BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHIM

ZAINAB (Safna)
Ever since her wedding date approached, Safna found herself in a state of anxiety, thinking about what the future held, due to events that had occurred in previous years. When her wedding date with Sadiq was set, ten days before the wedding, Allah decreed his death. Safna found herself in a state of distress she could not describe. It was only through intense prayer and entrusting her affairs to Allah that she managed to recover, persevere, and accept her fate.
After some time, she met Lukman. At first, she refused to give him a chance, but eventually, she softened, and they began a relationship. In a short time, they became very close, and he sent his elders to formalize the marriage plans. A dowry was paid, everything was set, and the date was fixed. It was only waiting for his parents to finish their preparations when, suddenly, Lukman himself came and said he was calling off the wedding, and that he forgave everything they had spent. At that time, Safna almost lost her mind because she had fallen deeply in love with Lukman, even more than she had loved Sadiq. The biggest torment for her was his refusal to tell her why he was pulling out.
Safna was beautiful, educated, from a good family, calm, and well-behaved—she had no faults—yet her fate seemed tied to the difficulty of marriage. She struggled to cope with the loss of Lukman, which almost drove her to a serious illness. She nearly developed heart disease, suffered from severe hypertension at a young age, and battled insomnia and a severe ulcer due to lack of eating. They constantly visited the hospital, and it was with great difficulty that she was stabilized to accept her fate. From that time on, she gave up on romance and ignored everyone, no matter how persistent they were; she simply asked them to leave her alone. She had many suitors, but she spent two years ignoring them.
One time, when her sister Anty Maryam gave birth, during the naming ceremony, a conflict broke out between her husband’s family and her own. This caused such tension that it triggered supernatural issues (jinn) for her, and even Safna collapsed, her breathing stopping as if she were lifeless. People were terrified, and it was hard to manage the situation. Safna spent two days in a catatonic state, not knowing where she was, while Ruqyah (spiritual healing) and fumigation were performed. Eventually, the jinn spoke, confirming that it was the one causing the problems in her marriage prospects. Even with Sadiq, it was the same entity, as it didn't just want Safna married; it didn't want any man to come near her. It was with great effort that the entity was driven away, and she regained her senses.
Once it was understood where the problem lay, and she herself realized she had an issue—given her frequent dreams of water, flying, or fighting with strange creatures—she explained it to the Mallam (healer) who performed the Ruqyah. He said that, by Allah’s will, she would be healed, and he provided medicine she was to start using. Alhamdulillah, this was the path to Safna’s recovery, as two years were spent on treatment and success was achieved. By the time she was twenty-four, Allah made it possible for her to start considering suitors again. Seeing how they wouldn't leave her alone, she settled on Zayyad, whom she would marry. Even though she didn't initially love a man who already had a wife, his love for her was overwhelming, and she couldn't resist him, especially seeing how deeply he loved her.
She would never forget their first meeting. She went to his shop, which was on the main road between Gombe Road and Badikko, to buy flour and ingredients for making donuts. When she finished shopping and the items were put in a bag, she stood by the shop entrance waiting for a tricycle (napep) to go to her home in Abakwa GRA. A schoolboy on a bicycle passed by, and by bad luck, he brushed against her. The bag of flour tore and spilled on the ground. Immediately, Safna grabbed the boy's shirt, forcing him to stop, and began berating him, insisting he pay for it. The boy tried to apologize, but she wouldn't listen because she was extremely angry. People began to gather, some trying to calm her down and others blaming the boy.
Zayyad, who was in the shop, heard the commotion and came out to ask his boys what was happening. When they informed him, he approached Safna, apologized to her, and said he would pay for the damages. He took the bag and told one of his staff to weigh the flour for her again. The crowd dispersed, and Zayyad warned the boy to be more careful on the road, thanked him, and went back to his shop. He sat watching Safna until she finished and left. This was why she knew he was the owner of the shop where she frequently shopped, and this was why he remembered her face. Whenever she came to buy things, he would recognize her voice and come out to stand there until she was served and left.
Slowly, he began to feel something growing in his heart for her. From denying it, he eventually admitted he had fallen in love with her. She visited his shop often to buy flour because that was her business—she was an expert in making snacks like donuts and samosas. She did this for naming ceremonies, weddings, and other events. She didn't believe in being idle, as she even made them at home to sell. If she made too much, she would take some to the secular school where she taught and give them to the school shop to sell for her. If they sold out, she would get her money, and the shopkeeper would take his commission. This was how she met Zayyad, who did not relent until he established his "government" in her heart and found a place there. From refusing him, she eventually accepted him, and they spent a year and some months before their wedding date was set. Now, the wedding was only a month away.
The phone call that came to Safna's phone pulled her out of the world of thoughts she had entered. She took a breath and quickly answered the call, as it was about to end.
"Wa'alaikum Salam, how is your day, Maman Ilham?"
"Everything is fine, Alhamdulillah. How are the preparations?"
"Hmm, everything is fine."
"Our bride, stop with the 'hmm's, are you shy? We are already one. I just called to tell you to send me the photo of your wedding uniform (anko) so that Abban Ilham can buy it for me too, so I can join the groom's side and not be left behind."
"Ok, no problem. I will send it to you on WhatsApp later, In Sha Allah."
"Alright, thank you. May Allah let us see the wedding in peace. See you later."
"Thank you, greet the children for me."
After that, they ended the call. Safna stared at the phone, wondering how Rashida could show no sign of jealousy about her marrying her husband. Anty Shafa entered the living room, causing her to put the phone down, saying:
"Anty, did you hear? Zayyad's wife said I should send her my wedding uniform, she wants to wear it."
"The power of Allah! In all my life, I have never seen a woman with as little jealousy as that woman. Wasn't it her who brought him over to visit the other day?"
"Yes, she has brought him over twice. She would come with him and the children, sit inside the house, and let us talk outside. Then when we are done, he would call her out and they would leave."
"Allah is powerful. Truly, if this marriage works, I suspect you will live in peace."
"Honestly, Anty, that's why I'm not afraid of us living in the same house. Anty Maryam and the others keep complaining and telling me not to agree, but seeing how she treats me, I don't see any problem with us living together."
"Calm your heart and purify your intentions. In Sha Allah, you will live in peace. Anyway, the body beautician is coming later, so you should be prepared."
"Alright," Safna replied. Anty Shafa sat down to breastfeed her baby as Umma and Anty Maryam walked in. Anty Shafa told them the story about Zayyad's wife asking for the wedding uniform, and Anty Maryam clicked her tongue in disapproval.
"Honestly, that woman—be careful of her. I don't trust this closeness she is showing you, especially since we know she doesn't get along with her husband's family at all."
"Maryam, don't break Safna's heart or discourage her. If you know you cannot encourage her, then stop bringing up this talk. I don't want it. Since she has shown her this, it proves Zayyad is capable of managing his household, and there is peace between them since she even brought him for visits."
"Umma, I also see that she has no problem, honestly. My only worry is that this marriage shouldn't also suffer problems like the previous ones and get called off."
"In Sha Allah, nothing will happen. Zayyad will be your husband, my younger sister. Alhamdulillah, your spiritual ailment has been treated, and we have succeeded, by the grace of the Lord of the Ka'aba."
Anty Shafa said with a smile, and Anty Maryam added:
"Are you using your medicine? Don't be negligent with it."
"Yes, I am."
"Good. But what about your job? Will he let you continue?"
"Hmm, Anty, honestly, I'm tired of the daily commute. I've been teaching for almost four years. I'll just start a business, as Zayyad said he would give me capital to start a home-based business."
"Safna, the sweetness of love! You've already agreed to his words? Don't be foolish, for Allah's sake."
"Anty Maryam, he said he doesn't want his wife working, and I am also tired of working. Since he promised, I know he will fulfill it for me, In Sha Allah."
"May Allah make it right, and I hope it's not just sweet talk he's using to win you over."
"Honestly Maryam, everyone wants this marriage, but I see you are not for it at all."
"Umma, honestly, I want Safna to have a peaceful marriage because none of us has a co-wife, but for her to marry a man who already has a wife... even you don't have a co-wife."
"Everyone's fate is different. This is what Allah has destined for her. Among all of you, I could say none would have been more resistant to marrying a man with a wife than Safna, but since it is her trial, and she will marry someone else's husband, Allah has placed love for him in her heart. I don't want all this complaining; support her with prayers."
Umma said as she stood up to go to her room. They continued discussing the wedding, as that was why they had come. They wanted Safna's wedding to be better than theirs had been, which was why they kept meeting to discuss it.
Malam Abdullahi is their father, and Umma Raliya is their mother. They all live in Kaduna, though they are originally from Zaria, from Lere Local Government. Abba is a civil servant, teaching at a secondary school. They have five children: Anty Shafa’atu is the eldest, married in Tudun Wada with five children; then Anty Maryam, married on Makarfi Road with three children; then Yaya Mudassir; then Zainab, who was named after their paternal grandmother and is called Safna; and finally, the last born, Yusuf. Alhamdulillah, this family was built on the foundation of Islamic and modern education. Although Anty Shafa and Maryam stopped at secondary school before getting married, in Islamic education, even after getting married, they continued their studies and all of them teach at the Islamic schools near their matrimonial homes. Yaya Mudan completed his degree in Electrical Engineering and has an electrical shop; he didn't wait for a government job. Safna has a Diploma in Islamic Studies, but she didn't continue further; she got a job at a private school teaching. In Islamic education, she completed the Mutawassita level and was preparing to continue when Zayyad appeared for her hand in marriage, so she paused. Yusuf is in his final year of secondary school and has memorized the Holy Quran. This is a brief history of Safna’s family.