“That is just a tip of the ice berg, are you ready to go into polygamy?” The man asked and he nodded.
“Is your wife at home aware or how did you intend to let her know.” He asked
“She has no problem with Sadiqah, Alihamdulilah.” He replied.
“How did you intend to share their accommodation, do they agree to stay together or you want them to live differently?” He asked and Musodiq replied Sadiqah had no problem with the accommodation arrangement which was that they will share the same compound but the same building and the man nodded in satisfaction and Musodiq heart was beating faster at the questions.
“Would you like her to stay at home or work, she has her stall.” The man asked and Musodiq replied that she can still continue with her business. Aziza is a stay at home wife.
“What is your relationship like with your parents?” The man asked for he know that Allah says And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy and say: ‘My Lord, Bestow upon them your mercy, as they did bring me up when I was small.’” (Surah Al Isra, ayat 24). And also
“And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years- give thanks to Me and to your parents – unto Me is the final destination.” (Surah Luqman, ayat 14) he would want a man who is kind to his parents.
“I have a very good relationship with them, infact they are both aware of my visit here today, Alihamdulilah.” He explained and the man nodded repeatedly.
He further ask more questions about the family and his work before he told him that he would like to see his parents.
Sidiqah is his last daughter and the most stubborn, she was the only one who decided to live alone before marriage and is the only one of all his children from his first marriage that did not have good relationship with the his second wife, she was always finding trouble with her especially after her mother death and he keep coming home to settle quarrel everyday and she is always at fault.
“I don’t like her.” she would say and as soon she was in her third year in the university, she indicated that she wanted to move out.
“I don’t like this, he said to her
“At least, she would not be fighting every time.” Her eldest sister said and he reluctantly paid for her apartment and surprisingly, there was peace in the house and he had rest of mind, all her three elder sister are now married and he is glad that she is about to do that too, it is a joy of a parent.
He was very surprise and impressed that she is going into polygamy, perhaps it is time for her to learn how to be accommodative and put others feelings first, he remember how she even reacted than her mother when she heard he wanted to marry another, she was the last child from his wife of four girls and she was thirteen when he made the announcement,
“I am not in support? Is it because we are girls? Do you think we will not amount to be something?” she asked him and her mother shut her down.
“How dare you talk to your father like that.” Her mother said to her.
Sidiqah mother had a terminal disease that they have both been nursing and for two years, she was struggling to perform her wifely duties and he was very considerate, there was no hope for cure.
“Any time is Allah’s will.” She would tell him and plead with him not to let the children know about it until when she could tell them herself.
“How about you get married to another woman?” she asked him and he was surprised, what woman will suggest that to her husband… even if she is sick.
“I know you have been so considerate all these while …” she said.
“I am not complaining.” He said to her,
“You know Doctor said I am still lucky that to still be alive, we both know there is no cure, even if you don’t do it now, you can’t stay like this when I am gone at least, you are still young… and handsome and agile.” She said to him amidst tears.
“Just do it, the kids will need a mom when I am gone, when you do it now, they will have chance of adapting while I am still here and you will have a wife too.. I am just a patient now, you know.” She said, he know it was definitely not easy for her to say. Being from a polygamous home where the husband didn’t follow the sharia way of being just!
He watched his mother and her co wives fight to gain their husband attention and how much they spend in preparing his food so that he would sleep over at their place, most time, he does not usually gives these wives money for maintenance and upkeep, in fact it was his mother who saw him through school and he had made promise that he didn’t want to be like his father and that was made him interested in the Sharia and he is currently have a PhD in Islamic Law and Jurisprudence.
“I am scared, I might not be just.” He said to his wife, they have been married for twenty one years and she had been an amazing woman, a friend and a wife even though she could not do much of that anymore because of ill health. He remember how his siblings were giving him ideas to get married to another woman who will give him a son but he just laughed it off.
“I am the reason why she is giving birth to females, she is bringing forth what is in me.” He said that to shut them up and indeed it did.
“I don’t even remember how it is to woo a lady.” He said and she smiled.
“Or do you have anyone in mind?” he asked her.
“Yes, there is a woman I know, she is divorced with a child, her name is Hanan, she is a colleague at the academy before I resigned and she is very young and pretty, I think you will like her.” she said to her husband who was only starred at her.
“What if she is married?” He asked after a while.
“No, she is not, I always keep tab on her.” she said to him and she planned their meeting, a proposal was made and they got married three months later.
Hanan is a dove of a woman and he had never seen someone so patient, kind and understanding as she was. All the kids warmed up to her except for Sadiqah and her son Imran and she fit in to the family and assume the motherly role as soon as their mother became bedridden before she later breathed her last.
“I don’t like her and will never accept her.” Sadiqah said and he was scared how worst she became after her mother’s death, she was the worst hit by her death aside from him because she was the youngest and the dearest to her mother and sometimes he do overlook her behaviour because he understands that she is still grieving.
Now she is to go into the polygamy she detested so much and he could not help but wonder why.
“I like him a lot Dad and beside he told me, he would have married me if we have met earlier.” She said to him and he swallowed hard at the revelation;
"Are you willing to share him?" He asked
Men with their sweet mouth…
Reason why he decided to invite Musodiq for a thorough chat and give him a hitch of what he was about to go into, incase he is not aware, most men just go into polygamy without knowing what is at stake, some learn on the job and other don't.
Polygamy is not for boys…
He was born into it and engaged in it for three years before Sadiqah’s mother died.
He know he can’t reject Musodiq, his daughter is obviously heels in love already, perhaps he just have to get closer to him to educate him from time to time.
He sighed and faced his would be son in law who he know might be wondering what was on his mind that he was silent for long.
“Okay, I will like to see your parents and let’s talk about the Nikkah.” The man said and watch Musodiq beamed with smiles.
"How often do you see her?" He asked
"See her?" He asked not understanding what he was being asked
"Visit her house?" He asked him.
"Often sir." Musadiq said not knowing why he was being asked that question ,
"You need to stop seeing her alone until a Nikkah is done. If my daughter has no sense, you should, at least you are older and look more ... Knowledgeable." The man said and Musadiq glanced on the floor, and could not even state at the man anymore.
"Don't you have any knowledge of the shariah... Your appearance does not depict your actions... Spend time with your wife at home and prepare her for the journey ahead." The man explained and Musadiq heart missed a beat.
"I need to see your parents." He said to him after a while.
“Ins sha Allah, they will be here as soon as you let me know when they can come.” He said to him.