saying.

His mother in particular, who was impatient to see her grandchildren made the most fuss about the subject. "God only helps those who help themselves!" She always countered him whenever the subject cropped up, which was often.

However, after realizing that her son wouldn't budge from his stance, she resorted to pleading with him, asking him if he'd like to see her die without having a grandchild. Her son, obedient as he was to his mother who'd begotten only him in this world, remained silent to all her pleas. He had faith in Allah as well as faith in his beloved Fanna.

Things got to a head when Yusuf's mother, impatient as she was, went ahead to seek for a young girl's hand in marriage on behalf of her son, without his knowledge of course. Her grudges against her daughter-in-law were not because of her childlessness alone, but also because her son had chosen her, a lady from another tribe, above countless ladies from their own ethnic group. She therefore sought to make the chosen lady's life in her son's home as miserable as possible.

At that stage, Yusuf almost hit the roof because of his mother's unwarranted actions. He therefore lost no time in sending the young bride back to her people. His mother, in turn, accused her daughter in-law of bewitching her son, probably with the help of a Marabout.

Fanna, on hearing this unjust accusation, broke down in tears. Being a pious Muslimah, she knew very well that going to a Marabout to seek control over a human being or any other thing was tantamount to Shirk – a sin she could never even imagine committing. In her lament, she asked her husband to marry another woman to fulfill the old woman's wishes or even divorce her if it came to that.

"Over my dead body!" he exclaimed, his eyes widening at the mere mention of such an idea. Instead, he moved to another town with his wife.

The day Fanna confirmed beyond any reasonable doubt that she was heavy with child was the day that marked a turning point in her mother-in-law's attitude towards her. Instantly, the old woman spontaneously transformed from a grumbling nag to a caring dame.

"Where's my darling daughter?" Yusuf's mother called out as she reached her son's house. As soon as she met her daughter-in-law, she spread out her arms for a hug, as if she wasn't the one that had hitherto accused her of bewitching her son.

Fanna, who'd felt uncomfortable at the abrupt change in her mother-in-law's change of attitude towards her soon got used to it as the days rolled into weeks and weeks into months – the final months of her life.

The day Fanna died, which was ironically the beginning of young Azeema's life, marked a bittersweet memory in Yusuf's mind. When he was first told of the birth of his daughter, he was filled with joy but the joy disappeared as soon as he learnt that his beloved Fanna was gone.

That day, he cried his heart out and even refused to look at his baby, convinced that it was because of her he'd lost his dear wife. He therefore fell into a pit of utter despair, having no more will to live. It took him some time before he was able to come to terms with his beloved's departure, after which he showered his daughter with all the love and care he could muster.

However, his assumption wasn't too far from the truth because earlier on, Fanna had gone to the labour room in full knowledge that only one of them could survive; it was either her life or her baby's. Some weeks before that fateful day, when she was informed of that fact by the doctor, she'd hesitated a bit and made her decision.

She chose her baby.

A/N
A huge thank you to all my readers, voters and commenters...😊

I know this chapter was a bit emotional, especially towards the ending. However, such a scenario isn't too rare 'cause our parents, especially mothers, sacrifice so much for their children...😢

I'd love it if you share any similar story you know which shows parents' selfless sacrifice here in the comments section. This is a tribute to all the brave and courageous parents all around the globe, both living and dead!👏👏👏

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