Muslim Girl by Umm Zakiyyah

Author:Umm Zakiyyah
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: religion, family, teens, muslims, youth, divorce, africanamerican, islam, christian fiction, saudi arabia, muslim women, arabia, muslim fiction, islam and christianity, arab american fiction, africanamerican christian fiction, muslim author, muslim youth, ruby moore, umm zakiyyah
Publisher: Umm Zakiyyah

***

Inaya glanced at her watch as she sat in the last row of chairs reserved for teachers in the gymnasium at the Muslim weekend school. She hoped her mother wouldn’t be late picking her up. Inaya had wanted to leave immediately after class, but there was an award ceremony for the students. Inaya knew it would appear rude if she was not present to give her students their awards. But her class had received their awards twenty minutes ago, and her mother had still not arrived.

“…Inaya Donald.”

There was a roar of applause, and Inaya brought her hands together as she looked around in search of who’d called her name.

“She was always a very modest teacher,” a voice said through the speakers. “So I’m sure she imagines this award is for another Inaya Donald.”

Stunned, Inaya looked toward the front of the gymnasium and saw that Sister Amal was standing in front of the microphone holding a framed certificate.

“Yes, Inaya,” Sister Amal said, “this award is for you, our most outstanding teacher.”

But…

Inaya felt her legs go weak. What was Sister Amal talking about? Inaya hadn’t paid any attention to the program. The voices had become background noise as she counted down the minutes until she could go home.

“We love you, Sister Inaya!” some of her students shouted.

Somehow Inaya found the strength to stand, but on shaky legs. She cautiously walked to the front of the gymnasium—to accept an award she knew she didn’t deserve.

And it did not escape her that some of her fellow teachers, who were all elder to her, felt the same. Though they clapped, their expressions were of resentment, and Inaya did not want to believe the sinking feeling that it wasn’t due only to her young age.

“Inaya is our youngest teacher here,” Sister Amal said into the microphone, beaming. “And she’s also our only American.”

Inaya wore a frozen smile as she neared the microphone, her heart drumming in her chest. She felt the beginning of a headache as she saw the scrutinizing stares of the audience.

“She’s a junior in high school and attends public school. Her parents converted to Islam when she was a child, and she memorized Qur’an at the age of thirteen.”

There were hoots and cries of Allahu’akbar! But Inaya felt the envious stares of her colleagues.

“And her mother was kind enough to let me speak to some of Inaya’s friends from Saudi Arabia,” Sister Amal said, sending Inaya’s heart racing as Inaya halted her steps next to Sister Amal.

“And maashaAllah,” Sister Amal said, “I think the poem they wrote for her tells us that she was a blessing to them too.”

Inaya’s eyes widened, and she had to resist the urge to snatch the paper from Sister Amal’s hand.

“And this was written in the heart of the Muslim world by girls who were Arab, Pakistani, Indian, British and American,” Sister Amal said, a proud grin on her face, “and that alone should tell us the immense blessing we have in having Inaya amongst us.”

Sister Amal turned to smile at Inaya, and Inaya dropped her head, unable to meet Sister Amal’s gaze.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.