I was sitting in the kitchen. Sabi (our servant) was washing the dishes after which she mopped the floor. My Mom came in. "Sabi why were you late again?" She yelled at her. My bus... Sabi was going to say something, when my Mom interrupted her. "That is not an excuse Sabi", she told her.

I wondered what the excuse was and got curious. I decided to ask Sabi when my Mom wouldn't be around. It was time for Zuher, We all washed for prayers and went to pray except Sabi. She was still working in the kitchen. I was shocked.

Because my Qura'an teacher told me," when it's time for Salat you have to stop whatever you're doing". And yet I noticed that she wasn't even covering her hair, even in front of my father or uncle. "Why? Isn't she supposed to?" I asked myself " When every other person tells me that I have to cover my hair (in front of non-mehrams), Wasn't my dad and uncle non-mehram for her?" Now I really wanted to talk to her. Later that day when my Mom went shopping, I called her to my room. I told her to sit down when she came in.

Then asked her about the things puzzling me. "I don't know how to pray & nobody told me to cover. Do I have to?" She asked me.

"Yes, you do", I said.

She started to cry, I couldn't stop her. She had to let those tears out.

"I will teach you Sabi, don't cry", I said. She rubbed her eyes. She was deeply touched. "You will?" She asked. "Yes", I answered.

That night I asked my parents for permission to help her study after I returned from college. My Mom was quite angry. "You little kiddy, how could you? They are our servants; if they started to learn who is going to work for us?" was her verdict. "You are forgetting something Mom", I replied. "I'm not a kid and you must remember that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu 'alai-hi- waSallam) taught us to be nice to our servants. There's nothing wrong in spreading the words of Allah to them and teaching them worldly knowledge as well".

"I see your point Aisha", my father, a kind-hearted man, said, "Yes, you can teach her", he added. My Mom couldn't say anymore.

I started to teach her. I was amazed at the pace of her learning. She learned her Salat in a month. Then I stared to teach her how to read and write.

She finished her first Qura'an in a year. After which she started memorizing some Surah. She was so happy. Now I See her covered from her head to toe, even in the hottest of the days. One day my dad brought his friend's proposal for her. My Mom asked Sabi's Mom. She was happy to hear it and willingly agreed.

She got married in the next two weeks. I was happy for her. "Thank you Aisha, hadn't you taught me, I couldn't have learned anything", she said. "No Sabiha, thank Allah. He had planned everything, I just...I did nothing". That was all I could say. "Now I could teach my daughters", She was telling me. I started to laugh and she joined in. I looked towards the sky & thought there was a big smile, too.

Muhammad Arshi