Palestwinians.

Regret.

"A moment of patience, in a moment of anger, prevents a thousand moments of regret." - Ali ibn. Talib

Dedicated to @EnchantedByIslam You're also one of the first people to have read my book and giving it a shot! I remember these things you know! [Did I ever mention how much I love your username?

~ The mosque mentioned in this chapter was recently destroyed by Israel. 

Chapter 21 - Regret.

“Yasmine hurry up or we’re going to miss salah!” Nadia shouted from downstairs. 

“Coming!” I yelled. I quickly slipped on my purple jilbab over my black skirt and grabbed my phone before running down the stairs, nearly tripping on a lego block. 

My family were all waiting outside for me impatiently. It was the day before Ramadan, meaning taraweeh prayers had started. Al Saleheen mosque was only a ten minute walk from our house, as was most things so we found no point in taking the car. Not that our one car fit us all anyway. 

For every step you took walking towards the mosque, Allah (swt) rewarded you for it immensely, so walking was indeed the more beneficial option.

“Took you long enough,” Noah grumbled, taking the lead and walking off, his white abaya rustling with his movements. 

I sighed. Noah has been all pissy with me lately and I didn’t know why. I had an inkling it was because of my ‘acting out’ but it was a bit extreme to get angry over that. 

I pushed these thoughts aways for now and focused on the beautiful atmosphere that came with Ramadan. As we walked towards the mosque, I could almost taste it in the air - there’s just something so uplifting when it comes to the holy month. Putting your own desires and needs to the side, and fasting a whole day in recognition of others around the world, who aren’t as advantaged. 

It was a blissful feeling. 

The weather mid year was always perfect and I wished to go and lay on the sand and drink in the sky. The beaches in Gaza, were in a sense, nonfunctional, since more than half of them were contaminated. Due to the continuous power cuts, we have low quality sewerage treatment stations, which pump water into the sea. It’s the most difficult in the summer, when people can't even go in for a dip. 

I slipped my shoes off at the entrance and walked into the ladies area of the mosque. 

After praying ‘isha, the eight extra taraweeh prayers and listening to a short lecture by the sheikh, it was time to go. I always felt like time went too fast in Ramadan but that is exactly why we had to cherish every moment of it. 

We waited outside for my dad, Noah and Adam, who persisted he had to be with the ‘men’. I could see them in the distance talking to their friends and I knew we would be waiting for a while. Unfortunately, both Salma and Shaymah couldn’t pray, meaning they’d miss out on the first few days of fasting.

After what seemed like an eternity waiting for them, Adam ran up to us enthusiastically and started jumping up and down uncontrollably. 

“Mama I prayed with Noah!”

My mum laughed joyfully before bending down to kiss him. “Masha’Allah I’m very proud of you.” 

He beamed at her and then skipped back to Noah, grasping his hand firmly incase he decided to move away from him. I was yet to understand his obsession with him.

“Ready for the first day of Ramadan ladies?” Dad asked, slipping on his jacket and smiling up at us. We all nodded our heads eagerly, the excitement regenerating.