Al-Wahhab (the Bestower)
They say, "Our Lord! Do not let our hearts deviate after you have guided us. Grant us Your mercy. You are indeed the Giver of all bounties. (Surah Al-Imran (3:8)
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "O Allah, Lord of Jibril, Mika'il, and Israfil, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, You judge between Your servants concerning wherein they differ. Guide me concerning that wherein they differ of the truth by Your permission, for You guide whom You will to a straight path." (Sahih Muslim)
The relevance of Al-Wahhab in the modern world lies in recognizing and appreciating the countless blessings and provisions bestowed by Allah. Understanding this attribute encourages gratitude and humility, fostering a sense of responsibility toward others. In a world facing various challenges, acknowledging Allah as Al-Wahhab can inspire acts of charity, kindness, and generosity, promoting a more compassionate and harmonious society.
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)
Ma sha Allah (God has willed it)
Byakuya remained deathly silent after leaving the Soul Academy. People might see him as a firm pillar of Soul Society, and it seemed he was above emotionality. The truth is, no matter how much he hid his feelings, the uncertainty in his heart had been shaken. And he began to overthink.
Time passed by quickly, and the stoic captain found himself feeling restless inside his office in the manor, contemplating what he should do now that he had confirmed Rukia's identity.
Suddenly, he remembered Hisana's plea to adopt her abandoned sister and treat her like his own siblings.
Byakuya knew that Hisana didn't know much about Muslim culture and its stance on adoption. Although he might be able to give Rukia a family name, it would still be inappropriate to treat her as a blood sibling. For one, he is not going to become her mahram despite the adoption, and she would not be permitted to live with him closely like a biological sibling could.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "If a man and a woman are alone in a private place, Satan is the third among them." (Tirmidhi)
He had already committed that mistake before, and it wouldn't do as a Muslim and a leader to commit the same mistake. Aside from that, the Kuchiki Elders and his grandfather would surely object. And this time, his authority would surely be diminished as well as his reputation.
Although he had hoped before to become a strong supporter of Islam, he had let his principles become corrupted, and his feelings took control of him, allowing him to break established rules in society. He was no better than Yoruichi, who had forsaken her clan and people, swayed by emotions.
At the thought, Byakuya felt his heart hardened.
Suddenly, he stood up from his seat and immediately exited the manor, walking towards the east section of the garden where his parents' graves lay. Right then, Byakuya vowed that he would never break the law again after adopting Rukia and never let himself be controlled by emotions ever again.
Ginrei sat in his office, contemplating the past. He still remembered how his precious grandson bounced with life and innocence.
He wanted the best for him, so he bestowed upon him everything that would help him become a strong and morally upright leader, molding him into a person capable of enduring the hardships of life and triumphing against all odds.
Suddenly, he recalled how his grandson threw tantrums whenever the captain of Squad 2 visited him for a lesson. At first, he found it amusing to watch Byakuya act like a stubborn spoiled teen, not the serious man he was slowly becoming due to his teaching methods.
At some point, he entertained the idea of the Kuchiki clan and Shihoin clan joining together in matrimony, thinking his grandson had probably fallen in love with his teacher.
However, when the incident happened in Central 46, where Yoruichi, the leader of the Shihoin clan, escaped with the criminals, Byakuya became more and more frigid. No matter how Ginrei tried to introduce beautiful noble ladies to him, Byakuya declined them all.
Initially, he didn't mind that his grandson didn't want to settle down yet, as he was on the path to achieving greatness. However, seeing the years flow by and Byakuya still unwed made him worried.
But one day, Byakuya brought a woman from Rukongai unexpectedly. Knowing his grandson's aversion towards the female population, seeing him care for the woman made him wonder if Byakuya had finally moved on from his feelings for Yoruichi and learned to love another.
The woman named Hisana was the complete opposite of Yoruichi. While the captain of Squad 2 was strong and powerful, Hisana was weak and fragile. Yoruichi, the leader of the Shihoin clan, was unbridled and outspoken, whereas Hisana was meek and soft-spoken.
Ginrei was at a loss for words as their objections fell on deaf ears, and his grandson stubbornly fought to marry the woman despite her status and reputation. Right then, he understood that Byakuya might really be in love with her. Thus, he finally relented and allowed them to get married, although he still didn't approve of her. Something about her didn't sit well with him.
Even though the woman converted to Islam and was overall a kind person, the fact that she didn't fulfill her role as the lady of the Kuchiki clan and constantly burdened his grandson with her weakness and inadequacy grated on their very thin patience. What's worse, she was unable to bear Byakuya an heir and passed away not long after.
Although he loved his grandson and trusted him, he couldn't help but feel disappointed.
That very night, Byakuya prepared the adoption papers in secret as an act of his last rebellion. After this, he vowed not to let his emotions sway him ever again.
Upon learning what his grandson was up to, Ginrie's frustration shot up. He was about to confront Byakuya, but his weakened health prevented him from moving as his heart beat irregularly in his chest. In truth, he was terminally ill, but he kept it a secret from everyone.
Although he had accepted his mortality and the fact that death wouldn't spare him, he deeply wished to see Byakuya happy, not burdened down and seemingly lifeless.
A dua he kept repeating in his prayers to Allah. For Allah to bestow his beloved grandson with wisdom and strength to bear the burden of leadership.
Ichigo stood outside his closet, pondering whether he should confront Rukia and ask her to leave his room. After all, it is inappropriate for a male and female who aren't mahram to stay together alone in a room.
He was about to knock on the door but finally decided not to do anything, remembering that Rukia probably had nowhere else to go and might end up sleeping on the streets.
"Auzubillah minashaytani rajim," Ichigo whispered before swiftly returning to his bed, pretending that a pretty girl isn't sleeping just 10 feet away from him—a trial most hot-blooded adolescent males wouldn't be able to ignore.
After hours of tossing and turning in his bed, Ichigo decided to perform wudu and pray. Thereafter, he finally fell asleep soundly.
From inside the closet, Rukia contemplated the first time she realized Ichigo looked exactly like Kaien. Although she acted nonchalant, still...
"Subhanallah," Rukia prayed.
To be continued...