"Salamu Alaikum!" Afraah said as she walked up to us. She had her phone in one hand and her ear piece in the other.
We were all on a big praying mat outside the masjid(mosque) in a spot we had managed to make ours. We spent most of our time-during Ramadan- there doing religious activities.
"Wa alaikumu salaam," we chorused.
"What's with the long face?" Bilkisu said.
"You have no idea what I just went through!" She said as she sat down
"What could it possibly be?" Zahra said absent mindedly.
"Hmm...I just got scolded!"
"Like seriously?" Zahra blurted.
"Where? How? From who?" I asked.
"On my way here, I had my ear piece plugged in my ears as I quietly strolled here."
"Ehen...then what?" Bee asked eagerly.
"Ali,one of the ustaz from our department came up behind me and said the salam so I removed my ear piece to say a respond to him properly."
"I've been meaning to have a talk with you Afraah" he announced.
"Toh,Today is your lucky day" I said cheerfully. "what is it about?"
"Afraah your way of dressing and manner of conducting yourself is unislamic!"
"Unislamic? How?" I was shocked.
"Even in this holy month,you still hardly wear the hijab and you are still listening to music!" he said sternly.
"All I could do was shake my head!"
"Don't tell me you didn't defend yourself!”I fired.
"I was so shocked that I almost didn't but I know that it would've been foolish so I questioned him"
"Brother Ali,what does the hijab mean to you?"I asked.
"The hijab is a cover for your body to protect your chastity and dignity from the eyes of men" he replied confidently.
"Good! Now tell me where it specifically mentioned that I have to use the traditional hijab most people use?"
"But that is the be..."
"Hold on..."I interrupted. "My veil is obviously not transparent,my clothing is not at all tight and the music...how certain are you that its music?' I queried.
"Most of you young girls who go around using that thing are mostly listening to music!" he accused.
"Ali, I am fasting!" I announced.
"Of course you shoul.."
"Hold on..I AM FASTING," I warned.
It seems like he got the message and he suddenly froze.
"The music you accused me of listening to is Sheiqh Ali Al Huthaify. Its actually amazing how well you've noticed the way I dress and the things I do. Shouldn't you be lowering your gaze?" I paused to get an answer but he remained mute.
"Brother Ali,not every hijabi is a devout muslim,not every one who doesn't wear the traditional hijab is not a hijabi. If you don't understand my hijab that's okay,after all its between me and God,it has nothing to do with you!" I concluded and walked away leaving him there.
"Allahu Akbar! (God is great) our Afraah is becoming tough,If someone else had narrated this to me I would never have believed it!" Zahra said mockingly.
We all laughed.
"I'm glad you defended yourself,some of these so called ustaz cross their boundaries most times," I said.
"I know right," Afraah crooned.
The quiet peace-loving girl was obviously drained by the conversation.
"Maybe the brother is interested in you," Bee said looking serious.
"What do you mean?" Afraah fired.
"He must have been observing you for a while before finally deciding to take a shot at indoctrination," Bee stated still maintaining her feigned serious expression.
"Bilkisu you can stop now,I've had enough of this!" Afraah announced. She reached for the Quran near Zahra and opened to the page she had book marked earlier. She was clearly done talking.
Bee winked at Zahra and I and we all smiled back.
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