The Gift
By: Amina
Bint al-Huda
She spent an uncomfortable day anxiously waiting
for, she knew not what. Her beloved husband had left her shortly after their
marriage. She was waiting for the gift he had promised her, before he went into
death's eternal sleep, into the bright world of heaven. His gift, (whatever it
was) would be dear to her. It would be a token, a symbol of the love, emotion
and harmony that filled their life together.
Yet it was a unique gift; one prepared by the
husband to be given to his wife in the wake of his death. It would be one of
the most precious presents he had ever given her, and she was anxious to know
what it was. She wondered who could tell her something about it. He had
mentioned it first during his arms training, whilst preparing to fight for the
rights and the dignity of his people, to either achieve victory or enjoy
martyrdom. He did not give it her then but left her, waiting for his sake
return. But he never returned. How could he come back? Those who rush to fight
against the satanic enemy do not come back.
They always expect victory or martyrdom. They
desire either death, to vex the enemy, or life that pleases the friends. There
are many who come and go..., but can a life of compromise and weakness, be
considered a real life? It is really only death. Her husband achieved martyrdom
in the battle of AI-Karamah (a village in the occupied Palestine). He fell
whilst defending his homeland that had been seized by the Zionists. They did
not even celebrate one wedding anniversary as he left during the early days of
their married life.
Her beloved husband knew that someone's precious
life, was worth sacrificing for a noble cause. He left her and joined the
combatants in the battlefield, promising her his gift. He was away often and
for long periods of time, but she got news of his struggle. She prayed to Allah
to give him strength, patience and fortitude with which to face the brutal
enemy...then, she was awaiting his return. But now she no longer waited.
He had enjoyed martyrdom in the battle of dignity
and justice and she would never forget his promised gift. His bright figure was
etched deep into her heart and his martyrdom had increased that brightness. He
was her love whether dead or alive, and she lived with him and for him. She was
proud of, and happy with, him. She had a right to anxiously await his gift. At
last, after waiting for what seemed ages, but was really only a few days, the
gift was brought to her.
She looked at it as if she were looking at his
angelic luminous shadow. She remembered him when he was her hope in life, the
man of her dreams. He went for the sake of her and every oppressed wife, every
unhappy child, every lost young man... He went in order to liberate his
country, for her and for all the people. He sacrificed himself for the sake of
the country that was invaded by imperialists and strangers. He was worthy of
her love and high respect. She got the gift. She was both happy and sad. She
looked at it. It was balm for her wounded heart.
What could it be? It was a green board on which
was fixed in big letters, the following Qur'anic verse:
“...who when a
misfortune befalls them say: surely we are Allah's and to Him we shall
return...” (Al-Baqarah, 2:156)
She hung it on the wall where she could see it
every morning, when she opened her eyes and every evening when she went to
sleep. She looked at it and promised Allah the Almighty, and her martyred
husband that she would tread the road of struggle till the banner of justice
could be raised in Palestine. Whenever she longed for her husband she read the
Qur'anic verse and a feeling of calm crept through her.
Reposted by: Chachakoreanlovers
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