Zaib was sat on the chair sipping his sugary milkshake as he cautiously listened to Ehsan, ranting about the tiredness of searching for the lady of his dreams.

"Ehsan, you haven't found the one yet because Allah has something way better planned for you. If Allah closes a door, he opens hundred others. Be patient, it'll be worth it." Ehsan smiled gratefully at Zaib's spiritual speech.

Being the eldest in the Khan Family, Zaib was aware of the tactics. Sometimes, his siblings, Zain and Zayna, also needed words of wisdom to carry on in life. So basically, Zaib Abdul Khan was an expert with assuring words.

"Jazak Allah Khair, bro. Let's discuss the new project," Ehsan smiled. Zaib nodded as he began to shovel through some papers.

Architecture was Zaib's passion. He was always great at art; the colors and patterns intrigued Zaib more than anything in this world. His eyes always beamed in excitement as he worked on painting competitions. His mother stressed upon the importance of mathematics, even though he disliked the subject, causing him to learn it forcefully.

When he graduated, his first initiative was to work on a project for his family circumstances. His parents had spent their youth tirelessly working for his education fee and he wanted to give back. After gaining recognition through few internships, he earned his first project: construction of a nursery. As he succeeded within the first project, he realized how blessed he was to have studied arts and mathematics.

There wasn't a prayer in which he didn't thank Allah for the blessed lifestyle.

Zaib and Ehsan were halfway through their discussion when suddenly they heard the pleasing sound of the Dhuhr Adhan.

'Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar'

Both the men got up in alarm, hurrying to a masjid nearby. While walking, Zaib recalled the day he saw Ehsan without his beard. Zaib grew anxious and bombarded him with questions, but Ehsan answered none of them. Was his best friend unfollowing the sunnah?

"I'm still upset. Why'd you shave your beard?"

Zaib was determined to obtain an answer. He wasn't going to let his friend fall into the temptations of the devil. The more Zaib thought about it, the more he felt a sickening ache in the middle of his chest. Ehsan was the one who guided Zaib most of the time; Zaib didn't want his friend to be mislead.

They were now walking towards the entrance of the masjid. Discarding their footwear outside, they entered in the protection of Allah's house. Ehsan sighed deeply.

"Zaib, like seven girls rejected me because of my beard. It really got out of hand and I just did it without a moments thought. I'm really ashamed. I wish I could go back in time to change what I did," Ehsan mumbled.

Oh, the poor guy.

Zaib grew upset. As far as he knew Ehsan, he would never go against the will of Allah for the worldly pleasure. Zaib was also well aware that nothing came before Allah and the Prophet's sunnah. Ehsan gave into the desperation and shaved off his beard for the sake of the world.

Zaib knew that he regretted it deeply.

Zaib could only sigh in response and make Dua'a for the guidance of his distressed friend.

The two silently ambled off into the praying hall, getting in line, shoulder to shoulder, and the Salah began with stating Allah's greatness.

"Allahu Akbar."

Zaib lost himself in pure love and devotion for his Lord. Being with Allah and communicating with him was intimate and pleasing in so many ways: it was heavenly. The best part about everything? Allah was always there. When Zaib prayed, he felt connected to his lord. The concept of Salah itself always lightened Zaib's heart and removed his daily frustrations.

The emotions spiraling in his heart while in sujood were indescribable. His heart was at peace, and he could feel the calmness.

When the prayer ended, Zaib routinely did his dhikr, then proceeded to talk his heart out to Allah. He put his hands together to make his Dua'a.

"Ya Ar-Rahman, I stand in front of you with a heavy heart. You're the most forgiving, the most glorious, please forgive me for I tend to sin a lot. Allah, forgive the mistakes and sins I have committed. I need patience and tolerance. Allah, I need you. Please give me the strength to deny temptations. Ya Ar- Raheem, give me the willpower to stay away from wrong and stand by the right. Ehsan has surely given into a temptation, but Allah he's ashamed and needs your forgiveness. Oh Allah, forgive him and provide him with patience as well. Allah, bless my parents with a healthy lifestyle. Thank you for giving me so much more than I deserve. Thank you for everything. Ameen."

Zaib rubbed his hand over his face in gratefulness. Allah was so merciful. He provided the humans with so much, yet they still complained. Zaib turned to look at Ehsan who was too engrossed in making his supplication. Zaib secretly smiled as he saw tears drop on Ehsan's cheeks. He was guilty and repenting.

When Ehsan finally finished his Dua'a, he eyed Zaib suspiciously, narrowly questioning if he saw him crying. Upon seeing the smirk on Zaib's face, he sighed frustrated.

"You saw nothing," he threatened. Zaib chuckled as he stared at the very mortified Ehsan.

"Hey, it's okay. Crying because of regretful actions and asking for guidance from Allah is a blessing, not many people are capable of it."

"Oh Zaib and his words of wisdom," Ehsan teased.

-|-|-|-|-

"Are you sure you're ready to be an Imam?" Zain questioned his twenty two-year-old brother. Zaib gazed at him before nodding gladly. "I can't wait to lead my brothers in Salah."

Zain was about to speak when, out of no where, Zayna tackled him on the couch. Zaib chuckled as he watched Zain tickling their ten-year-old sister. Eleven years with Zain were quite exhausting and hectic. Constantly fighting about not wanting to share their bay-blades, TV's remote, or a room and fights over who loved mama the most often got aggravating.

Zaib was overloaded with happiness when they heard the news of another member joining them. The member being a girl seemed like a cherry on top and his exhilaration was beyond control.

Zaib and Zain both loved Zayna immensely.

"I'm going to the charity bazaar. Since Mama's gone to the Quran Institute and Baba's out with a friend, take good care of Zayna," Zaib warned him, eyeing them narrowly. After all, they were nicknamed double trouble. Even though Zain needed to act as a mature brother, he lost his common sense the second he was left alone with Zayna.

"Don't you worry, dear brother."

"I'm serious, dude. If you and Zayna attempt to make another smoothie, I will chop your head off, Zain!" Zaib warned him threateningly as he pulled his leather jacket on. Oh, the smoothie incident. He remembered walking into a kitchen caked in strawberry smoothie.

Apparently they forgot to apply the lid on? Seriously, who in the world is that stupid?

"Hey! That was a minor inconvenience." Zaib rolled his eyes. "Take the umbrella with you. It looks like it'll rain," Zayna reminded.

Zaib nodded, smiling at Zayna, leaning down, kissing her forehead, then heading out the door.

Today the bazaar held an auction to give out paintings which the children of the orphanage created. Zaib wanted to support the welfare since the auctioned paintings' money would be used for the betterment of the orphanages.

As he walked across the road and took a sharp turn, a speedy scooter came into view. But before Zaib processed what was happening, the scooter emerged his way and crashed against his knees sending awful pain through his kneecap. The scooter tumbled him off his feet.

Zaib laid on the ground, his knees throbbing.

What were people up to nowadays?

"Allah! What have I done?" A soft, panicked voice spoke. It was a woman.

"I'm fine," Zaib rasped.

"Alhamdulillah," he heard her say. "You are alive. I'm so sorry," Zaib didn't miss the amount of relief spilling from her voice, and he wanted to burst out laughing. Did she expect him to be dead because a little scooter hit his knees? He found her adorable and quite innocent.

As he turned to face the culprit, his eyes softened at a very terrified woman in a navy hijab, standing meters away from him.

Zaib was tempted to look at her face, but he quickly snapped his gaze away from her.

His gaze was meant for his wife only.

Then the clouds bursted into heavy rain, spraying them with pure water. Zayna was right after all.

"Allaahumma 'innee 'as'aluka khayrahaa, wa 'a'oothu bika min sharrihaa." Zaib uttered the dua'a.

"It's okay," Zaib mumbled.

"Can you stand?" She asked uneasily.

"Yes, Alhamdulillah."

Zaib felt her move back to the scooter. He stood himself up and noticed her arms tightly wrapped around herself. Zaib realized the cause of her uneasiness: she didn't seem to have any protection from the rain, and her clothes might've been sticking to her body.

Zaib immediately felt his heart restlessly beating faster than usual. He didn't want her to be going out alone with her clothes glued to her body. He walked towards the scooter, his gaze fixated on the soppy ground and removed his jacket speedily, holding it out for her.

"Please take this." Zaib didn't want her to get any misleading ideas. His intentions were purely innocent. They both stood soaking in the gorging rain for the few moments. She kept staring at the jacket which made him doubt she'd take it. But then exactly two second later, she grasped it away.

Immediately, Zaib turned away from her, trying to lose the memory of her soft voice.

May Allah reward you with goodness

Allah is the greatest

One of the five daily prayers.

The Most Gracious [Allah's name]

The Most Merciful [Allah's name]

Remembrance of Allah

Teachings of Prophet Muhammad(s.a.w)

Prostration

Call to prayer

I seek forgiveness from Allah

O Allah, I ask You for the good of it and seek refuge in You against its evil.

Oh Allah accept our invocation

The one who leads the prayer

The house of Allah

Revelation from Allah

Islamic prayer

Supplication to Allah