I think Zihan Ma is a better man than that. But we’ll see.

Sorry to let you down :-) A cat might not seem like much, but he was the only friend Darius ever had until coming to his aunt’s farm.

Was heartwarming though his care and treatment and love for Far Away… I’m a fan of cats so was especially endearing to read.

The ending of this chapter seems to be foreshadowing more trouble. Why is he taking him to Jumuah now of all times? Perhaps ZM intends for circumstances to rid him of his burden (i.e. Darius)?

When the cat showed up I already knew but I was still like no way… and then when he checked the scar and the tail. Man that cat has seen some things. Poor Darius. It’s like his heart just broke.

When he said yes he would give up the training I was like bro you’re lying to yourself 😬 I hate when parents put us in that position. They think they’re doing what’s right but like… I gotta be me, you feel?

I didn’t like how Zihan Ma was checking on him at night. I get why but yeah that would make me feel some type of way too.

PS First!!!

Right, I figured out later what you meant :-)

My apologies, this always happens when I have to stop my fiction for Ramadan. I get thrown off track and it takes a while to get back in the groove. The next chapter is ready now and will go up on Sunday inshaAllah.

Playing off of Darth Vader themes :)

PS- wayy too long of a wait for the next chapter :(

Imam Shafi‘i, “Thank you for inviting me to the ADAMS Center here in Virginia. I do like it.

But I only have a few minutes. Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal are waiting outside in the time machine, and I need to return very soon…”

A musalli smiles, “It’s our honor, Imam.”

“Good. Then listen carefully. I only have time for a few points.

First, why does the mu’adhin keep moving his head right and left? We used to do that so the sound would carry in the marketplaces of Baghdad, on both sides. But I see something right in front of his face.”

“The mic,” someone says.

“Yes, the mic! So why move your head? It is unnecessary and looks silly.”

The musalli nods. “I know, Imam. We haven’t caught up to the 21st century yet. But we’re trying.”

“Second, why give a Middle Eastern-style adhan here in the West?”

“But we use the maqām system,” someone replies.

“Please listen. You are living in the West in 2026. What kind of musical scale is popular here?”

“I guess… not maqām-based.”

“Exactly. Much of what is popular here is based on a five-note scale. Even recitations like Shaykh Noreen, may Allah have mercy on him, are based on that simpler and popular scale, very pleasing to the ear.

“Third: after the imam gives salām, why does he start talking immediately?”

“But the talks are beneficial for us ,” someone says.

“Listen carefully. The Messenger of Allah, May Allah have mercy on him, taught us that after the salām is a time for quiet, personal dhikr, du‘ā’, and reciting Ayat al-Kursi. This is private time between the servant and his Lord. No one should take away that great reward.”

The room falls silent.

“And another point, many of you are Shāfiʿīs, correct?”

“Yes, Imam.”

“Then why make qunūt in Fajr every single day?”

“But you taught us that.”

He sighs.

“That was my ijtihād, my interpretation. But the Messenger of Allah, may Allah have mercy on him, did not do it all the time. He did it in times of need. Do not confuse my opinion with his consistent practice.”

The musalli nods, now more reflective.

He turns to leave, then pauses with a slight smile.

“And one last thing…why are you dressed like me?”

“But this is Islamic dress, and you are wearing it too.”

“Please, you are living in America in 2026. If I had time to shop, I would change these myself. Please learn the difference between culture and what is religious.”

He steps away.

“My time is up. I must return now. I love you all for the sake of Allah.”

“We love you too, Imam,” they reply.

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

And just like that, Imam al-Shafi‘i walks out, leaving behind a question that lingers:

Are we truly following the Sunnah, or simply repeating habits?

As long as we think that the purpose of our existence is to only perform rituals in the mosque and pursue affluence outside of it, we risk, as the author says, only getting “symbolic recognition.”

As the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah praise him and his family, said:

“By Allah, I do not fear that you will associate partners with Allah after me, but I fear that you will compete with one another for it (this world).”- Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

In my lawsuit against the Loudoun County School Board, which was among the last school districts in our country to desegregate, I wrote, in my response to their motion to dismiss my case:

“Plaintiff is also Muslim and consistent with his religious beliefs, is obligated by God to act against wrongdoing. As the Messenger of God, Muhammad (May God bless him), stated: ‘Whoever among you sees something rejected/reprehensible, let him change it with his hand; if he is not able, then with his tongue; and if he is not able, then with his heart, and that is the weakest belief’
(Sahih Muslim, Book of Belief, Tradition # 49, rated as “authentic.”) Accordingly, Plaintiff was obligated, both legally by the state as a mandated reporter and religiously, to report the Principal’s misconduct.”

The reason we will get real, and not just symbolic, recognition in our country is not because we become the most affluent community but because we enjoin good, call out wrongdoing, and speak truth to power.

‎كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّه

The Qur’an (Āl ʿImrān 3:110)

الحمد لله الذي جعلني مسلماً 🙂

All praises belong to God Who made me a Muslim 🙂

Bruh Mr. Tawfiq sir one day you will have something to say about the relationship stuff, inshaAllah, haha.