Mawahib Book 1 – English Translation

Two young girls walked calmly along the road. From their appearance, it was clear that neither of them was more than eighteen years old.

One of them was dressed in an Islamic school uniform and had a slightly dark complexion. The other wore ordinary home clothes with a long hijab similar to her friend’s. Her grey hijab reached all the way to the ground and made her fair complexion look even more beautiful. Anyone who saw her could tell that she was enjoying the comfort and happiness of the holiday.

Jiddah turned to her friend and said, “Mawahib, please settle an argument for us.”

Mawahib slowly turned towards her. Her bright eyes looked as though she had just woken from sleep.

“What argument, Jiddah?” she asked.

Jiddah replied, “I swear, I am arguing with Hassan and Hussain from our neighbourhood. I told them that they are the only young twins in the entire area, but they insisted that your elder brother, Ashraf, is also a twin. I told them that Ashraf is the only son in your family because, since I have known you and we have been close friends, you have never told me that you had another twin brother at home.”

Mawahib twisted her beautiful face, which was framed by thick eyebrows, showing that she did not like the subject. She then moved her small pink lips and replied, “He is a twin. The other one does not come home very often, which is why you have never met him. You know Ashraf, don’t you? His twin looks exactly like him.

“He is always around, although he is usually busy with his uniform. The two of them have the same appearance. Everything about them is identical. Even I cannot tell them apart whenever they stand together because they always wear the same clothes. The only difference is their character; each of them has his own personality.”

Jiddah looked surprised.

“So it is possible to find grown male twins who look like Ashraf? Mawahib, you have never told me anything about him.”

Mawahib quickly answered, “Why should I tell you anything about him? What do I have to do with that faithless man? He has the same character as his mother. Whatever you think about him, he is even worse. He is extremely difficult, has no sense of humour, and hardly ever smiles.

“Let me tell you something so you will understand why I hate him. Once, I made a mistake that affected him, and he nearly made me faint. Since that day, I have disliked him even more.”

Jiddah’s eyes widened in shock.

“You nearly fainted?” she asked.

Mawahib nodded firmly.

“Yes, I did. I was sitting at home when Ashraf came and told me to go and tidy their room. He had apparently just returned from Abuja, but I did not know the day he was coming back.

“After I finished cleaning the room, I decided to rest on their bed. I placed my head on a soft pillow, and before I realised it, I fell asleep.

“When he returned and saw me lying on the bed where he wanted to sleep, with my head resting on his pillow, he became furious. He grabbed me by the hair, and before I knew what was happening, I screamed.

“He then pushed my head into the sink in their bathroom and opened the water. All I remember is that he put my head under the running water. After that, I lost consciousness and did not know what happened to me.

“The next thing I knew, I woke up lying on my own bed in my room.”

Jiddah was alarmed.

“Innalillahi! But did your father not say anything to him?”

Mawahib shook her head.

“What could he say when they had already given Ashraf authority in the house? That is why Nabiha and I do not like it whenever he comes home—especially me. I hate him, Jiddah.”

Jiddah sighed and gently reprimanded her.

“No, Mawahib, stop speaking like that. Whatever happens, he is still your brother, and you live in the same house. Even if he were not related to you, he is still a fellow Muslim. It is not good to keep saying that you hate someone.

“However, I am surprised by the way you have described him because Hassan and Hussain told me something completely different. They said that whenever Ashraf comes home, he gives money to people standing at your gate. Sometimes, he even shares food with them.

“So what made you sleep on his bed?”

Mawahib immediately interrupted her.

“Was it his bed alone? It was the bed he shares with his twin, Ashraf.”

Jiddah still looked doubtful.

“Even so, I am beginning to question the character you have described. How can a man who uses his own money to do good deeds be as bad as you claim?”

Mawahib looked irritated.

“Then you can believe whatever you want. Why am I telling you that the man has no faith, and you are talking to me about money? His money is worthless and means nothing to me. As for me, I am leaving.”

After saying this, Mawahib walked away and left Jiddah standing there in complete confusion.

Jiddah sighed and watched her friend disappear.

“What is wrong with her?” she wondered. “She keeps insulting her own brother. Anyone would think she should stop only when she has completely run out of strength. But they live in the same house. How can such a serious problem exist between them?”