THE SNAIL-LOVER {Episode Twenty-Six} Finale

The Overwhelmed Bride

To Abuja Toohir, Sulaiman, Maymunah and Mutmainah went, through the air. The journey was filled with only whispers among the friends. When they landed at the airport, a chauffeur conveyed them to Maymunah’s dad’s office where they waited at the reception to be called in. He was having a meeting with some high officials and despite having his precious daughter waiting at his door, he couldn’t bring it to an abrupt end.
For the first time since the journey, Maymunah and Sulaiman were sitting next to each other having their friends by their sides. Despite the anxiety, they felt like holding hands and looking each other in the eyes with lovely grins but they couldn’t, knowing that the only thing that can issue them the permission to do those they desire would be a marriage which they were still far from.
Mutmainah tried to break the tension, “The chief is hilarious. So, you shouldn’t be surprised to hear him crack some jokes. But funny or not, you’ve got to take him seriously.”
“That’s my dad for you,” Maymunah added.
The secretary’s telephone rang and she picked it up. She was ordered to usher them in.
“Wahlykumu salam warahmatullah wabarakaatuhu. Welcome! Welcome! Who is the one that wants to be my son-in-law?” Chief, looking elegant in his purple agbada on an onion-coloured caftan, both embroidered across the shaped neck, asked as he directed the visitors to seat on the set of sofas in his office.
Sulaiman stood and shook his hand, “I had thought you would be an old man like I was when I married her mother. When she declared she wanted to follow the footsteps of her mother by studying engineering and marrying earlier, I had thought she’d choose someone in his late thirties as well.” He laughed.
They all smiled.
“Dad! Stop embarrassing me.”
“Now, tell me, young man.” He sat on the big couch, opposite them. “I have already heard a lot about you from her aunt and uncle. But you’re still young. Getting married in the next five years is never late for you. Why now? Why do you choose my daughter?”
He shifted forward on his seat, “Bismillah, wa solaatu wasalaamu ‘ala rosuulullah…”
“Salallahu alaehi wasalam,” they all chorused.
He continued, “na’am. I simply want to fulfill the other half of my religion… I’m also following the hadith of the prophet, salallahu alaehi wasalam, where he said, “o young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e. his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse, etc.)…”
“And whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power.” Chief completed the hadith for him and roared in laughter. “Maymunah, do you know your mother taught me this hadith? You’ve got a good reason, son. Go ahead.”
“The most important reason I’m choosing your daughter is her religion. And ever since I set my eyes on her, she has captured my heart and I’m sure, I’ve captured hers too. I believe there’s nothing better for us than marriage. Which is why I’ve come before you sir, to seek your precious daughter’s hand in marriage.”
Chief smiled and nodded, “I heard that you’re a trader and an electrician. You can see that my daughter is of noble birth. Do you think, with your earning, you’ll be able to take good care of her?”
“In’sha’Allah, sir. I’ll do every possible best within my means to fulfill my responsibility to her.”
“Ok!” Chief sighed and faced Toohir, “can you testify to all your friend has said?”
“I can, sir. I’ve always known him to be true to his words and I am very sure that you will never regret entrusting him with your daughter.”
“It was said in a hadith that a man said to Al-hasan ibn Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, and said, ‘A group of men has proposed to my daughter, to who should I marry her?’ He responded by saying, ‘Marry her off to the one who fears Allah. If he loves her, he will honour her, and if he dislikes her, he will not oppress her.’ I believe you fear Allah!” Chief sounded serious and echoed, “which is why I’ll accept you as a son. Maymunah’s mother was my eyes and ever since her demise, she has replaced her in my heart. So, if you ever allow an ant to bite her, you should remember you’ve just bitten my eyes and I can bring the whole world down because of that if Allah permits me! Deal with her with kindness and do not maltreat her. Be the best to her as much as you can be. And above all, make your home where Allah is always remembered because of Rasuulullah…”
“Salallahu alaehi wasalam,” said everyone.
“He said, ‘The likeness of the home where Allah is remembered and the home wherein Allah is not remembered is like the living and the dead. My princess,” he walked closer to her daughter, whose eyes were already filled with the salty water as she thought of the reality dawning on her, and sat on the center table right in front of her, “I’m saying this now because we might not have the opportunity to see and sit like this again until the day of your nikkah.” He wiped her tear-stained cheeks with a white handkerchief and held her cheek in his palm. “Do you know who the best of women is?%
?”
Amidst tears, she responded, “The best of women is the one who obeys her husband when he orders her and she pleases him when he looks at her. The best of mankind said that, Dad.”
“Why do you keep reminding me of your mother? She knew every hadith that could come out from my mouth even before I say it after I’d done a long search on Google.” He smiled, “and he, salallahu alaehi wasalam, also said, ‘if a woman prays her five daily prayers, and fasts her month, and guard her chastity, and obey her husband, it will be said to her, ‘enter the paradise from any door you like.” Those would be the women in Jannah. For the few years, your mother spent with me. She never disobeyed me except once when I asked her to disobey her Lord. I asked her to attach artificial hair to her hair because I liked seeing girls with it. And she disobeyed me with the utmost respect by placing her hands on mine and said, ‘Dear husband. Do you know I’ll never disobey you because of the tremendous right you have over me? But the Prophet, salallahu alaehi wasalam, said, ‘There is no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator.’ This you are asking me to do is among the deed of the accursed woman. Would you still like me to do it?’ Such was your mother and I hope Allah will allow her into the Jannat ul Firdaus… Maymunah, obey your husband, respect him and be grateful to him.”
“Daaddyy!” She hugged her father for some moments as she mourned her mother.
“You shouldn’t start your ekún ìyàwó (bride’s cry) now. You should wait until D-Day,” Chief tittered, also trying to mask his painful longing for his late wife as most of the blissful memories of her were brought back to life.
The atmosphere grew emotional and Mutmainah patted her friend on the back saying, “You only need to pray for her.”
“May Allah grant her al-Jannat ul Firdaus.” Sulaiman prayed.
“Aameen.” Toohir contributed.
Chief left them and returned to his seat. He waited for the moments of tranquility to set in. Then he proceeded, “Now, what next? Should the nikkah hold tomorrow?”
“Are you chasing me out of your house, Dad?”
“Or out of your aunt’s house? When last did you even visit my house?”
“As if you’d spend a day in that house. Then, who would I have come for if I were to visit?”
“Your stepmother and brothers…”
“Dad!…”
“I know they haven’t been relating well with you but that shouldn’t make you distance yourself. Alhamdulillah, you’re a believing woman. You know what the Prophet, salallahu alaehi wasalam, said about keeping the tie of kinship; ‘whoever is pleased that he be granted more wealth and that his lease of life is prolonged, then he should keep good relations with his kith and kin.’ and whoever do otherwise will not enter Jannah… Sulaiman,” he called.
“Sir.”
“I heard yours aren’t good with you as well. You shouldn’t get married and hold onto each other alone, without them. No matter how hateful their hearts are towards you, always try to extend your hands to them. Verily one day, they’ll need to grab those hands and soften their hearts towards you. You’ve got nothing to lose but a lot to gain.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll ensure I do that.”
“Left to me, I’ve said what I want. How soon do you plan to get married? Next week or the next?”
Maymunah and Sulaiman stared at each other, hoping they could communicate with their minds. Mutmainah giggled, knowing the question – “When would the nikkah be?” – hadn’t been thought or talked about between the prospective spouses. On her friend’s demeanour, she could sense a nervous apprehension querying her readiness for the lifetime contract, called marriage. Sulaiman, on the other hand, wished he could pick the next day but he got to consider her decision.
“Maymunah,” the name flowed through his lips with some sweetness, “what do you say?”
She looked up to the ceiling for some moments, as if searching for an answer, and shyly, she responded, “I don’t know.”

“Discuss the date with your aunt and deliberate your mahr (dowry).” Chief concluded.

To a woman, marriage, at first, could be a little scary. She had to leave her home where she was loved and adored for a new home like a newborn child. She had to face every day and night with a lot of struggles to prove her loveliness. At times, she would be forgotten to also be a lovely daughter of a family and only make some foes. While at times, her loveliness would readily be seen, known and accepted. The bone of contention here was that she would never know what would await her. And to Allah alone, she should always turn for help – the thought of an overwhelmed bride.