Sakayyah Book 2 Completed

Description

Scene 1: Moddibo’s Turmoil & Conflict at Innayi’s House

He closed his eyes tightly, pressing both hands against his head as it began to spin and pound. Hajja Nana’s words struck the center of his skull, piercing his brain and echoing in his ears like thunder rolling across the open sky. His eyes turned completely bloodshot, and his entire body shook violently like a hailstone. His heart beat at ninety-nine percent capacity, pumping blood rapidly through his veins with every passing second.

Sweat quickly soaked his shirt, despite the cool climate of Gembila. The sudden panic caused him to break out in cold sweats as his heart hammered with tremendous force and his breath hitched as if it might leave his body. Amidst extreme distress and a dizzying head-spin, he pressed his temples harder with both hands. With great difficulty, he lifted his feet, stepped off the veranda, and walked toward his side of the house, staggering like a drunkard while feeling intensely dizzy.

As he stumbled, he overheard Innayi speaking in a voice full of fierce anger, frustration, and heated passion:

"You will be in for a surprise, Hajja Nana. I will show you the power and authority of the 'bastard' you speak of. You will realize your mistake in addressing him with such a degrading name that is far beneath him. And this marriage, by the will of God, will happen, be finalized, and completed. If you ever wake up and decide to fight this wedding or try to stop it, take it to heart that it has already been decided and solemnized because you have no power to forbid what God has made lawful. By Allah, as long as I am alive, Insha Allah, even if the marriage has already been executed, I will make you taste pure shock."

Hajja Nana shot Innayi a look of utter contempt blended with rage. But Innayi, consumed by anger, continued:

"No mortal being on earth has the power to stop this wedding except the God who created the heavens and the earth. If you ever see this marriage fail, it will be from the Lord of the Worlds, not from you, Hajja Nana, who struts around shaking her head like a lizard!"

Furious and agitated, Hajja Nana, who was trying to leave, stopped, turned back, looked at her, smiled, adjusted her stance, and retorted:

"What kind of power or authority does a bastard possess? Go find some worthless outcast from the slums to marry him off to, but definitely not my granddaughter, who has a noble heritage and roots! My lineage is too high and distant for you; you can only gaze at it from afar!"

Furious, with her eyes glowing like burning coals, Innayi shot back:

"You will certainly see the strength and authority of that 'bastard' you speak of! Right before your eyes, his wedding to Khausar will be solemnized, and he will take her away while you can do absolutely nothing. You will be shocked to see his roots, which surpass your imagination and exceed your expectations! Because you are nothing in his life—shame on a friend who does not respect friendship! You have proven to be devoid of good manners and basic decency!"

Hajja Nana cast a venomous look at Innayi, pointed at herself, and asked:

"Are you talking to me like that?"

Innayi nodded and shouted:

"Yes, I am talking to you! Who do you think you are? Or do you think Jauro's place is like your personal estate where you swing your head like a female lizard and do as you please? Let this sink into your mind: you entered my domain, and even though we are the ones seeking a marital alliance from your side, you will not trample over me. I won't allow it! A woman doesn't just hand over a bride without mutual respect, so get out of my house!"

Hajja Nana hissed loudly and replied:

"Even if you hadn't told me to leave, I would have walked out. But keep this in mind: your bastard grandson and my pure granddaughter will never get married!"

With that, she stormed out of the room, though she paused at the door to hurl one final threat:

"If only people knew your background, your origins, and whether your pure grandson was born through legitimate marital channels... but no! Your grandson is impure, born out of filth and sin, and he will never be given my granddaughter's hand in marriage! You will witness my power, my might, and my dignity regarding this wedding!"

With her heart boiling with rage, Innayi shouted back:

"Then let's wait and see! Don't back down if you truly believe you possess power and might!"

Hajja Nana scoffed, stormed down the veranda, rushed out like a whirlwind, and headed outside.

Scene 2: Moddibo’s Internal Crisis

As for Moddibo, once he entered his parlor, he locked the door behind him, slid down until he was sitting flat on the floor, and leaned his back against the door while fighting for his fading breath. A gut-wrenching, agonizing cry burst from him. In a weak voice full of sheer terror, he began to recite:

“Allahumma Ajirni fii musibati wa'ahlifli khairan منها Ya wadud, ya zul'arshil Majeed, ya fa'alillima yurid... Innalillahi wa'inna ilahi rajiu'n.”

In total panic, he continued reciting every prayer that came to his mind. Then, another agonizing, body-shaking sob escaped him as a severe fever suddenly gripped him, throwing him into delirium as he spoke to himself inwardly:

"Innalillahi Wa'inna ilahi rajiu'n. What kind of trial is this? What kind of life is approaching me? Where is my true origin? Could it be that what this woman said is true—that I have no heritage?"

He squeezed his eyes shut with immense force and whispered on his trembling lips:

"Hahhhh, there is a ring of truth to that woman’s words. If I had a real heritage and background, Innayi would have taken me to them long ago and shown me my roots. Could it really be true that I wasn't born through the lawful marriage of the Messenger of Allah (SAW)? Oh, peace be upon me..."

Then he spoke in a trembling voice:

"Oh Lord, do not let my doubts and suspicions of all these years be confirmed by this woman’s words!"

He buried his face in his knees. For a long time, he had secretly suspected that he might be a child born out of wedlock, which was why Innayi had never revealed his background, and why he had never seen any maternal or paternal relatives. He knew it was impossible for any human being on earth to have no relatives at all—unless he truly was a child of sin. That was why he had always been terrified to ask her who he was, fearing he would hear something that would shatter his mind and calculations. Out of that fear, he had avoided investigating his roots because deep down, he had started suspecting the truth.

Closing his eyes tight, he allowed hot, agonizing tears to stream down his face. He thought to himself: I knew this day would eventually come—the day when people would confront us directly, question our dignity, and label me a 'bastard' if they couldn't get a satisfactory answer. Innalillahi wa'inna ilahi rajiu'n.

Scene 3: Hajja Nana’s Departure & Discussion with Baffa Jimeta and Malam Liman

Furious, Hajja Nana marched out of the house, banged the gate shut, opened her car, and got inside, huffing with extreme anger and frustration. She looked at Baffa Jimeta and snapped:

"Let's go. Everyone in this town has lost their minds and doesn't know what they are doing."

In a calm voice, Baffa Jimeta replied:

"Subhanallah, Hajja Nana, don't say that. Don't curse an entire town like that; it's not proper."

She flashed him a harsh glare and retorted:

"Shut your mouth, drive the car, and let's go. I don't want to hear any nonsense."

He nodded, started the ignition, and drove straight toward Jauro Yaya.

Calmly, Malam Liman turned to look at her and said in a soothing voice:

"Have patience, Hajja Nana. In this worldly life, everything is faced with patience. Whatever patience cannot resolve, impatience certainly will not solve either. Please calm down. Whatever Khausar did, she is just a young girl; don't let it weigh on you to the point of causing yourself this much distress."

Hajja Nana, who had been staring fixedly at the mirror, turned quickly and snapped angrily:

"Are you saying Khausar will look straight into my eyes and tell me she doesn't want Aliyu?"

Calmly, Baffa Jimeta, who was driving, glanced back at her and said softly:

"Well, Hajja Nana, what is wrong with Khausar saying she doesn't want Aliyu? Even I wouldn't force Khausar into a marriage she dislikes. Although Aliyu is my son, I won't oppress her by forcing her to marry him when she doesn't love him."

Furious, Hajja Nana barked at him:

"Shut your mouth! What do you mean by that?"

Softening his tone respectfully, he replied:

"Hajja Nana, please forgive me if what I'm about to say upsets you, but I mean she should be married to the person she actually loves."

Hajja Nana stared at him with defiant, fiery eyes brimming with authority and arrogance:

"You people are not capable of that! No one has ever been born who can dictate such a thing."

Baffa Jimeta sighed, glanced at Malam Liman—who was staring at the road—and lowered his voice again:

"Please, Hajja Nana, forgive me. Let the girl have what she wants."

"You all don't have the power," she snapped curtly.

Baffa Jimeta nodded without saying another word and continued driving.

Malam Liman let out a soft sigh, turned to face Hajja Nana fully, and said:

"Adda Hajja, is it just because she said she doesn't want Aliyu that your blood pressure is up like this?"

Hajja Nana widened her eyes in disbelief:

"Oh! Is that all you think it is? You mean you don't take this seriously? Isn't this enough to upset me? Besides, the person she says she wants—if at least he had a proper lineage and heritage, it would be a different story!"

Malam Liman took a deep breath and asked:

"Well, who is the person she says she wants?"

Hajja Nana let out a long, disgusted hiss and scoffed:

"Some school teacher! Moddibo or Momodu, heaven knows what his name is—that boy Malam Ardo brought along to Jauro Yaya years ago, and whom we went to visit recently at Malam Ardo's house. That's who she claims she loves!"

Malam Liman nodded in understanding.

Consumed by annoyance, she continued:

"And get this—he is the grandson of that friend of mine, Innare! As you all know, and as I’ve told you before, nobody knows their origins, nobody knows their roots. From all my investigations and the years we’ve gone to Mecca together, I know for a fact that this boy is a bastard!"

Baffa Jimeta quickly glanced back at her in shock upon hearing those words.

She glared at him and pressed on:

"He is a bastard with no heritage! A child born out of illicit sex and filth! How can we establish a marital alliance with someone like that and ruin our family name by becoming the talk of the town?"

Malam Liman shook his head, turned his face gently toward her, and said:

"Um-uhum, please calm down, Adda Hajja. Don't let your heart be troubled."

She shook her head furiously and hissed:

"My heart has every right to be troubled, Liman!"

Adjusting his cloak, Malam Liman replied:

"Please have patience, but never disparage a boy like that. Even if your claim is true, it is still not his fault. If he truly is an illegitimate child, the sin lies with his parents who brought him into the world through illicit means, not with him."

Hajja Nana cupped her chin in her hand, stared at him without blinking, while Malam Liman continued in a soft, persuasive tone:

"Furthermore, Islamic jurisprudence does not forbid marrying someone born out of wedlock. Sharia does not prohibit his marriage to Khausar; it is not unlawful in Islam unless there is another legal impediment involved. And please, whenever you utter such heavy words, weigh them carefully because they carry severe consequences."

Anger flaring, she snapped at him:

"Liman, don't you start preaching your perspective-shifting sermons to me!"

Politely lowering his head, Malam Liman replied:

"I must preach to you so that you do not fall into speech that draws the wrath of the Creator."

She burst into loud exclamations of shock, holding her jaw:

"Subhanallah! Telling the truth is what will bring the wrath of the Creator upon me? Or does the boy even have a father? Look at him—even when he was an infant wrapped in rags, everyone knew it was her daughter or son who gave birth to an illegitimate child and brought it to her, which is why she fled with him out of shame! It’s been over thirty years, and though she is my closest friend, even I don't know their roots, their origins, or where they came from!"

Malam Liman shook his head and said:

"Please calm down and compose yourself. Even so, Adda Hajja, you have no proof to label him a bastard."

Gently, he continued counseling her and pointing out her errors, but Hajja Nana stubbornly refused to listen. Baffa Jimeta remained completely silent for the rest of the journey.

Scene 4: Ummi, Malam Ahmad, and Family Grief

Back at their residence, a fierce, burning fever enveloped Moddibo, causing his entire body to shake. Inside her room, Innayi was trembling as she paced back and forth, until she finally collapsed onto the floor, bursting into heavy, childlike tears:

"I didn't know, Aliyu... I didn't know this matter would become a permanent stain on your life. I didn't know it would become a weapon of mockery against you, Aliyu..."

She wept bitterly, overwhelmed by deep distress and sorrow.

Meanwhile, after finishing his phone call with Moddibo, Abba dialed Malam Ahmad's number. When Malam Ahmad picked up, Abba cleared his throat, greeted him, and after pleasantries, let out a sigh and said softly:

"Please, Malam, after the Asr prayer, can I get to see you?"

Malam Ahmad replied warmly:

"No problem, Insha Allah I will come. I hope all is well?"

Abba nodded and said:

"Yes, nothing is wrong. May Allah bring you safely."

After hanging up, Malam Ahmad looked at Ummi sitting beside him on the 2-seater couch, and Asma'u and Bashir on the 3-seater, and said gently:

"It was Jameelu's father who called me."

With a look of anxiety, Ummi asked:

"Is everything alright!?"

He nodded: "Everything is fine."

She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes: "You better ask him again."

Realizing she wasn't convinced, he said: "Let me ask him then," and redialed Abba's number.

When Abba answered, Malam Ahmad greeted him and said:

"I told Fatima what we discussed, but she wants to know what is really going on. Is everything okay?"

Abba nodded softly, burdened with grief:

"Yes, everything is fine. I just want the money from the sale of her car and her necklaces—since this is what God has decreed—to be handed back to her. I want you to come get the money so you can return it to her, and please explain things to her and comfort her."

Malam Ahmad nodded: "Alright, I will tell her."

After ending the call, Malam Ahmad turned to Ummi and explained everything Abba had said.

With a broken heart, Ummi bowed her head as hot, heavy tears poured down her cheeks. Asma'u and Bashir watched her with deep compassion, and soon Asma'u’s eyes began to overflow with tears as well.

Softly, Ummi raised her head, looked at Malam Ahmad with a trembling voice, and said:

"Tell him I don't want the money. I have forgiven it! What will I do with money that failed to save Jameel? What will I do with any ornaments? I don't want them, I don't need them. I have renounced them in this world and the hereafter; I want nothing to do with them!"

Calmly, Malam Ahmad shook his head and consoled her:

"Don't say that, Fatima. Please be patient. You should pray for Jameel. Don't refuse the money; if you refuse it, you will only plunge his father into deeper grief and distress."

She shook her head, stood up, and walked into her bedroom, tears still streaming down her face.

Asma'u buried her face in a cushion and broke into deep, muffled sobs. Bashir quickly lifted her up, wiped her tears, and said softly:

"Asma'u, Yah Jameel doesn't need our tears; he only needs our prayers. Please stop crying for him, you hear me? I am sure Yah Jameel wouldn't want this crying."

She nodded, tears still on her face:

"Bashir, what can I do? Whenever I remember that Yah Jameel has left us forever, I feel a burning fire inside my heart. I feel intense pain, as if my chest is about to burst."

Bashir replied gently:

"What can we do against the decree of God, Asma'u? This is how Allah ordained that Yah Jameel’s life would not be long. Even if they hadn't kidnapped and killed him, I am certain his time wouldn't have exceeded these days. All he needs from us is prayers. In time, those who did this to him will face a glaring recompense (Sakayyah). Just keep praying for him, okay?"

She nodded: "I will, and I will continue to do so for the rest of my life, by God's grace."

Inside her bedroom, Ummi sat at the edge of the bed and wept. Malam Ahmad entered, sat beside her, pulled her gently into his embrace, and said softly:

"Please stop crying, Fatima. Pray for Jameel so that Allah may grant him mercy. Instead of refusing the money, accept it to bring peace to his father."

With a weak heart, Ummi pressed her head against his chest and continued sobbing softly.

Malam Ahmad clasped her hand in his and continued:

"If you accept the money, you can use it to perform Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity) on behalf of Jameel—such as building a mosque, an orphanage, a hospital, a religious school, or digging a borehole well, with the intention that the reward reaches him. Do this, Fatima, and don't be ungrateful to Allah."

She let out a sigh, and he continued:

"Don't say you won't take it. Allah gave us Jameel, and Allah took Jameel back. We have nothing greater to offer Jameel than prayers; that is the only love we can show him. If you leave the money, what will his father do with it?"

Ummi nodded in resignation and agreement:

"Alright, Insha Allah, I will do as you say. May Allah have mercy on Jameel, forgive his sins, and shower His grace upon him."

Wiping her tears, Malam Ahmad replied: "Ameen."

Scene 5: Hajiya Lami & Samira's Mysterious Illness

Meanwhile, in her parlor, Hajiya Lami sat with her phone. Samira walked out of her bedroom, sat beside her, and stared at her.

Hajja Lami glanced up from her phone: "Is everything alright, Samira?"

Samira shook her head, speaking in a weak voice: "Mommy, my stomach hurts."

Slowly, Hajiya Lami put her phone down and looked at her intently: "What is wrong with you? Lately, you keep complaining that your stomach hurts."

Samira tearfully replied, her voice trembling:

"Mommy, this stomach pain is starting to bother me. Whenever it cramps, Mommy, a strange white discharge comes out of my private parts. Mommy, I even have to wear pads as if I'm on my period, but it's not blood—it's just a foul-smelling liquid with a terrible, disgusting stench."

Hajja Lami’s eyes widened in shock: "Discharge? What kind of liquid, Lami?" (Note: typo in source text, referring to Samira)

With a trembling voice, Samira said:

"It looks like sperm when it comes out, and it comes out in large, slimy amounts, Mommy, and it has an awful stench. Don't you smell the odor when I sit near you?"

Hajja Lami quickly shook her head in denial.

Distressed, Samira continued: "Whenever I bend down, I can smell the foul odor myself."

Hajja Lami shook her head, swallowed hard against a bitter taste in her throat, and looked at Samira:

"No, Samira, I didn't smell anything. But how long has this been happening to you?"

Samira replied: "For over five days now. Whenever my stomach cramps severely, this substance trickles out bit by bit, but now it's coming out in larger quantities, and the pain is getting worse. I am truly panicked, Mommy!"

Hajja Lami quickly said: "Let me get dressed and go see Boka Kar'uzu to explain the situation to you."

Just as they were talking, they heard the door of Samira's father's bedroom opening.

Seeing him, Hajiya Lami quickly covered up her conversation:

"Yes, Samira, Insha Allah if your daddy permits, I will go check on Hajiya Bunayya's friend who has been suffering from stomach pain."

With the calm, dignified demeanor of an accomplished gentleman, he walked into the parlor, looked at Hajiya Lami, and said with great composure:

"Ayyah, Subhanallah! I heard you talking about stomach pain. Is Amina not feeling well? May God grant her healing."

Hajya Lami quickly responded: "Ameen."

Adjusting his cap, he continued: "That's why I haven't seen her in days. So she's been unwell?"

Hajja Lami nodded: "Yes, actually, I wanted to go check on her if you agree."

He nodded thoughtfully and said: ...

2. Summary

In this dramatic chapter, tensions reach a boiling point on multiple fronts:

• The Family Feud: Hajja Nana and Innayi engage in a fierce verbal battle over the proposed marriage between Khausar and Moddibo. Hajja Nana viciously insults Moddibo, labeling him an illegitimate child ("bastard") with no roots or heritage. Innayi fiercely defends him, promising that the wedding will take place despite Hajja Nana's arrogance.
• Moddibo’s Existential Dread: Overhearing the altercation, Moddibo retreats to his room in a state of profound psychological trauma. The harsh words confirm his deepest, long-held fears that he might indeed be a child born out of wedlock, plunging him into a severe panic attack, fever, and tearful prayers.
• The Journey Back: Hajja Nana leaves in a fury, venting her anger to Baffa Jimeta and Malam Liman. While Baffa Jimeta and Malam Liman counsel patience, remind her that people are not defined by their parents' sins, and point out that Sharia does not forbid such a marriage, a stubborn Hajja Nana refuses to listen.
• Grief and Acceptance: Elsewhere, Abba contacts Malam Ahmad to return the money from Ummi’s sold car and jewelry following Jameel's tragic fate. Though initially resistant, Ummi is gently persuaded by Malam Ahmad to accept the funds so they can be dedicated to Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity) for Jameel.
• A Looming Sinister Secret: In a contrasting subplot, Samira confides in her mother, Hajiya Lami, about a severe, foul-smelling, and unnatural white discharge accompanied by abdominal cramps. Panicked, Hajiya Lami hastily decides to consult a traditional witchdoctor, Boka Kar'uzu, just as Samira's father enters the room.

3. Description

This chapter is a masterclass in emotional intensity and dramatic conflict within contemporary Northern Nigerian Hausa fiction (Littattafan Soyayya). It seamlessly blends familial pride, class prejudice, religious morality, and dark underlying secrets. The author uses vivid sensory descriptions—from Moddibo’s cold sweats and trembling heart to Innayi’s blazing eyes and Hajja Nana’s arrogant posturing—to immerse the reader deeply into the psychological weight of stigma and societal judgment.

4. Analytics

• Character Dynamics: The sharp contrast between Malam Liman’s compassionate, Islamic-based counsel and Hajja Nana’s rigid, elitist prejudice highlights core moral themes of the novel.
• Pacing: The chapter rapidly shifts between explosive confrontations (Innayi vs. Hajja Nana), internal psychological agony (Moddibo), quiet grief (Ummi and family), and impending supernatural/occult danger (Samira and Boka Kar'uzu).
• Thematic Elements:
  • Stigma of Parentage: The heavy societal burden placed on children for the actions of their parents.
  • Grief and Redemption: Transforming personal tragedy into charitable deeds through Islamic principles.
  • Hidden Deception: The dangerous reliance on occult figures (Boka Kar'uzu) to solve secret medical or spiritual crises.

5. Comments

• Emotional Resonance: The depiction of Moddibo’s panic attack and internal crisis is raw and deeply sympathetic, making the reader feel the crushing weight of identity and societal rejection.
• Character Growth: Malam Liman stands out as a voice of reason, courageously checking Hajja Nana’s bigotry using religious truth rather than intimidation.
• Suspense: The introduction of Samira’s mysterious medical condition and her mother's immediate resort to a boka (witchdoctor) sets up a dangerous secondary plotline filled with impending doom.

6. Conclusions

Page 5 of Sakayyah Book 2 successfully escalates the central conflicts of the story. While the romantic pairing of Moddibo and Khausar faces insurmountable-seeming barriers rooted in classism and cruel rumors of illegitimacy, the broader narrative weaves together themes of loss, resilience, and moral choice. As characters like Hajja Nana harden their hearts in prejudice, others like Ummi and Malam Ahmad seek divine solace, while dark secrets loom in the background with Samira's mysterious ailment. The stage is set for a high-stakes collision between truth, pride, and destiny.