Tabitha's room was indeed right across from Shay's. Abdul knocked thrice politely on the door, then he waited a few minutes. There was no response. Abdul knocked twice a bit harder. Still no response. He figured she might still be sleep. He creaked the door open slightly and slowly stuck his head in.
"Oh mother..." Abdul said.
He could see Tabitha's tiny body sprawled on the bed. He walked over to the bedside and lightly nudged her on the shoulder. She slowly fluttered her eyes open.
"Theresa, it's too early..." She quietly muttered.
"It's Fajr time mommy!" Abdul said with a huge smile on his face.
As Tabitha's eyes fluttered opened she saw Abdul's beaming face and tall slender body. She also was able to see it... It was bright and it illuminated the entire room.
"Oh Abdul. I'm sorry. Is it time to pray?" Tabitha said.
Abdul nodded his head. "Yes!"
Tabitha managed to remove the blanket that was over her. And she rose her fragile decrepit body.
"How did you sleep mommy?" Abdul asked.
"Fine. And you?"
"ALHAMDULILLAH!" Abdul said.
"All praise be to Allah. The One Who has taken my soul at night and returned it back to me. Allah is Kareem(Generous)." Abdul said.
Tabitha nodded her head. "Yes."
Abdul gave a huge smile.
"Would you like me to prepare a bit of a breakfast?" Tabitha asked.
"It's okay mother. I'm not very hungry. And Suhoor is only fard for the fasting person. But if you are hungry I would be more than happy to sit down with you and eat." Abdul said.
"What is that?" She asked.
"Come again mommy?"
"Suhoor. What is that?"
"The pre-dawn meal before Fajr. There is much blessings in it. But the Adhan for Fajr has already been called. So we must make haste, because the time interval between Fajr and sunrise is very short." Abdul said.
"Okay. Would you like to go downstairs to pray?" Tabitha asked.
"Right here in your room should be fine. We just have to be facing the Qibla(direction of Holy Makkah). And we have to be in Wudu." Abdul said as he started walking towards the bathroom.
"Come mother. I will show you." Abdul said.
Tabitha followed him to the bathroom. Abdul flicked the light on and faced the bathroom sink. He then turned towards Tabitha.
"Okay so the first and most important step is known as the 'Niyaa'. Or the intention. This takes place in the heart. Now, you are not obligated to say in your head 'I'm about to make Wudoo for the sake of Allah.' It just has to be present in your heart. You dig what I'm saying mommy?"
"Yes." Tabitha replied.
"Allah is All Knowing. Waking up for Suhoor is sufficient as an intention for the fasting person." Abdul added.
Tabitha nodded her head. "Okay."
"Once the intention has been made, the next step is to wash both your hands. Up to the wrist. Once, twice, or three times. Or however much it may take for the hands to be clean. Since we haven't been playing in mud or anything like that, one time should be sufficient."
Abdul turned the sink water on and washed both his hands. He then stepped back.
"Your turn mommy."
Tabitha folded both her sleeves and washed her hands. She was wearing a white nightgown.
Abdul stepped forward again and placed his hands in the sink.
"The next step is to wash your forearms up to the elbows."
"How many times?" Tabitha asked.
"Once, twice or thrice. Or however much it may take for it to be fully clean. Since we haven't been playing in mud like I just previously mentioned. We're only gonna do it once." Abdul said.
He then washed both his forearms to the elbow and took a step back.
"Your turn mommy."
Tabitha took a step forward. She dipped both her hands in the sink and washed her arms up to the elbow. She even went past the elbows and washed her arm belts.
"May Allah reward you mommy. Those limbs where you washed will illuminate for you in the Akhira and testify for you when you face Hakam."
"Who is Hakam?" Tabitha asked.
"Allah is Hakam. The Ultimate Judge."
Tabitha nodded her head and pulled her sleeves down and took a step back.
"What is the next step?" Asked Tabitha.
"Wonderful mommy. You're doing great!" Abdul said.
"Before we proceed to the next integral I just want to make mention that the Niyaa still has to be present in your heart. You always have to remember Allah, your Lord. This is called 'Dhikr'". Abdul said.
Tabitha nodded her head. "Yes. Allah is still present in my heart."
Abdul smiled widely. "Wonderful mommy."
"The next integral is to wash the face. We must also wash inside the mouth and wipe the ears and head." Abdul said.
He stepped towards the sink and showed her. He washed his face completely with water and put some water in his mouth and spat it back out. He then wet his hands with water and wet wiped his ears and earlobes and wiped his head with water. When he was finished he took a step back.
"Your turn mommy." Abdul said.
Tabitha nodded her head and stepped forward. She made a cup with her hand and filled it up with water. She washed her entire face with water, then she put some water in her mouth and spat it out. She then washed her ears and earlobes and wet wiped her head. Then she took a step back.
"Wonderful mommy." Abdul said and smiled.
Tabitha nodded her head. "What is the next step?"
"Okay mommy. We now have to use the shower. This is the final step. We have to wash both feet up to the ankles. And one also has to make sure that they wash between the toes." Said Abdul.
He turned around and faced the shower. He turned on the warm water and held his right foot out first. He wiped it up to his ankles and in-between his toes. Afterwards he held his left foot out and did the exact same thing. Making sure to get in-between his toes.
Afterwards he took a step back and turned towards Tabitha.
"Your turn mommy." Abdul said.
Tabitha nodded her head and stepped forward. She held out her left foot.
"We're going to use our right foot first mother." Abdul said.
Tabitha immediately put her left foot down and extended her right. She was staggering a little. Abdul quickly knelt down on the floor.
"You can lean on me mommy." Abdul said.
Tabitha placed her right hand on Abdul's back as he knelt down. She then held out her right foot and used her left hand to wash it up to the ankle and in-between her toes. She did the same with her left. Afterwards she put her left foot down and helped Abdul get up.
"Thank you." She said.
"What is the next step?" Tabitha asked.
"That's it mommy! You're all done!" Abdul said.
"Now we are in a state of ritual purity. We can get to the fun part, SALAH!" Abdul said with a smile.
"Yes. You wanna head back in the room?" Tabitha asked.
"Yes. Because right now we are in the bathroom. It is impermissible for us to pray here. The whole entire earth is a place of prostration except for bathrooms and graveyards." Abdul said.
Tabitha nodded her head. She then followed Abdul as they walked back in the room. Abdul turned and faced the Qibla.
"Stand behind me mommy." Abdul said to Tabitha.
Tabitha did just that. "Please follow my movements okay. And when I say 'AAMEN', you say AAMEN as well."
"Okay." Said Tabitha.
Abdul pointed his chest towards the Qibla and raised his arms up to his ears and said the opening Takbeer. "ALLAHU AKBAR".
Tabitha followed all of his exact movements and when he said Allahu Akbar. She repeated after him.
The Fajr prayer only consisted of two rak'ahs(units of prayer). So it only lasted no more than five minutes. After Abdul said the closing Tasleem(Sallamu Alaykum) the prayer was done. He turned towards Tabitha as he was sitting in a crouched position.
"Now that we have finished the Salah. We can make Dua to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. This means that we can supplicate to our Lord. For He is the All Hearer. So you hold your palms out like this mommy." Abdul said and extended his hands and opened his palms.
Tabitha did the same thing.
"Now, it does not have to be audible. Because like I just previously mentioned, Allah is the All Hearer. Whenever you supplicate to Allah, you start by praising Him. 'O Allah. How Great You are. There is no god but You. Verily, You are One.' You feel me mommy?" Abdul said to Tabitha.
"Yes." Tabitha replied.
"After you praise Him. Ask for forgiveness. Make Istighfar. 'O Allah. Please forgive me.' He will certainly forgive you mommy, I swear He will. Allah loves to forgive." Abdul said.
Tabitha nodded her head.
"After you make Istighfar. You ask Him for anything you want. Whether that be to get a job, graduate from college, or anything like that. You feel me mommy?" Abdul said.
"Yes." Tabitha nodded her head.
"After that. You can pray for Theresa, or Shekira, or your late husband. You always gotta put yourself first mommy. Feel me?" Abdul said.
Tabitha nodded her head. "Yes."
Abdul turned back to face the Qibla as he sat on the floor. He held his hand out and opened his palms. He praised Allah first, then he made Istighfar.
"la ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin."
He stood up after he was done. Tabitha was still crouched on the floor making supplication. She was moving her lips but it was inaudible. Her eyes were closed. Abdul sat back down next to her and patiently waited for her to finish. After a couple minutes she opened her eyes and turned towards Abdul.
"What did you ask Allah mommy? Huh? Huh?" Abdul said.
Tabitha laughed lightly.
"I prayed for you." She replied.
Abdul's eyes widened. "Really?? Thanks mommy!"
Tabitha nodded her head while still smiling. "What now?"
"Go back to sleep mommy. We have finished." Abdul said.
"But mother, I'm sorry. I forgot to mention that since you are female you have to cover up your entire body except for your face and hands whilst you pray. That was a blunder on my part. Sorry mommy." Abdul added.
"It's alright. Allah will forgive." She said.
"Absolutely! Because He is ar Rahman." Abdul said.
Tabitha nodded her head.
"Go back to sleep mommy. I'm sorry to have disturbed you." Abdul said and stood up then started walking towards the door.
"Will you be going to school today?" Tabitha asked.
"Nah. I think I'm gonna drop out." Abdul said.
"Why would you do such a thing?" Tabitha asked.
"Shay's pregnant." Abdul said and walked out the door.
-------------------------------------------------
"JASON!! BREAKFAST!" Lisa's voice bellowed from downstairs.
Jason's eyes was buried in his phone. He was on this Islamic site reading a certain Hadeeth. The Hadeeth spoke of a man named "Mahdi". The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam spoke of him. And he gave a vivid description of his physical appearance, his name, and many other of his features. Jason was sure! He was positive. Immediately he went to his call log and dialed Abdul's number. The phone rang once.
"JASON! My brother. As Sallamu Alaykum!"
"YOO DuL! What's your full name?"
"Abdulai Mansaray. Why do you ask?"
"I knew it! YOO DUL!" Jason said.
"Wassup bro? What's wrong?" Abdul asked.
"You heard of this ngga named 'Mahdi'?" Jason asked.
There was a long pause.
"He's you!!" Jason said.
There was another long pause.
Abdul softly spoke and broke the silence.
"Jason. That's not me!" Abdul said.
"YOOOO DUL!! YOU'RE HIM! I was just reading the Hadeeth. This guy is you!!" Jason said.
"Yoo DuL!! You're a superhero!" Jason said.
Abdul tightened his jaws.
"Please don't let me ever hear you speak of this again. May Allah bless you." Abdul said and clicked the phone off.
Jason stared at his phone screen for a few seconds. He was in awe. He immediately jumped out of his bed and ran to Mohammed's room.
"OLDHEAD!" He said out loud.
Mohammed was seated on the edge of his bed putting on his shoes.
"What is it Jason?" Mohammed said.
Jason pointed the screen of his phone to Mohammed.
"Is this jawn da'eef(weak)" Jason said. In reference to the Hadeeth.
Mohammed put on his glasses and thoroughly read.
He nodded his head. "No. This is Saheeh(Authentic)." Mohammed replied.
"I KNEW IT!! Yoo OLDHEAD! Is this him?" Jason said.
"Who?" Mohammed asked.
"Abdul! Is it him?" Jason asked.
Mohammed tensed his face and took his glasses off.
"No! That is not him. You must never speak of this again. Especially to Abdul. Do you hear me Jason?"
"But oldhead! This is him."
"JASON!" Mohammed said.
Lisa entered the room. "Jason. Breakfast is ready. Didn't you hear me?"
Jason looked at his phone then he looked up at Lisa.
"Yeah, I heard you mom. Me and oldhead was just talking." Jason said and exited the room.