Nur and Huda woke up in the morning. Huda said, “Yay! Today there is no school. The whole day is free. What should we do first?”
Nur replied, “We can pray and eat breakfast. After that we can go to the park.”
Huda, “Great! I can’t wait!”
They prayed and started eating breakfast. Huda started to drink her apple juice and choked on it. She coughed several times and then asked Nur, “Why does that always happen? You have to know!”
Nur knew the answer perfectly. “If you go to Surah Fatiha, you will find the answer,” she replied.
“How is that supposed to help?” Huda asked. “I already know Surah Fatiha, but I still choke on my drinks.”
“What is the first ayat of Surah Fatiha?” Nur asked Huda.
“Bismila al-rahman al-rahim,” Huda recited.
“Great!” Nur exclaimed. “Now, what does that mean?”
“I don’t know,” Huda said. What has that got to do with me drinking apple juice and choking?”
“Everything,” Nur answered. “Do you say Bismillah before you start drinking your apple juice?”
“No,” Huda admitted. “How would that help?”
“If you knew the meaning you would understand. Bismila alrahman alrahim means, In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Before doing anything, you should say Bismillah, In the name of Allah. If you don’t say Bismillah before you eat, shaytan eats with you. Starting with Allah’s name is very important. Shaytan becomes as small as a fly when you say Bismillah,. So, say Bismillah. Think of the meaning, drink slowly, and inshaAllah you won’t choke.”
Huda did as she was told and didn’t choke. “Yes!” she exclaimed. “It works! Thank you so much!”
The two girls finished their breakfast and then started to walk to the park. Huda skipped way ahead of Nur.
“Wait for me!” Nur called.
Huda turned her head and didn’t see where she was going. Then bang, she tripped over a rock and fell.
“Huda!” Nur exclaimed. She was worried. She went over to Huda and held her close. “Are you hurt?” she asked. She looked at Huda’s knee. Blood was dripping down her leg.
“Is there an ayah or surah that can help me now?” Huda asked.
Nur smiled. “Iyyakana’budu wa iyyakanastaeen: You alone do we worship, and you alone we ask for help. We worship only Allah and ask only Him for help. Ask Allah to help your leg get better.”
“Okay,” Huda said. “Iyyakana budu wa iyya kanastaeen. Oh, Allah, I only ask you for help. Please help my leg get better.” Then, Nur helped Huda get home.
Huda said, “Now our day is ruined. My leg is hurting and we can’t go to the park.”
Nur replied, “Look, it’s raining. We couldn’t have gone anyways.”
Huda said, “Now we can’t even go to the park even if my leg gets better.”
“You have to be grateful. Even after you got hurt, you were able to come back home easily. Say this, “Alhamdulillahi rabbil alamin. It means: All praise and thanks to Allah. Lord of all that exists. Rab means that He is the Creator and Caretaker of all of us. Allah created us, He provides us with what we need, and He takes care of us. You still have so many books and toys to play with at home. We definitely need to say Alhamdulillah.”
Huda said, “I guess you are right. Maybe we can color, play, and have a picnic inside.”
Nur replied, “Great! Let’s start.”
At the end of the day it was time to sleep.
Huda asked Nur, “Do you know what I realized today?”
“What?” Nur asked.
“If knowing the meaning of a few ayahs can help you with your problems, imagine how much knowing the rest of the Quran’s meanings will help us! I would like to memorize the meaning of more surahs!” Huda exclaimed.
“We can do that together.”Nur said.
“You know what else I realized?”
“What?” Nur asked.
“I have a wonderful sister, Alhamdulillah.”Huda told Nur.
