When Hamzah Met Alifa
Meet

Alifa was silent for a moment. The new woman he knew was about to leave.

Alifa stood up and walked over to the woman. "Sir, may I have her phone number? Let me give you back the shirt I'm wearing."

The woman smiled as she looked at Alifa. "No need, Ma'am. That shirt is for me. Excuse me first, ma'am. Assalamualaikum."

The next second the woman passed away heading out of the mosque. Alifa became quiet.

He was very astonished at the attitude of that woman who cared so much about him. They do not know each other at all.

Alifa threw a glance outside. Where the rain is still just as heavy. So Alifa decided to sit again in the mosque.

Alifa leaned her back on the pillar of the mosque. Then somehow he remembered back to Hamzah's advice to always be dhikr when having free time.

Alifa also began to glide with her eyes down. Then suddenly Alifa heard a male voice calling out to her. Then Alifa turned her body towards the source of the sound.

Alifa was stunned to see Hamzah in the same mosque as her. So did Hamzah who was surprised to see Alifa.

Initially Hamzah intended to pray ashar in the mosque before looking for Alifa. However, it turns out that Hamzah found Alifa in the mosque sitting alone with a very pale face.

"Hamzah" said Alifa slowly.

In the next instant, Alifa's vision darkened. One last sight that Alifa could catch was when Hamzah ran towards her with an anxious face.

*

*

*

Alifa took a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes. Alifa's head felt so heavy that she rubbed her forehead.

Then Alifa circulated her gaze and she realized that she was already inside the room. Alifa tried to close her eyes because her body was so limp.

But then, the door sounded open. Alifa opened her eyes out of curiosity as to who had entered her room.

Alifa saw Hamzah walking up to her and sitting on the edge of the bed. Then one hand of Hamzah stretched out to touch the forehead of Alifa.

"You are very hot" Hamzah commented. "You eat huh? Take the medicine."

Alifa shook her head. "I'm lazy to eat, Za."

Hamzah looked at Alifa as his hands were busy gently wagging the hair blocking his wife's face. Then Hamzah again pressed the back of his hand against Alfah's cheek, which was flushed with fever.

"But you have a fever, Fa. Just eat a little, right?"

Hamzah took a bowl of porridge that was on the table. Then thrust a spoon of porridge that reflects thin steam.

Alifa did not realize since when the porridge was on the table, but clearly the chicken porridge was still warm and delicious when Alifa ate it.

Alifa continued to stare at Hamzah as long as the man patiently bribed her. Then Alifa bowed lethargicly and began to sob.

Hamzah frowned in confusion. He placed the porridge bowl back onto the table then he quickly rubbed Alifa's wet cheeks.

"Why, Fa? You sick?"

Alifa shook her head in response. "I'm sad, Za. Papa never cared if I was sick. Then Alloh sent someone who cared about me but I wasted that person."

Hamza took a deep breath. He had yet to realize if the person Alifa meant was himself.

So Hamzah only showed an expressionless face. However, with a timid feeling Hamzah shuffled to be able to sit closer to Alifa.

Then Hamzah hugged and rubbed Alifa's back to calm his wife's feelings.

Hamzah was eager to laugh at the statement made by Alifa. However, part of Hamzah also felt confused.

"Why do you say that, Fa? Of course you're your nutmeg son."

Alifa shook her head weakly. "No, Za. Papa I doubt I'm not his son."

Hamzah was a little shocked to hear the story of Alifa going to a meeting with Steve this afternoon. However, Hamzah tried to remain calm and not dissolve in emotions.

So Hamzah took a hug and rubbed the head of Alifa. "You don't overthink, Fa! That's not sure."

"But it hurts, Za. My own father doubted me as his son. He didn't care about me all this time."

"Not to be sad, Fa. There are still many people who care about you. There's still Oma, Joseph, and..."

"And so are you" cut off Alifa while looking at Hamzah full of seriousness.

Hamzah. Replying to Alifa's gaze was just as serious. Hamzah's tongue was frozen, unable to move.

Hamzah swallowed his saliva with great difficulty. Then he said, "Yes, Alifa. So do I care about you."

"Why, Za? Have I hurt you often? But why do you still care about me?"

Hamzah sighed and stood up. But Alifa's hand immediately restrained Hamzah's hand from leaving.

"Za, answer me first!" sue Alifa.

A few moments Hamzah was silent. Then he bowed to align his gaze with that of Alifa.

So that Alfah could see the seriousness of Hamza when he said, "Because you are my wife, and it is my duty to care for you."

Not satisfied with Hamzah's answer. Alifa asked, "Is that all?"

Hamzah nodded.

"But I've been arguing a lot with you."

Hamza took a deep breath. He sat back on the edge of the bed.

"Fa, have you heard the Rasullullah story with a blind Jewish man?"

Alifa shook her head because she had never heard the story. Even Alifa was very minimal in knowing the stories of the prophet.

"So, there used to be a Jewish man who was blind and always denounced the Prophet Muhammad SAW. But the Prophet was not necessarily angry, instead the Prophet always came to the man and fed him."

"Huh? Any time?" alifa said she could not believe it. "That Rasullullah is good, right?"

Hamzah laughed a little. "Yes, that's it, Fa. Prophet Muhammad SAW is the most perfect man."

"How does it go?" Alifa shifted her seat with an enthusiastic look at Hamzah's story.

"Prophet Muhammad SAW did that until he died. Jews who always reproach the Prophet do not know that the person who always feeds him is the Prophet. Until when the Prophet died, Abu Bakr came to the Jews to feed as was the custom of the Prophet when he was alive."

"The blind Jew felt strange about the man who came this time. He also realized that the person who came was not the one who always gave him food."

"Then the Jews asked Abu Bakr, and he confirmed that he was not the one who always came to feed him. The Jew was surprised to find out if all this time the Prophet Muhammad SAW whom he always reproached was the one who always fed him."

"Keep, Za?" ask Alifa who has been listening since.

"The blind Jew cried, regretted his actions, and he decided to convert to Islam. From this story, we can take lessons if our concern will someday bring some good. So never get tired of caring and doing good to others, including to people who hate us."