Faith in Love

Zara engaged the handbrake as she parked her car in the mosque parking lot. She felt the warm sun on her skin as she walked slowly to the masjid, adjusting her hijab (veil). Though she had already prayed salatul asr (afternoon prayer) at home, she rushed to the second floor of Masjid Al-Fath to meet with her students. Taking a deep breath, Zara inhaled the fresh air. The mosque was located in the middle of Paranaque, where she had always lived since she was a little girl. With less than 10% of the population being Muslims, she often felt like a minority in Metro Manila. That was why she made it a point to spend her weekends at the mosque ever since it opened a few years ago. Her father served as the imam there, and she found it to be a respite from the world. She had found friends and community there. As she grew older, her faith in Islam deepened, and she became more involved in the mosque's activities. Although Zara had just graduated from university, she was still undecided about whether she wanted to work immediately or apply to law school. She knew her father would support her regardless of what she chose. For now, while contemplating her next steps, she volunteered to teach at the mosque and help out with various programs and events. As she climbed the stairs, Zara thought to herself, “Today is a special day.” She had been assigned to conduct a Quranic study session for new converts at the mosque. Zara felt a surge of excitement mixed with a bit of nervousness. Teaching was her passion, and she was always eager to share her knowledge of Islam with others. She also felt a sense of responsibility towards the new converts, knowing that they were taking a big step in their faith journey. As she entered the women's corner on the second floor, familiar sights and sounds greeted her. The second floor, usually reserved as the women's prayer corner, had been transformed for today’s activities. It was divided into three areas, with one area at the far left corner serving as the men's study area, the next section on the far right corner as the women's study area, and the middle area left empty as the women's prayer hall. Zara made her way to the women's study section, and as she walked, she caught a glimpse of a man sitting in the men's section. He was wearing a black shirt and jeans, and his hair was styled in a messy, yet attractive way. Zara felt a tinge of curiosity but quickly shrugged off the thought, whispering, “astaghfirullah (May God forgive me)” to herself. She knew it was not proper to let her eyes wander and look at a person of the opposite gender. She continued towards the women's section and was greeted by her father's sister, Babu Fatima, who also volunteered there. "Assalamu alaikum (peace be with you), Zara," Babu Fatima greeted her warmly, "So many students today, alhamdulillah (Thanks be to God)!" Zara smiled excitedly, “Wa alaikumus salaam (peace be with you)! Alhamdulillah, Babu! This is so exciting! I guess our social media announcement worked, huh?” She said teasingly. She considers Babu Fatima as her mother since she lost her mom many years ago. Babu Fatima smirked, “Yeah, yeah…I see your idea is not so bad after all. Good thing you thought of that!” She stood up and went to the front area. “Assalamu alaikum, sisters,” she addressed the students, “Welcome to Masjid Al-Fath! Thank you for being here. May Allah bless all of you. I feel very grateful because this is the first time that we’re doing a gathering like this in our mosque and we are happy that you are all able to come. Please feel free to make this place your home. Remember that in Islam, we always believe in one ummah (community) and I hope you will find that community in us. My name is Fatima, by the way, and this is Zara, my niece. She will be the one who will teach you how to read in Arabic so that eventually, you will be able to read the Qur’an.” The women nodded in unison, and Zara smiled. She took a seat on the floor and opened her Quran, ready to begin. As she started to read, she couldn't help but think of somebody in the men's section, wondering who the mysterious man was and what brought him to the mosque. Zara quickly pushed the distracting thought from her mind. She had come to teach and needed to concentrate. During the class, Babu Fatima and Zara did their best to explain and teach the Arabic alphabet to the convert students, so much so that Zara forgot about the messy-haired new boy. After the class, they swept the floor. Zara was curious about the new boy and decided to ask Babu Fatima while they were still cleaning. She walked towards her and leaned in. “Babu Fatima,” Zara said, “I noticed a new boy before the class. The one with messy hair.” Zara hoped that Babu Fatima hadn’t noticed that she had to look at the opposite gender to know there was a new boy. Thankfully, Babu Fatima responded, “Oh, he’s Amir. He’s a convert, and it’s his first time at Masjid al-Fath. He commented on your post on the page we made.” “Oh,” Zara said before continuing to sweep the floor. After finishing, Zara, Babu Fatima, and Ama, who had just finished his lecture, walked to their car. The sun was now brighter, and Zara's neck burned as they had been in the mosque for a long time. The car was hot by the time they got there, and Zara suspected that it would take a while for the air conditioner to cool the car. As Zara backed out of the parking lot, Ama asked, “How was the first day of classes?” “It went well,” Babu Fatima said. “The students seemed to like it. I think Zara's idea was a success.” “Thank you, Babu Fatima,” Zara said. “Anyway, Amma, are we going to the restaurant or at home?” Ever since Zara's Ina had passed away, Amma had decided to open a shawarma restaurant to honor her memory, which they named Laida Shawarma.