“On your mark, get set….GO!” Yusuf blew hard into his whistle. Its shrilling sound caused Abdullah to jerk up instantly.
Aminah launched into a sprint. She focused hard on the finish line in the distance. A figure zoomed ahead right beside her. It was Abdullah, who was sprinting like a warrior, with a deep look of concentration on his face.
Their cousin, Hamaad, also ran alongside them. He was presently catching up to Abdullah who was but inches awy from the finish line.
Hafsah, Hamaad’s sister, was amongst the audience. She cheered her older brother on as he tried to catch up to Abdullah.
Suddenly, Hafsah’s face turned bright red as she saw Abdullah zoom past Hamaad and draw closer and closer to the finish line.
Aminah stopped instantly. Her forehead was dripping with beads of sweat. She wiped them away whilst trying to catch her breath. Suddenly, she saw Abdullah on the floor. His right arm was flung over his face and his knee was grazed.
“Ouch, ouch.” He groaned in pain.
“Oh my…SubhanAllah! What happened to Abdullah?” she exclaimed, as a look of fear surfaced on her face.
Yusuf bent over, gently moving Abdullah’s arm. Abdullah’s eyes remained tightly closed as he tried his best not to complain.
“They, they…She…” Abdullah tried to squeeze out some words. “It was… ouuucch,” he groaned again, due to the pain in his knee.
Yusuf’s eyebrows gathered together as he looked on in confusion. Hafsah walked over, trying hard not to meet Yusuf’s gaze. She was biting her nails as though she was nervous about something.
“Okay,” Abdullah managed to say with another groan of pain.
Yusuf held out his hand and helped his younger brother up. He then carried him inside, cleaned up his sore wound, and placed a plaster over it to help it heal.
“Next time, you must wear more appropriate clothing when you play outside, Abdullah.” Ummi reprimanded him later in the evening. She shook her head as she tightened the top of the water bottle she had filled especially for Abdullah.
“No more playing in shorts, okay?” Ummi said firmly.
“Yes, Ummi.” Abdullah replied in a calm voice.
“I thought you tripped and fell, Abdullah?” Ummi turned towards him with a look of concern. He looked tired and his face was pale.
“I think Abdullah is hiding something, Ummi!” she giggled.
“Sorry, Ummi.” Aminah replied and hurried back to her school work.
“I knew it!” Yusuf exclaimed.
“What do you mean?” Ummi asked, placing her hand in Abdullah’s hand.
“SubhanAllah!” Ummi exclaimed in amazement.
“But I hope this is not backbiting. And I didn’t want to tell you because I wanted to make excuses for them.” Abdullah’s voice was shaky.
“Ameen.” Abdullah replied with puppy eyes.
“Yes.” Abdullah said, now smiling slightly.
“That’s a wonderful idea!” Aminah chirped.
“Aminah?” Ummi and Yusuf both said together.
“I know you will, Ummi.” Abdullah squeezed his mum tighter.
“I hope so.” Abdullah smiled widely.
Suddenly they heard an abrupt knock on the door. “Shall I get the door, Ummi?” Yusuf asked his mother.
Abdullah rested his head on the pillow. He began to think about the race and he wondered about the rewards Allah would give him for being patient.
Suddenly, Abdullah heard Hamaad’s voice coming from the living room corridor. He jolted up.
“Walaykum Asalaam, Nusaybah.” Ummi replied as she welcomed her sister into her home.
Suddenly they heard an abrupt knock on the door.
“I wonder who that is! Abi is not coming till after 4pm.” explained Ummi.
“I am good too.” She said slowly and rather nervously.
Auntie Nusaybah sat down on the couch and cleared her throat.
“Isn’t that right, kids?” Auntie Nusaybah said sternly, as she turned to Hafsah and Hamaad.
“That’s right.” They both said.
“I am very sorry, Abdullah.” Hafsah said politely whilst trying not to meet anybody’s gaze.
“Yeah, me too. For pushing you.” Hamaad added on with a regretful look on his face.
“I apologise on behalf of my children, too.” Auntie Nusaybah said to Ummi.
“Very true!” Yusuf said, nodding in agreement.
“We bought you a little gift.” Hafsah said quickly, as she pulled out the gift from her bag.
Hamaad handed it to Abdullah with a smile. It was wrapped in beautiful, shiny, red wrapping paper and was tied with ribbon.
“Open it.” Auntie Nusaybah gestured.
Abdullah tore away at the paper whilst Aminah sat scrunching the pieces up to throw in the recycling bin later.
Hafsah, Hamaad, Aminah and Abdullah all quickly raised their hands in excitement.
Ummi and Nusaybah grinned and let out a chuckle.
“Kids.” They both sighed, shaking their heads.
• Remember dear children; no form of bullying or teasing is acceptable. Sometimes it’s amazing to make excuses for each other, but if someone is hurting your feelings, instead of keeping it to yourself, inform an adult or let someone you trust deal with it in a gentle and responsible way.
• Abdullah could have easily held a grudge against his cousins, Hafsah and Hamaad, yet he chose to forgive. Forgiving someone and letting go is good for your heart, mind and soul and is key to spreading peace and love. Allah Almighty also has an open ticket to earn Jannah for the one who forgives those who harm them.