by Umm Zakiyyah
“You’ll see.”
Curiosity piqued, Inaya tore the cellophane paper from the box and set the wrapping next to her on the cement steps, a grin on her face. She opened the flaps of the cardboard and removed the white tissue. She creased her forehead as she took out the folded white cloth that appeared to be a simple T-shirt.
She smiled. “Thanks.”
Raymond laughed. “Unfold it, and look at it.”
Grinning curiously, Inaya unfolded it, and a small badge fell on the step at her feet, distracting her. She leaned forward to pick it up and saw that it was slightly worn and read “Student Ambassador.”
She drew her eyebrows together and chuckled. “What’s this?”
He laughed. “You don’t remember?”
She creased her forehead and glanced curiously at him. “Is this yours?”
He nodded. “I was wearing it when we first met.”
She laughed. “Thanks,” she said, her face growing warm. “I’ll treasure it.”
“Really?” He sounded surprised.
“Of course.” Uncomfortable with the possibility of being asked to explain further, she lifted the T-shirt from her lap and held it up to read the imprint on front: Keep the faith, girl, and, insha’Allah, we’ll meet in the End.
It took Inaya several seconds before she registered why the words sounded so familiar. Her eyes widened and she looked at Raymond. “How did you…?”
“Nasra,” he said, a smile on his face. “She said one of your friends from Saudi Arabia shared it with her mother.”
Inaya laughed, shaking her head. “Wow, maashaAllah. I had no idea you knew about that…”
“I did my research,” he said with a smirk.
They were quiet momentarily as a thought occurred to Inaya. “But why?”
Raymond drew in a deep breath. “Honestly?”
Inaya chuckled. “Well, if it’s not too much to ask.”
Raymond was quiet for so long that Inaya grew concerned that she had asked too much.
“Because I didn’t want to lose hope.”
Inaya nodded as she considered what he had said, but she realized she had no idea what he meant.
“You know why I wanted you to talk to Lyrica about Islam?” Raymond said.
Inaya’s chest constricted in dread. She didn’t want the reminder. “No,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Because I wanted her to be like you.”
The words were so unexpected that Inaya laughed. “Yeah, right.”
“I’m serious.” There was humor in his tone, but Inaya detected a trace of nervousness. “I knew I could never…” He huffed then shook his head. “Never mind.”
“Could never what?”
He looked at Inaya suddenly, his eyes pained. He seemed frustrated for some reason.
“Don’t you get it?”
Confounded, Inaya creased her forehead. “Get what?”
Raymond drew in a deep breath and exhaled as if trying to gather his thoughts.
“You know the story of Abu Talha and Umm Sulaim?”
Inaya narrowed her eyes. “It sounds familiar.”
Raymond smiled, but his expression remained subdued. “Read it when you get a chance,” he said. “It’s the story your father told me before I became Muslim.”
“MaashaAllah,” Inaya said, smiling. “Is it what inspired you to convert?”
Raymond laughed. “I guess you can say it was the final push.”
“Then I have to read it,” Inaya said, shaking her head as she smiled.
“Well, remember me when you do, okay?”
Inaya chuckled, unable to shake the lingering feeling that she was the butt of a friendly joke. “Of course.”
Raymond stood. “Then you’ll understand the T-shirt better. It’s what I’ve been telling myself.” He sighed as Inaya stood too, a confused expression on her face. “Even when I didn’t understand why,” he said.
Inaya nodded. “Okay…”
“I just hope you don’t find it offensive,” he said as he opened the door and stepped aside to let Inaya in front of him.
“Why would I find the story offensive?” Inaya said, chuckling.
Raymond grinned. “Let’s talk about that after you read it.”
“How’s everything with Lyrica by the way?” Inaya said quietly as Raymond followed her inside and closed the door.
“We broke up,” Raymond said sadly.
“I’m sorry,” Inaya said, bringing a hand to her mouth. She was surprised by how sad she actually felt. “I didn’t know.”
Inaya shook her head, sad for Raymond’s pain but unable to quiet the hope nestling in her own chest. “Why?” she said.
“Honestly?” he said, a smirk forming on his face as he nodded his head toward Inaya. “The truth is in your hands. Literally.”
She glanced down at the T-shirt she was still holding. Keep the faith, girl, and, insha’Allah, we’ll meet in the End.
Inaya broke into a grin, and her eyes widened as she met Raymond’s gaze. He grinned and looked away as he walked into the living room to join everyone else.
Maybe marrying Raymond one day wasn’t a fairytale after all…
EPILOGUE
Looking back, I think I know what my mistake was. I thought being a good Muslim meant you didn’t do anything wrong, at least not on purpose.
But now I know, if you’re human, you’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to do wrong—sometimes on purpose. And you’re going to get confused and weak.
But what’s most important is, no matter how crazy life gets, nothing makes you lose faith altogether.
Because that means losing everything.
And even if things get so bad that all you have is your emaan, that seed of faith that keeps you Muslim, that’s something.
In fact, it’s more than something. It’s what makes all the difference…
In this world and in the Hereafter.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Daughter of American converts to Islam, Umm Zakiyyah, also known by her birth name Ruby Moore, is the award-winning author of the If I Should Speak trilogy and the novels Realities of Submission and Hearts We Lost. Muslim Girl is her second juvenile fiction story after A Friendship Promise.
Umm Zakiyyah’s books have been used in schools and universities in America and abroad for multicultural and religious studies. She writes about the interfaith struggles of Muslims and Christians, and the intercultural, spiritual, and moral struggles of Muslims in America.
She currently resides in Washington, D.C.
Visit ummzakiyyah.com to find out more about the author.