Ar-Rahim" (the Most Merciful)
"Ar-Rahim" portrays a God who is loving, forgiving, and full of mercy, fostering an understanding of a benevolent force that cares for and extends mercy to all of humanity.
"And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought." (Quran 30:21)
Abdullah ibn Jafar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "No Muslim is afflicted with hardship, pain, anxiety, grief, or injury—even the prick of a thorn—except that Allah expiates his sins by it." (Sahih Bukhari 5642)
fitnah (trial)
mahram (a person with whom marriage is prohibited because of their close blood relationship, because of radaa'ah (breastfeeding), or because of being related by marriage (mother in law, daughter in law, father in law and son in law)
Islamic term meaning:
auzubillah minashaitan ni rajeem (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the accursed Satan)
astaghfirullah (I seek forgiveness in God)
auzubillah (I seek refuge in Allah)
In sha Allah (God willing)
Subhanallah (Glory be to God)
La hawla wala kuwata illa billah (there is no power and no strength except with Allah)
bismillah (in the name of Allah)
alhamdulillah (praise be to God)
Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest)
Assalamu Alaykom wa rahmatallahi wa barakatu (Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings)
wassalamu Alaykom wa rahmatallahi wa barakatu (and Peace be upon you too and God's mercy and blessings)
Ma sha Allah (God has willed it)
Upon waking up from sleep, Byakuya decided to perform a two-raka'a salah. Although he acts firm in every situation as a leader, in his solitude, he allows himself to feel the uncertainty of leadership.
Back when Hisana was alive, he was able to express more of his feelings with her freely, as his compassion towards her overflowed in his chest. They met in a very unconventional way that led to him falling deeply in love with her.
Hisana was a resilient and kindhearted woman who put others first before herself. Although she needed money for her medicine, she gave her earnings to the orphan children and the needy. And despite not being a Muslim, Byakuya found her words of wisdom resonating with his internal beliefs.
He used to be an ignorant boy who believed that everyone had the life they had because they deserved it. And so, being born in wealth and privilege and enjoying it is his right. His family built the wealth they deserved to enjoy. And all those poor people only got what they deserved because they didn't work hard enough, like him and his clan, which built generational wealth from scratch.
But as he grew up and met people, he finally understood why Allah constantly urged Muslims to give sadaqa (charity) and zakat to the poor. To take care of the orphans, widows, and the needy. And soon he got involved in that aspect of their clan's charitable work.
Since both his parents had died when he was young, his grandfather had taken care of him and managed the Kuchiki clan. He introduced him to their business and establishments. Their many orphanages, schools, and food banks were built to distribute their wealth to those who need it, in the name of Allah, to earn His mercy and forgiveness for any mistakes they committed and cleanse their sins.
And so, he spent most of his life attending to their family business, managing it as the heir. But he was pragmatic about it. He doesn't really know what hunger and poverty felt like. And when he met Hisana, that's when he realized the importance of the humanitarian work they were doing.
That some people are just unable to climb the ladder because of how the economy is working. That the world is like a forest filled with animals that would tear each other apart for survival. That the weak hold onto unconventional solutions to survive.
When he first met Hisana, he caught her stealing. Although he soon let her go because of his belief that expensive medicine should be free, as everyone has the right to live a healthy life. The next time he met her was in a tea house.
At first, he was disgusted with her, for she seemed to be a woman who has no righteous moral character. What self-respecting woman would work in a brothel, lie, and steal for a living?
But when he saw her getting assaulted in the alleyway like a common whore, he just couldn't help himself from interfering. And so, he beat the drunk men and took her with him. The entire time, Hisana was very silent.
Byakuya decided to buy food for her, seeing as she looked like she had not eaten for days. Making him wonder how come this happened. The system should have not allowed people like her to get hungry.
"Thank you," Hisana suddenly said after he brought her some food. And although Byakuya initially doesn't like her, his heart was suddenly filled with compassion at her softly spoken gratitude.
"Byakuya," he suddenly introduced his name, which shocked him. And so he turned away. Then he took something from his pocket, a signet of the Kuchiki clan.
Hisana looked at the strange man, her eyes brimming with tears because no one has ever been this kind to her before, since arriving in Soul Society.
"Take this," Byakuya gave the signet to her. "They will give you decent work if you show this to the store near the gate to Seireitei." Then he left without another word.
But the moment he reached his home, he investigated the system failure to identify who has the ability to sustain and not get hungry among the 'souls' entering Soul Society via the system. This isn't supposed to happen. They contributed a lot of their wealth to the system, but why has it failed, causing people to suffer?
And there he found out the system did not discriminate souls entering Soul Society at all, whether it's young or old, gender, religious affiliation, and status. Its only criterion is whether the soul entering Soul Society has enough energy or not. Even if it's a baby, if its energy is enormous, the system wouldn't discriminate and hence not sponsor it.
Byakuya was shaken at the thought. He wasn't aware that this was happening, until now. And so, he sought to restructure the system's criterion by pulling some strings and mobilizing their clan's powerful network of allies in Central 46, the governing body responsible for setting laws and requirements for the system.
And with his power, he was able to silently recalibrate the system's criteria. For he didn't need recognition or gratitude for his service to the people. It was after all his duty to Allah, to take care of the people under his care.
Not long, he found himself drawn to Hisana as he got to know her. And finally, marry her against all objections. He doesn't care about his status, knowing that in front of Allah, everyone is equal.
Their marriage was filled with compassion and love. But it was a very short affair. Because within 5 months, Hisana died. Leaving him with a hole in his heart and a wish.
During Hisana's last moments, she asked Byakuya to find the sister she abandoned as a baby and to protect and treat her as a sibling she never was to her.
Byakuya held her hand and assured her that he will do his best to fulfill her last wish. Hisana smiled at her husband. And thanked him for everything he did for her.
"My life with you is like a dream, Byakuya-sama," she whispered with tears in her eyes. "I apologize that I could not reciprocate your love in the same manner."
Byakuya's heart broke as Hisana lost her life.
But within a month later, Byakuya found Hisana's sister in the Soul Academy. And his life was shaken.
Rukia looked exactly like Hisana. So similar, in fact, that his heart was confused, and his life stood at a standstill. And her eyes stared at him without fear, as if she could see his heart.
He then came to the conclusion that coming close to her would be fitnah.
But a promise is a promise. And a Muslim keeps his promise no matter what.
And so, she became his adopted sister on paper, against all objections. A contract that doesn't really turn Rukia into his biological sister; hence, he was not her mahram. And they shouldn't be living under the same roof, so very close to one another.
That very day, Byakuya vowed in front of his parents' grave not to break the law again, to strengthen his resolve not to fall into fitnah. It was not good for a leader and a Muslim to break agreed-upon rules and regulations.
Byakuya looked up at the moonless sky and contemplated the past 5 years he lived with Rukia by his side. Although he rarely talked to her and avoided even looking at her longer than appropriate, she still occupied a secret place in his heart that he has crushed over and over again, making sure no one would ever know its existence.
But now that she's gone without even saying goodbye to him, he realized how Rukia never really saw the Kuchiki clan as her own family, despite being dutiful to the clan. And it was because he was never the sibling Hisana hoped for Rukia.
Byakuya suddenly remembered Rukia attempting to kill herself after she killed Shiba Kaien. And his chest tightened.
"O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts(...)." (Quran 5:1)
"auzubillahi minashaytani rajim!" Ichigo yelled as he woke up with a start after dreaming that his family all died and became ghosts despite his heroic act last night.
In his dream, Rukia nonchalantly apologized.
The teenage boy ran outside of his room and realized that his family was safe and had no memory of the horrible event that happened last night. Even though the wall of their house has a massive hole in it, his father only said that it was because of a dump truck crushing on it last night.
Although Ichigo was confused, he felt relieved that everything was fine, and his family was safe.
Suddenly he remembered Rukia, the shinigami from last night, wondering if he would be able to see her again.
to be continued…