AL-HAKAM (The Impartial Judge)
"Allah will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which you used to differ."— (Qur'an 22:69)
Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ ruling:
An essential aspect of the name Al-Hakam is to help us understand the decree of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. Under the lens of Him being the most wise and the best of judges, we shouldn't worry ourselves with what has been decreed. The hadith mentions for us to "recognize and acknowledge Allah in times of ease and prosperity, and He will remember you in times of adversity. And know that what has passed you by [and you have failed to attain] was not going to befall you, and what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and hardship with ease." Hadith #19, 40 Hadith an-Nawawi
Our only task in this life is to take control of our hearts' state, keep it pure despite the surrounding factors, and perform to the best of our abilities. We must find and focus our attention on the things which are within our control. Everything else that happens outside is the will of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ, and He is the best arbitrator.
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)
Since ancient times, people have always tried to categorize others into classes or hierarchies, but this has consistently caused problems.
However, with the use of advanced technology and artificial intelligence, it has become normal for people to choose their own "tribe" and identify with it for convenience.
Now, with neural chips implanted in their brains, they can easily control their augmented and virtual reality, doing everything from entertainment, studying, and working to dating and participating in governance.
Everyone is included in choosing their Luuswalhnaal, a highly entertaining election app where aspiring leaders from all backgrounds, with an age requirement of 25 and above, can participate to prove their merits, intelligence, leadership skills, and abilities.
Since its launch 30 years ago, the game has been a huge success, earning support from citizens worldwide. It has significantly improved fluidity and cooperation among global leaders and their citizens. However, despite its success, there are those who rebel against the established system and want to delete the app that controls people and mines their data.
Over the years, the rebels have failed to sabotage the app, but this year could be different. They have finally succeeded in infiltrating the server hosting the virtual game. Additionally, to their unexpected luck, Eric's descendant is also in the game. They could finally end his lineage and destroy everything he has built—a small recompense for being the reason their country was wiped out from the map.
Ginrei mobilized his agents to gather information about the girl Byakuya wanted to adopt as his sister, despite his objections. Upon confirming that she is indeed Hisana's sister, the hidden frustration he harbored toward Byakuya's late wife emerged, especially when he found out that she didn't want Byakuya to marry anyone else despite her inability to bear him an heir.
"Is she trying to ruin the Kuchiki clan?" he thought angrily. "And then she wanted her sister to become my grandson's sister? For what? Was it to remind him about her even though she's gone? And further torment Byakuya? What a wicked woman!" Ginrei thought in disgust.
He wondered for the thousandth time why his grandson was so attached to her. "How naive. Why do children always think that love is everything? I expected better than that from Byakuya, but he was as stubborn as always when it comes to his principles and choices," Ginrei thought.
He wondered how he ended up like that, not knowing that his grandson was hiding a terrible secret: the fact that he concealed his sin to protect Hisana and the Kuchiki clan, as well as his having a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease with no known cure in the world despite his money and influence—a disease he got from Hisana.
If anyone were to find out, it would cause chaos in the clan and might bring the Kuchiki clan to its knees and crumble. And so Byakuya refused all marriage proposals that his grandfather and everyone else offered.
Not long after, Ginrei found out that the girl finally agreed to the adoption and was now being escorted by Vaijin, his only daughter who became estranged from him due to an incident in the past, where he ordered her husband exiled for committing a terrible crime.
Seeing that his daughter was in charge of the girl's security, he realized that Byakuya was serious about protecting her from harm and assassination attempts from ambitious clans and people, both outside and inside the clan. He probably had already gotten wind of Ra.
Standing in the garden, slightly hidden from view, Ginrei watched as the girl, who looked exactly like Hisana, walked behind his daughter. Suddenly, a thought came to mind, and he decided to rearrange something. Not long after, he called the Spirinobu to his office.
Rukia walked out of her room onto the balcony to better observe the grand garden of Cherry blossoms and wildflowers.
The cold night air embraced her as she turned her gaze towards the full moon, basking in the peace and silence the darkness offered.
Suddenly, her gaze fell upon a woman of great beauty, making her stare in awe. For she was like the personification of the moon, her fair white skin seemingly glowing, her shoulder-length raven hair swayed by the gentle wind. Her solemn eyes looking up at the moon, lost in thought, were adorned by long eyelashes, and her dignified nose complemented her pinkish thin lips—a beauty Rukia had never seen before.
"Who is she?" she asked herself.
Suddenly, the woman looked at her, and Rukia was paralyzed in place, her mouth slightly open.
"What are you doing here?" Byakuya asked stoically with a hint of frustration.
"N-niisama..." Rukia uttered in disbelief and surprise.
His eyes narrowed as he realized what might have happened.
Rukia's chamber was supposed to be on the opposite side of his, so that he could avoid her as much as possible. But it seems that his grandfather changed it, and the room he chose was the one Hisana used when she was still alive.
Anger flared inside his chest.
"Auzubillahi minashaytani rajeem," he silently recited to dispel the dark thoughts in his mind.
"It is late," Byakuya stated. "Return to your room... Ru-kia," he commanded. But at the last second, he stuttered upon mentioning her name.
"Hai, Niisama," she replied. "Sumimasen."
Rukia immediately noticed his anger and disapproval, so she hurriedly bowed and left, closing her shoji door with force.
"What just happened?" she asked herself as her back rested on the door, her heart beating so fast as consternation overwhelmed her.
How could she mistake Byakuya for a woman and stare rudely? Now he's angry.
Although she didn't expect anything from the adoption, she did hope that having an adoptive sibling is better than having no one.
Soon she fell asleep with tears in her eyes, as memories of her childhood replayed in her mind.
The hollow laughed at Rukia's futile attack and bragged about eating two shinigamis in the past, how he loved the taste of them, and he's happy that a tasty meal is right in front of him.
"Bastard," Rukia cursed in disgust. "Astagfirallah."
Suddenly, the hollow attacked her and pinned her to the wall. He was about to strike her when Chad punched the air in front of Rukia, not knowing what was really going on or seeing the opponent.
"Are you okay, little girl?" he asked with his booming yet gentle voice.
Rukia was speechless at his strength and boldness, wondering if he could see the hollow.
But seeing as he was just randomly punching the air, she concluded that he couldn't see anything. However, his strength was inhuman.
The hollow, thrown off by Chad's punch, realized that the boy couldn't see him and took flight laughing, thinking that he was an easy prey. He would surely enjoy eating him soon.
"Auzubillah... Don't just stand there! Run!" Rukia exclaimed to the boy. "He's flying!"
"Transfer student?!" Chad asked, surprised. "Can you see ghosts?"
to be continued...