Free Friday was highly appealing, a few hours in the company of friends, a break from Zam Zam, learning about the beloved Prophet (peace be upon him), and once again experiencing Durbah at it’s best. So with the green light from my better half and constant reassurances that he’d take GREAT care of Zam Zam, I bid a tearful goodbye to my baby and followed the path of ‘Ilm. Oh what a reunion, after having missed “Sacred Scrolls” it was nice to smell the Emanrush. “Where’s Zayna?” “You didn’t bring Zam Zam?” “We wanted to see your daughter!” Sigh, a fine welcome home it was The room was packed, sisters were all over the place, standing, sitting on chairs and the floor; young and old, veteran and new Al Maghribers alike were like sponges ready to absorb.

The class ended with the realization that I wouldn’t be able to take it; how could my 4 month old survive the day away from her accustomed surroundings?

“We’ll see you tomorrow, don’t forget to bring your daughter!” Such a gut wrenching feeling, when felt upon loss of the most precious of possessions: the opportunity to ‘learn’. The whole way back I was on the phone with Abu Zayna, retelling the stories shared by the Shaykh, repeatedly saying how I’d love to take the class and then following up with “but we know it’s not gonna happen.” Though he reassured me I could, I knew deep down it wasn’t ‘that’ easy.

The next morning I was on the phone with my sister and father who were attending and looking for me, I reminded them I wasn’t taking the class. An hour or so later my sister called and reassured me everything would be taken care of “JUST COME!” And so, within half and hour I had bundled up Zam Zam with practically EVERYTHING her tender heart might need; as we all know girls don’t pack lightly So off I was, a nervous wreck, thinking of lessons from the story of Hajar.

Shaykh Abdul Bary reminded us of how Hajar knew that Allah SWT would not abandon her and Ismail. Her trust in Allah SWT was evident as in the hadith about the birds who leave their nests on empty stomaches only to return full. Also upon the joy of Abdullah Ibn Masud on hearing the verse relating to an opening being made for those who fear Allah SWT. Allah SWT knew the desire in my heart, how I longed for this class from the moment it was introduced to the student body and subhanAllah here was my opening.

Zam Zam had no shortage of babysitters, playmates, and aunties to spoil her. There were times where I sat with her outside of class straining to listen to the words of the Shaykh and write them down with my free hand while I held her with the other. This same scene was repeated right before me with another sister who was doing the same with her 4 month old son. Then it hit me, here was Zayna’s first ever Al Maghrib class. Were her smiles my doing or were they from hearing the name of Rasulullah being mentioned? Did she squeal in excitement when she played with me or was it upon hearing the victory of the Muslims at Badr? Did she cry from her desire to sleep or was it when heard of the persecutions of the Muslims in Makkah?

Here was my baby ‘learning’, being given an opportunity that I never had. I made dua for her to be surrounded with people such as were present that day, that she struggle in the path of Allah and appreciate whatever good came her way and that she be a Durbahite which is why it was keenly suggested by a dear friend to get her a “I Survived TSP” shirt and alhumdulillah ALL praises are due to Allah SWT alone we BOTH survived

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