Struggle With The Soul

comprehensive high school at last!

"hey salaamah!  How I wished you also followed us to  CHS' end of session program. I'm sure you would have loved it".
Amaarah chatted happily with her elder sister.

"Really? Is that school that so good? "

"yes, very good. In fact, most of my childhood friends are attending the school. I'm thinking of putting in for their exam and joining them next session.  I don't think I will go to university secondary school again. They don't allow hijab there."

"well, it's your choice but will mum accept?  Have you informed her about your decision yet? "

"oh no, I haven't done that. I think I should go and inform her now. I pray she accepts ".
Amaarah said as she stood up to go and inform her mum about her decision.

"Assalaam alaykum mum, good morning"

"Wa alaykum salaam warahmatullah my dear, how are you?  Hope no problem?"

"not really mum, just that I'm thinking of not attending university secondary school because I heard that they don't allow hijab in the school. I think comprehensive high school will be better. It will be nice if I attend the same school with Meimunah".

"oh, OK. That's a good idea.  Do you have any information about their entrance exam?"

"not yet ma, perhaps I should go to the school tomorrow in Shaa Allah to make further enquiries".

"that will be wise of you. Do that and inform me about your outcome. I think the school standard is OK. Meimunah is really  enjoying the school".

"yes o, moreover, many of my friends are in the school " Amaarah said excitedly.

"wait, do you want to attend the school because of friends?  If that's so, I won't allow you to attend. I am afraid you might not concentrate with your studies". Faatima said in a haste.

"oops!" Amaarah cringed as she realised she had talked too much at the presence of her no-nonsense mum
"No mum, I am not going there cause of friends. Mum please, I promise to face my studies". Amaarah pleaded hopefully.
"I hope you will! Alright, just go and make the enquiries tomorrow "
"yes mum! Jazaakillahu khairan" Amaarah grinned and rushed out to break the news to her sisters.

"hey salaamah, meimunah!  Mum has accepted that I register in CHS!" she said happily as she danced around the house.

"yep!  Alhamdulillah" meimunah said as she embraced her sister.
"congrats, salaamah said as she  continued her work".

"Thanks darlings" Amaarah said cheerfully .
"meimunah, we're going to CHS together tomorrow. Mum asked me to go and make some enquiries. Will you follow me babe?" Amaarah looked at her sister with pleading eyes.
"oh no problem, I will, in Shaa Allah ".
"thanks so much, Jazaakumullahu khairan".
"Aamin, Wa ant".

*******
"mum, I had 72.8 at the interview". Amaarah held the result for her mother to see. Faatima quickly took the result from her girl looking at it with keen interest.
Faatima being a teacher was always concerned about her children's results. She always urged them to do much better and tried to encourage a good result. No result is perfect for she believed that her kids can do better. Nevertheless, she tried to compensate a better result.
Looking at Amaarah's result at the interview made her to have the feelings she always used to have, --" not better, you can do more than this".

"well, this is a good result Amaarah but you can still do better than this. Try your best to have a much nice result when you finally get to the school".
  "Alright MA, I will try my best in Shaa Allah. Moreover, the admission officer said I am qualified for the admission and I can start the next session with the other students".

"Okay, in Shaa Allah. And lest I forget, what department are you planning to put in for.  Is it science or humanity?".

" humanity mum. I will love to be a lawyer! And I love writing too... " Amaarah replied without hesitation but before she could finish her speech, her mum cut her off.

"excuse me madam, you are not going to study law in my own house. Even though I will prefer you to go to science class, you may opt for mass communication if at all you are choosing art and humanity. Lawyers are liars and I can't tolerate you being a lawyer in my house!"
Faatima said with finality.

Amaarah was shocked and sad at her mum's disapproval of her ambition. The one she had been nursing since childhood.  Faatima couldn't deny the potentials of being a lawyer in her daughter but she was not ready to bear the fact that a lawyer who she thought is a liar stays in her home.

" but mum..." Amaarah was trying to form something to convince her mum in her head but she couldn't get any. She was very sad and she couldn't understand why her mum didn't want her to study law.  And if her mum held a point of view, to convince her otherwise could be difficult.
Being a chip off the old block, Amaarah who was carrying same traits she inherited from faatima, was also the type that loved to have her way. To convince her against her view would also be arduous.

" I think I will have to call your brother to talk to your silly head, now you may go". Faatima dismissed Amaarah and she instantly took her phone and call faaruq. Her eldest son who was in the university in town. He had always had this ability and wisdom to make his siblings see things from his point of view. He had great influence on his siblings.

*******
" Amaarah" faaruq called his sister. "I understand that you really want to study law. Actually, it's a good idea but you're a female. Studying law is really detrimental in this society we find ourselves. The system is not really muslim friendly. There is no Sharia and I'm afraid you will only learn kufr laws. As Muslims, we're not to follow any other rules apart from the ones under the Sharia. You studying the kufr laws will expose you to so many bad things which may make you to go against Allah's commandment. Since you are a good writer, why don't you think of studying journalism. With that, you will be able to enhance your writing skills and you may write so many awesome things about Islam?".

"really? That's interesting. Okay then, I will change my ambition to journalism. I think that will be interesting". Amaarah said. Weighing her decision.

"Maa sha Allah ! That's great dear. Baarakallahu Fiiik ".
"Aamin and you too "

"when are you resuming to your new school? " faaruq asked.

" that should be next week if Allah wills. All registrations are almost complete " .
"that's good. May Allah make it easy".
"Aamin".

Faatima was very happy to know that her daughter has changed her ambition to journalism. She felt relieved because she had been thinking of how to convince Amaarah to listen and obey her.

Schools reopened for a new academic session. Many students including Amaarah were very happy. Amaarah was very enthusiastic. She couldn't wait to go to school that first day of resumption.
Afterall, she's starting a new school. A school of her choice. It sounds wonderful to be in Comprehensive High school at last!