The Rebirth of Love
Days passed, and the love between Rowan and Abdullah flourished with every sunrise. As the saying goes, "There is no true love but that which follows a quarrel." Abdullah's devotion redoubled; there is nothing that reveals the true value of a soul more than the fear of losing it, only for it to be restored by Divine grace.
Abdullah decided to press on with his marriage, determined to prove to his uncles that he was a man with or without them. He was ready to storm the world alone, to tunnel through mountains with his bare hands just to reach his "Bronze Beloved."
In one of their romantic midnight calls, they sought a solution.
"Hello, my little 'Smarah' (Bronze One), how are you?"
"Hello, my little 'Baidah' (White One/Egg), I've missed you to death!"
Abdullah burst into laughter. "Why 'Baidah'? Am I that bland in your eyes?"
"No, my love," she teased, "You are honey in my eyes. But I am bronze and you call me 'Smarati,' and since you are fair, you are my 'Baidati'."
Abdullah's heart danced. These were words straight from the heart, hitting their mark.
The Master Plan
Abdullah asked, "How can I propose without a 'Jaha' (a formal delegation of men) to ask for your hand?"
Rowan replied with confidence, "I only want you. I'll talk to my brothers. I'll tell them your father and uncles are traveling abroad and you've come alone out of necessity. Leave the rest to me, my little 'Baidah'. Give me two days."
Rowan managed her family, but Abdullah faced a harder obstacle: his mother. She refused to go without her husband's blessing. In a moment of desperate boldness, Abdullah called his father while his mother watched.
"Father, I've thought about it. My heart is at peace with this girl. I want her."
His father's voice was icy: "I told you, I will not stand with you. You are not my son, and I do not know you."
Abdullah persisted: "You are my father and I love you, but I am the one who will live with her, not you."
"Fine," his father snapped. "Do as you wish. But neither I nor your uncles will walk with you. It seems you no longer need a father."
Then came the crucial request: "I only ask that you permit Mom to go with me. She won't go without your word."
The White Lie
Abu Abdullah exploded in rage and hung up the phone. Abdullah, expecting the temper but needing a victory, didn't let the dial tone stop him. He kept the phone to his ear, acting as if his father was still speaking.
"So, you agree, Dad? Thank you, Father! You've made me so happy. Yes, Mom is right here, she hears you."
He played the part to perfection. "Okay, Dad, thank you. We'll go tomorrow. God keep you, the best father ever. Goodbye!"
He turned to his stunned mother with a triumphant smile. "He agreed! Now, call Rowan's mother and set the date. Right now!"
Deceived by the performance, his mother complied. Abdullah raced to his room to tell Rowan of his "blessed lie."
"You're quite something, 'Baidah'!" she laughed. "I'm starting to get scared of your brain!"
"I did it for us, my Smarah," he whispered. "May God forgive me for this lie."
The Union of Hearts
The next day, Abdullah looked like a Hollywood star, his handsomeness fueled by a joy that radiated to everyone around him. At her home, Rowan was like a butterfly, her smile lighting up the room.
The families met. To bridge the tension, Abdullah's mother focused on Rowan's character and faith. She asked, "How much of the Quran do you know by heart, Rowan?"
Abdullah jumped in protectively: "Mother, the important thing is she knows the Fatiha! You know the Fatiha, right Rowan?"
Rowan replied with a grin, "Yes, and I know 'Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad' too!"
The room erupted in laughter, the tension melting away.
They agreed to sign the marriage contract at the court the very next day, allowing them the freedom to be together as husband and wife. The contract was signed, and the two lovers became one—a bond that no force could now sever. They scheduled the formal engagement party for a week later at her family home to announce their union to the world.
During that week, Abdullah and Rowan were a whirlwind of preparation, finally tasting the sweetness of a dream that had almost been stolen from them.