Author note: Reported by Abu Hurairah (RA): Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "A believer must not hate (his wife) believing woman; if he dislikes one of her characteristics he will be pleased with another". [Muslim]
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The Perfect Husband
Hinata stares at the night sky, her lips pursed as she drinks the overly sweet lemonade yet she isn't content, after so many hours of preparation her husband still isn't home—her eyes yet again dart to her watch and disappointment creeps into her gut. This isn't the first time that he has been late from work but she really hoped that he would try to make it this time.
After one last glance at the beautifully laid out dinner table she begins to slowly pack away the cold food, a sob escapes her lips but she tries to brush away it hastily.
"Al'humdilla,"* she whispers, it is the decree of Allah and that is that—there would be other nights to enjoy her husband's presence but why does she feel so emotionally drained?
The sheer tiredness of her soul worries her slightly, after all she expected to feel anger, fury or even irritation but perhaps those emotions have gone stale—far too many disappointments have left her not having such high expectations when it came to her husband and a part of feels broken.
Almost like she can feel no pain due to the numbness instilled into her through years of her failing marriage.
When Hinata thinks back to her eight year old self she realises that this was not her childhood dream, in those long hours that she spent fantasising about her prince charming she never thought for a second that she would spend over a decade waiting for her husband to come home on time.
She expected him with each strike of the sword he sav her from the evils of this world, to be her protector—but she would have never imagined that he would be the one striking her heart with his bullet like words until she could no longer breathe.
No, Hinata realises that life is far from fantasy—it is hardly a place of dreams and as she blows out the candles a figure emerges from dimly lit corridor.
"Assalamu Walaikum,"* Hinata spins around at the sound of his voice as she looks her prince charming in the eye.
"Walaikum Asalam,"* she replies, he carries on staring at her and then at the empty dinner table.
"I'm sorry." Hinata sighs softly, this scene is far too familiar for her but she leans against the counter, arms crossed as she waits to hear his excuse.
She hopes that it is original
"Since we got married—" he pauses and Hinata finds herself staring at him inquisitively, there is something different about him and she notices a hint of nervousness in his tone, a tender scratch to his beard before he takes in a deep breath.
"I am sorry for not appreciating you and for never taking our marriage seriously. I know from the incredulous look on your face that you think that this is all a joke but I promise you that this far from it. I also know that no amount words will ever make up for the time that I have lost so I won't say anything except that I love you for the sake of Allah—" he pauses yet again to pull out an envelope, lips twisting in a small smile before placing the envelope in Hinata's hand, "I think it is about time that we go to Hajj."*
Hinata stares at the man in front of her, her life partner, her prince charming but then she realises how wrong she has been. Her husband isn't prince charming—the epitome of perfection instead he is a man, nothing more and nothing less.
And it is then when she realised that indeed she also loves him for the sake of Allah,
"I couldn't agree more."
* Praise be to God
* Peace be upon you (an Islamic greeting)
* reply to the greeting which also means peace be upon you.
*Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia