The Next Day

Falila woke up, greeted her father as usual, cleaned her room and her mother’s room, ate breakfast, then got ready. Their driver took her to school. When they arrived, they found Nabila sitting on the cool-down block, resting her chin on her hands—lost in thought. Seeing her like that, Falila quickly got out of the car and hurried to her.

“Haba Nabila, what’s wrong today? Why are you sitting like this?”

Nabila sighed deeply and said,

“Just leave it. I can’t help being worried. I remember how, when I was a little girl in Primary One at Islamiyya, my aunt would say, ‘May I live to see the day you complete your Qur’an.’ She always prayed for me. And now, look—Allah has made it happen. My Qur’an completion ceremony is here. But Ammina is in Saudi Arabia… and your wedding is also near… She isn’t here for either event. That’s what’s troubling me.”

Falila said,

“Haba besty! You’re always saying you leave everything to Allah, but today over something so small you sit here looking like someone died! Leave this worry— it’s useless. Get up, let’s go to class.”

Nabila stood up. They held hands and walked toward their department. Just as they were about to enter, they heard Jabir’s voice:

“So brides can still be seen around at this hour?”

They stopped. Jabir approached them and said,

“Honestly, Falila, you surprised me. I didn’t know I was so insignificant to you until I saw your wedding invitation delivered to our house. You never even hinted that your wedding was near.”

Nabila replied,

“There’s nothing to complain about. The wedding isn’t even a big event. If you look at the card well, you’ll see it’s taking place at our Islamiyya on the day of our Qur’an graduation. And the graduation—I told you about it long ago.”

Jabir asked,

“But my dear sister, why didn’t you do at least a small family-and-friends celebration for us?”

Nabila answered instantly,

“Walatajajjasu—(Do not over-investigate). It’s an authentic hadith. Just pray for goodness.”

Jabir smiled and said,

“Alright, I’ll keep quiet. With you scholars, everything must be backed with a hadith or an ayah. May Allah grant us success.”

They all said “Amin, thumma amin.” Then they entered class to write their test.

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When they finished, Falila said goodbye, adding,

“From today, I won’t return to school until after my wedding.”

Nabila said,

“Honestly, I might not come either. My mother is going back to Damaturu tomorrow, and the day after that, her flight is scheduled to depart.”

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One Week Later

Preparations for the walima were nearly complete. Finally, Saturday arrived. All the students came dressed uniformly, each holding her Qur’an. After the graduation, Falila and Malam Kabir were married with a dowry of one hundred thousand naira. Thousands attended the ceremony and made heartfelt prayers. Afterward, everyone dispersed.

Alaramma Sa’ad

He was one of the attendees. After the event, he didn’t delay. He asked one of the Islamiyya teachers to take him to Nabila’s house. He arrived just as her father returned. He introduced himself, then said:

“Alhaji, what brought me here is Nabila. I have never been married. I work at the Ministry of Health. I have admired Nabila’s character for a long time. So we came to seek your permission: if you haven’t already promised her to someone else, I would like the chance to court her, hoping Allah will grant us mutual understanding.”

Nabila’s father replied,

“I’m very pleased with your visit. Right now, no formal discussions have been made concerning Nabila’s marriage. So you have permission to come whenever you wish to talk.”

Alaramma Sa’ad thanked him and left.

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