The Little Hijabi

The Little Hijabi

Once upon a time in a big, beautiful city lived an ever more beautiful little hijabi. Allah loved the little hijabi, her friends loved her, her brother and sisters loved her, her father, Baba, loved her, everyone who met her loved her and her mother, Ummi, loved her very much. When the little hijabi slept in her mother’s bed, Ummi’s heart would smile every time she looked at the little hijabi.

One day Ummi was sick and did not have the strength to get out of bed. She had a list of things to do during the day but was just too sick to do them. Her family told her to get some rest and even though Ummi wanted to do the things on her list, she agreed to get some sleep, insha’Allah.

The little hijabi was sad. Ummi always tried to do nice things to show how much she loved the little hijabi. The little hijabi wanted to show her mother how much she loved her and help her while she was sick, insha’Allah. The little hijabi had an idea! She grabbed the list of things to do Ummi had made. While Ummi was trying to sleep, the little hijabi was going to try and do the list of things her mother made, insha’Allah.

The little hijabi made dua then began to read the list. The first thing was to tidy up the house, insha’Allah. The little hijabi said bismillah and started cleaning. She picked up the trash. She put the dirty dishes in the sink. She swept the floors. Every chore the little hijabi did she would begin with bismillah and end with alhamdulillah. None of the chores felt like work to the little hijabi because, when you do something out of love, the act is a reward in itself.

The little hijabi made another dua and checked what was next on the list. It was to take out the trash, insha’Allah. The little hijabi was not big enough to lift the trash on her own so she said bismillah and asked her big brother to help her, insha’Allah. He said he would help insha’Allah and the little hijabi said alhamdulillah. They both took out the trash together not forgetting to start with bismillah and when they were done saying alhamdulillah. After they were finished, the little hijabi said jazak Allah khair to her big brother. He smiled at her and said, “wa iyyakum”.

The little hijabi made another dua and went to see what was next on the list. It was laundry. The little hijabi said bismillah and started to pick up the dirty clothes. Each time she picked up the dirty clothes she would say bismillah and each time she put them by the washing machine she would say alhamdulillah. The little hijabi was too young to use the washing machine alone, so she said bismillah and asked one of her sisters to help her, insha’Allah. Her sister said she would help and the little hijabi said alhamdulillah. They began by saying bismillah then loaded the laundry and soap into the washer and when the clothes were finished they said alhamdulillah. After they were done, the little hijabi said jazak Allah khair to her sister. Her sister smiled and replied, “Wa iyyakum”.

The little hijabi made another dua and now it was nearing lunch time so she decided to take a break until after lunch to finish the list, insha’Allah. Ummi was still sleeping so the little hijabi had another idea. She would make Ummi some soup to help her get better, insha’Allah. The little hijabi said bismillah and began getting the ingredients and each time she collected one she would say alhamdulillah. The little hijabi was too young to use the stove on her own so she said bismillah and asked another one of her sisters to help her, insha’Allah. The little hijabi’s sister agreed to help her cook the soup and the little hijabi said alhamdulillah. They began with bismillah then began to mix and cook the soup and when the soup was finished cooking they said alhamdulillah and poured it into bowls for the little hijabi and Ummi. After the soup was finished being poured, the little hijabi made sure to say jazak Allah khair and her sister said back with a smile, “Wa iyyakum”.

Before having her own soup, the little hijabi brought Ummi some soup. Her mother was still sleeping so the little hijabi left the soup near her bed then went to have her own soup. She sat down and said bismillah then began to sip her soup. When she finished, the little hijabi smiled and said alhamdulillah.

The little hijabi made a dua and got back to the list of things to do. The next thing on the list was to get some meat from the halal butcher’s shop, insha’Allah. The little hijabi was too young to go to the butcher’s shop by herself and she had no money for the meat. The little hijabi decided to ask her father, Baba, to help her insha’Allah and said bismillah before going to ask him. Baba agreed to go with her and pay for the meat and the little hijabi said alhamdulillah.

A little while later, Baba took the little hijabi to the butcher shop and they both went inside. “As-salaam alaykum.” said Baba and the little hijabi to the butcher. “Wa alaykum as-salaam.” said the butcher. “How is your family?” he asked the little hijabi. “Alhamdulillah.” said the little hijabi, “They are all well except Ummi is home sick in bed”. “Insha’Allah your mother feels better.” said the butcher. “Insha’Allah wa jazak Allah khair.” Said the little hijabi. The butcher smiled and said, “Wa iyyakum”.
The little hijabi said bismillah and handed the list to the butcher. When the butcher finished getting the meat and giving it and the list back to the little hijabi she said, “Alhamdulillah” then “Jazak Allah khair”. The butcher smiled again and said “Wa iyyakum”. The little hijabi said bismillah and handed the money Baba had given her to the butcher. When the butcher gave the change back to the little hijabi she said alhamdulillah and jazak Allah khair again. The butcher smiled wide and said “Wa iyyakum”. The little hijabi and Baba exchanged salaams with the butcher and went home. On the way home, the little hijabi handed Baba the change and said, “Jazak Allah khair, Baba”. He smiled and put his hand on her head as he said, “Wa iyyakum my little hijabi”.

Baba and the little hijabi got home and put the meat in the refrigerator. Once the food was put away, the little hijabi made another dua and went back to the list. The next thing on the list was to pick up a kitten from a friend of Ummi’s, insha’Allah. The mama cat had six kittens and Ummi’s friend said they could keep one, insha’Allah. The little hijabi was not old enough to go there alone so she said bismillah and asked her last sister to go with her, insha’Allah. Her sister agreed and the little hijabi said, “Alhamdulillah”. The little hijabi and her sister went to Ummi’s friend and met her at the door. After saying salaams to each other, the little hijabi was allowed to go inside and choose a kitten. The little hijabi said bismillah before spending time with each one then saying it again before choosing. After she chose, the little hijabi said “Alhamdulillah.” then “Jazak Allah khair”. Ummi’s friend smiled and said, “Wa iyyakum”. The little hijabi, her sister, and Ummi’s friend exchanged salaams and the two girls went home with the kitten.

When the little hijabi got home, she made dua then said bismillah and got the kitten some food and water in some dishes. After the kitten began eating, the little hijabi said alhamdulillah before checking to see what was next on the list. There was only one thing left on the list and that was to make dinner for the family, insha’Allah. The little hijabi could not make dinner for the family alone, but she had a wonderful idea. She would ask her three sisters to help, insha’Allah. The little hijabi said bismillah and asked her sisters and they agreed to help. The little hijabi said alhamdulillah.

The little hijabi and her sisters said bismillah before preparing the dinner and when they finished cooking and making the meal they said alhamdulillah. Next they set the table and brought out the food remembering to say bismillah and alhamdulillah. The little hijabi said jazak Allah khair to her three sisters when they were finished and they all smiled and said back to her, “Wa iyyakum”.
The little hijabi went to her mother’s bed and Ummi was sitting up and looking much better than she had that morning, alhamdulillah.

“As-salaam alaykum, my little hijabi.” Ummi said with a smile.

“Wa alaykum as-salaam, Ummi.” smiled the little hijabi. “Insha’Allah you are feeling better. Dinner is ready”.

“Alhamdulillah wa jazak Allah khair.” replied Ummi.

“Wa iyyakum.” smiled the little hijabi and they both went to have dinner with the family.

Before they began to eat, the family said bismillah and had a lovely meal together, alhamdulillah. When they were finished eating they said alhamdulillah. After supper was done, the little hijabi helped her sisters clean up remembering to say bismillah before they started and saying alhamdulillah when they finished.

The little hijabi took a pen and crossed off the list then she wrote something on another piece of paper. Ummi asked what the little hijabi had done the whole day while she had been sleeping off the sickness. The little hijabi told her mother everything she had done; the house cleaning, the trash, the laundry, the soup for lunch, the butcher shop, the kitten, dinner, and how everyone helped and shared in the barakah, alhamdulillah.

“Masha’Allah! Alhamdulillah wa jazak Allah khair.” said Ummi.

“Wa iyyakum.” smiled the little hijabi. “I love you very much, Ummi, alhamdulillah”.

“I love you, my beautiful treasure, alhamdulillah.” Ummi said back as she gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“Ummi"?

“Yes my little hijabi?” Ummi replied.

“I wrote my own list to do tonight, insha’Allah.” said the little hijabi before showing the list to Ummi.

Ummi took the list and looked at it. It read: Watch a movie on the couch with Ummi.
Ummi smiled and said, “I think insha’Allah we can finish your list”.

The little hijabi and her mother put in a movie and curled up together with the kitten on the couch. They relaxed together enjoying the warmth of each other and the love they shared, alhamdulillah. As the little hijabi started falling asleep, Ummi said, “You are my little treasure and I love you with all my heart, alhamdulillah, and the most beautiful treasures are the ones you keep in your heart.", then kissed the little hijabi on the forehead as she closed her eyes and the love she showed Allah and to her mother helped her fall asleep into sweet little hijabi dreams.

The End, Alhamdulillah (written by Br A.Coates July 10)