Chapter Six: Recitation

Terror exploded in Nadiah's belly as a scream emancipated from her throat. The words seemed to be lodged in her throat as she struggled to form a coherent sentence. Her heart rate accelerated and her quickened breaths came out raspy. Staring at the figure in horror, she managed a gasp.

"Orang Minyak! (The Oily man!)" Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, her index finger trembled as she pointed at the black figure. To hell with superstitions! She knew it was not wise to be pointing at a demon but she simply did not care. Alarmed, she rummaged her brain for a Surah or a verse from the Quran which she could recite to protect herself. She had always thought that the Orang Minyak was only a myth. Nothing more but a fictitious, horror tale meant to scare young girls like herself.

She no longer heard Zainab's concerned shouts coming from inside the stall. She knew the legend well - her mother loved to tell her the stories of the Orang Minyak. There were a few, slightly varying versions but it boiled down to the same fact: The Orang Minyak was a supernatural serial rapist, characterised to be covered in oil and nude - as most versions goes - and one who targeted maidens like herself.

At that moment, all she tasted was fear. Fear of being raped. Blinking back the tears, she swallowed hard. A few tears rolled down her cheeks. Her human instincts were telling her to run but her feet were paralysed.

Her mind came to a blank and she was on the verge of breaking down when all of a sudden, the demon bellowed a laughter. What tickled the being got her puzzled especially when the laughter was carefree and sounded like chimes in the wind. When he sauntered forward, Nadiah finally understood why he was laughing. With his form and physical appearance clearer, she was no longer looking at a demon - as what she'd presumed earlier - but a man who was clothed and wasn't smeared in oil. And he just happened to be named Harun.

" Your expression was priceless!" An amused Harun remarked as he tried to hold his laughter in.

Feeling extremely humiliated, it took all of her willpower to resist from taking off her slipper and whacking him with it.

"Nadiah......?" Zainab's call ricocheted from inside the stall. "Nadiah! Are you there? What's going on outside?"

"I'm fine," Nadiah mumbled, not taking her eyes off the chuckling Harun.

Harun cleared his throat and held up his hands defensively when he saw a seething Nadiah. "OK, I'm sorry. It was a joke, okay? Just a joke."

Behind her she heard a commotion and she knew the other villagers had heard her screaming and were coming.

"Just a joke you say?" Nadiah repeated. Oh the nerve of this man...

"Yes, a joke. You know.... joke?" Harun cracked a sheepish smile while scratching the back of his neck.

Nadiah closed her eyes and took a few breaths to let the anger out.

"What is going on here? " A few torches were shined on them, the sudden brightness made Nadiah squint. Her father came closer to her, shining his torch at Harun and then at his daughter. A few village uncles surrounded them, one of them she recognised as Harun's father, Pakcik (Uncle) Yahya. All of them were looking curiously between them. "Nadiah, were you the one who screamed just now? Why did you cry? Tell me, what happened."

"Him!" Nadiah pointed at Harun with much distaste. She reached up to wipe the stray tears as she recollect herself. "He scared me, Ayah. (Father) I thought he was the Orang Minyak. "

Turning to Harun once more, she directed her frustrations at him. "Have you got any idea how scared I was?! ARGH! You're impossible."

"Astagfirullahadzim! (I seek Forgiveness from Allah) Harun," Yahya said as he took a step towards his son. "Is this true?"

"A-Abah..." Harun gulped upon seeing his father. At that moment, the door to the toilet stall barged open and everyone turned to look at it for a brief second. With a flushed face, Zainab stepped out of it and stood next to Nadiah wordlessly.

"I-I...I was just joking, Abah. "

Yahya shook his head in grave disapproval. "What is the meaning of this? Maghrib-Maghrib perangai macam gini! Macam Shaitaan! (How could you be behaving this way during Maghrib! Just like Satan!)" He whacked Harun's head.

"What is becoming of you? I asked you to come to the surau to pray, not to disturb other people's daughters!" Harun hung his face in shame. He did not foresee that the situation would get out of hand. "Go and apologise to her. Go!"

With his gaze still lowered, he mumbled an apology.

Feeling hands around her shoulders, Nadiah looked up.

"Let's go, Nadiah," Her father, Hassan, said as he led her to the surau with Zainab following close behind. "Were you harmed or injured?"

Nadiah shook her head. "Only terrified, that's all."

Once hidden from the scrutiny of public eyes in the women's Wudhu' (ablution) area, Zainab clawed at Nadiah for details. Satisfied with her friend's explanations, Zainab began to make wudhu - cleansing her body from impurities. When she was putting on her hijab, they both heard the Muezzin reciting the Azan from the prayer hall. It was time for Isyak prayer. Hurrying, they both made it back to the women's section of the prayer hall just as the Iqamah (second Islamic call to prayer) was recited.

***

"I will be leaving first with your Ayah," Aminah said to Nadiah after the Ustadh was finished giving a Khutbah (sermon). "Will you be alright?"

"Yes, I have Zainab with me and the other village girls," Nadiah replied. "Besides, I don't think there will be any more trouble after this."

"Alright then, make sure you have somebody to walk you home! "

I will, Mak," Nadiah assured and lowered her head to salam her mother.

Within minutes, the crowd began to thin. Most of the adults headed home and the ones who remained were mainly male and female adolescents, young children and the Guru Ngaji (Quran teachers). Many of the villagers were taught how to read Tajweed Al Quran properly under the guidance of these teachers. The ones who weren't able to recite the Quran properly were put into one group and the rest who were better at reciting were put into another. Most of the adolescents were in the latter group and this included Nadiah and her friends. In this group, they recite a Juz (divided Chapter) - or at least a few Surahs - of the Quran together every week.

"Let's move to the front," Zainab said, standing up and gathering her belongings as she did so.

"Zainab! Nadiah! Over here!" Wahidah, a good friend of theirs waved them over. She was seated at the front with the other village girls. Nadiah returned the gesture with a bright smile. Zainab was already walking over to them while Wahidah and the others eagerly scooted to allow them some space. Very slowly, Nadiah collected her possessions and stood up. When she returned her gaze to the front once more, her smile faltered a little when she saw Maa'rof and his father, Haji Ali, coming out of a room and walking towards the seated group.

Instantly reminded of that afternoon's incident, her chest ached. She felt the same rawness eating away at her heart.

Haji Ali gave the salam. "Assalamualaikum wahrahmatullahi wabarakahtu." (May Peace and God's Blessings be upon you)

Nadiah briskly flopped down next to Zainab just as the others chorused the greeting. "Walaikumsalam wahrahmatullahi wabarakahtu...." (Same to you too)

Haji Ali scanned the sea of faces before him for a brief moment before continuing. "I would like to make an announcement. From today onwards, I will no longer be leading Khatam Al-Quran(Completion of reciting through the Quran) lessons with you all."

A few collective whispers broke among the group. Nadiah heard the girl in front of her whispering to her friend.

"But don't you worry! For my son, Maa'rof, will be assuming my position."

Nadiah's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. Maa'rof nodded his head slightly, not making eye contact with anyone. "Maa'rof had just completed his studies in Islamic Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), Tafseer Al-Quran (Interpretation of meaning behind Quranic verses) and Tajweed Al-Quran. He gained knowledge from a well known Ulama and is now qualified to be a Ustadh. (Religious teacher)"

The girls sitting in front of Nadiah were whispering among themselves excitedly. Nadiah felt Zainab nudging her arm but she refused to look and instead threw Zainab a sideway glance, making her stop." I trust he will carry his responsibilities well. I'm not going to hold you back any longer. Maa'rof, please proceed."

Nadiah watched as Maa'rof took a step forward. "Assalamualaikum wahrahmatullahi wabarakahtu."

Everyone cried in unison, "Walaikumsalam wahrahmatullahi wabarakahtu..."

"I hope that, InsyaAllah (God Willing) I am able to guide and impart the knowledge that I have to all of you."

"InsyaAllah!"

"Ameen!"

"Let us begin then. Turn to where you last stopped....Surah Qaf, verse number 17."

Nadiah turned her copy of the Quran open and picked up the bamboo stick sandwiched in between the pages.

Maa'rof cleared his throat. "Auzubillah hi minash Syaithaan nir rajim {I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan and his evil whisperings}....Bismillah hirahman nirrahhim...{In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful}...

{Remember!} That the two receivers{recording angels} receive, one sitting on right and one on the left.

Not a word does he {or she} utter, but there is a watcher by him ready {to record it}.

And the agony of death will come in truth.

"This is what you have been avoiding!"

And then the Trumpet will be blown. That will be the Day whereof warning [had been given {i.e. Day of Resurrection}]

And every soul will come forth along with an {angel} to drive {him}, and an {angel} to bear witness...."

Throughout the entire class, everyone was bent over their own copy. Moving their index fingers or a bamboo stick from right to left, reciting every verse together in perfect harmony. Maa'rof's voice was beautiful and melodic while reciting the Quran. Lost in deep concentration, Nadiah recited the verses along with the others present - keeping the volume low enough for only herself to hear.

***

"......Sadaqallahul 'Azim...{Allah says the truth}"

Everyone turned to salam their neighbours. Casting her sights on the clock hanging on the wall, Nadiah realised it was close to ten o'clock.

Maa'rof said, "Alhamdulillah {All praise to Allah}, we have managed to cover quite a few Surahs. InsyaAllah {God Willing}, we will continue next week."

A few people got up to leave while some still continued to salam the others sitting more further away from them.

"We should get going too," Zainab said. "I will go and get my sister first. I think she should be done."

She went into the room used to conduct the Tajweed Al Quran for the young children to collect her younger sister; five-year-old Najwa.

A minute after Zainab went in, a few other children came pouring out from the door. Clearly happy that they had finished their Tajweed lesson for the day. The remaining village girls offered their hands to salam which Nadiah accepted and bade them farewell.

Maa'rof on the other hand was chatting to two teenage boys. Stealing a glance at him, Nadiah noticed that he was quite hospitably and friendly towards the males who came up to salam him. He must really hate me, she thought with an inward sigh. The whole time she was there, sitting a few feet away from him, not once did he look her way.

"Nadiah!" Zainab called out, her fingers interlaced with the fingers of a chirpy Najwa. "Shall we leave?"

She nodded. Peeking at Maa'rof once more, he was still talking to someone - a different male this time round. She had thought - hoped that he would at least glance at her. Considering that Zainab had called her name rather loudly. But no, it was as if she was invisible. Maybe he really does hate me. She thought as they slipped on their footwear.

A bell jingled. "Kakak (Big sister) Zainab!" Najwa said, tugging on her sister's skirt and pointing at a a Chinese man sitting on a trishaw. He was a drinks seller. "Can we get a drink, please?"

There was a line already formed - about five people waiting to be served. "There's too many people in the queue, Najwa. Can't you wait till we get home to drink?"

A wide-eyed Najwa cried, "But-but! I'm thirsty! I want a drink. Buy me a drink! KAKAK!!!"

"Najwa!" Zainab scolded. "Behave yourself!"

"Just get it for her, Nab," Nadiah commented. "Or she will start crying."

Zainab grumbled, pulling Najwa with her to join the queue."Oh......alright!"

As they were technically standing on a road, Nadiah decided to move to the nearest corner - next to the surau so as not to block traffic.

As the surau was still brightly lighted, out of curiosity, Nadiah peered at it. She saw Maa'rof sitting on the floor of the prayer hall alone. The other males who he spoke to earlier had already left. What is he doing? She wondered.

"Aren't you going to leave, Maa'rof?" Upon hearing Haji Ali's voice, Nadiah quickly snapped her head around for fear they might discover her looking at Maa'rof through the open window.

She heard Maa'rof say. "Not yet, Abah. I want to complete reciting Juz' Amma first. "

"Well, don't stay up too late! Finish that and come home, you clear?"

"Yes, I will."

Nadiah tried to remain subtle where she was and pretended not to have heard the conversation or looked at Maa'rof for that matter. She keep her eyes transfixed on Zainab and Najwa who were still in line.

A moment passed and then she heard him. His voice- soulfully reciting Quranic verses. Hearing him got her mesmerised by the beauty of the sound. Not just because he possessed a beautiful voice. But she had always felt slight tremors in her heart whenever she hear someone reciting God's Words. Though she may not understand it - Arabic not being her native language - it made her feel close to God. And in those few minutes, she forgot her aching heart. She forgot his refusal to acknowledge her. It managed to soothe her and made her forget about the world. It was just her and God's Words.

***

A/N: I FOUND AN ACTOR WHO FITTED MAA'ROF PERFECTLY! ^_^ See my comment to view the photo! :) Top picture on the side bar is of Nadiah and Zainab and the one below is a picture of men praying in the surau. And the song is an Indonesian song. (Indonesian and Malay language are quite similar) It IS a Malay story, so...of course Malay songs! hahaha. Feel free to ask me anything you aren't sure of. Thank you for all the support everyone! :D Till the next upload!