♡ Me and My Identity ♡

♡ Me and My Identity ♡

■ Episode 2

✍ By: Abdul-Ilah Abdul-Qader Al-Junaid

On the way to the center:

Ali: Look, Nadir! Isn't that Hamza?

Nadir: Yes, it's him, Ali.

Ali: Hamza, won't you come with us to the summer center?

Hamza: No, Ali. We're returning to our village, and I'll join the summer center there. We spent the Eid holiday with you here, and they were unforgettable, beautiful days.

Ali: Goodbye, Hamza.

Nadir: Goodbye, Hamza. We'll meet again during the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday, God willing.

Hamza: God willing.

Fatima: Where is Zainab?

Hamza: She's still at home, packing her things and saying goodbye to her aunts and cousins.

Fatima: Hello, Zainab!

Zainab: Hello, Fatima! Hello, Noor! May God protect you both, and we'll meet again soon, God willing.

Fatima: We're heading to the summer center.

Zainab: Well done! I'll be joining my brother at the village summer center.

The children continue on their path to the center. While walking near a garbage bin, they hear a faint cry for help coming from inside it. Ali rushes to the spot and finds Sa'dan, the mischievous boy, stuck inside the garbage bin, screaming for someone to save him.

Ali tried hard to pull Sa'dan out but couldn't. He called out for help from Nadir and Zaid. Hamza, the strong village boy, heard the cries for help and hurried out of the car toward his friends. When he arrived, he pulled Sa'dan out by his feet and exclaimed: "What are you doing in this filth, you silly boy?!"

Sa'dan, panting, replied: "I was looking for valuable things!"

Ali, along with the other children, laughed and said: "Valuable things? Here in the garbage bin, Sa'dan? You truly are silly! There's nothing here but waste, foul smells, and germs that cause diseases. Go home, clean yourself, change your clothes, and catch up with us to the summer center."

Sa'dan pretended to agree but had no real desire to go to the center. He saw stagnant rainwater in the street and started washing himself in it.

Adnan shouted at him: "What are you doing, Sa'dan?!"

Sa'dan: "I'm cleaning my body from the filth."

Adnan: "You silly boy! This stagnant water is dirty and impure. Don't you realize that by doing this, you're exposing yourself to serious diseases? The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Cleanliness is part of faith.'"

Ali felt pained by Sa'dan's situation. He thought to himself that Sa'dan needed to transform into a good boy. This would only happen by caring for Sa'dan and redirecting his immense energy toward positive things that would benefit him and his community.

Ali: "Friends, we must do something for Sa'dan."

Adnan: "Alright. We all need to cooperate for Sa'dan's sake."

They all agreed to do something for Sa'dan. Suddenly, they heard a voice calling:

Qaid: "Ali! Ali!"

Ali: "What is it, Qaid?"

Qaid: "I'm here helping my father at the vegetable shop and can't go to the center. Could you help me, Ali?"

Ali: "How can I help you?"

Qaid: "I'd like to meet you every afternoon so you can explain to me what you learned at the center. I know you're clever, diligent, and capable of helping me."

Ali: "You're most welcome, Qaid."

Qaid: "Thank you, Ali! I'll be eagerly waiting for you."

Ali: "Alright, Qaid. I'll be there on time."

◇ To be continued in Episode 3...