The Perfect Protection

(The Scene - It was a dark winter night, as cold and silent as it could get. The swishing and gusty winds left the leaves tremble and fall off the trees. While everything else froze outside, the people were asleep in the safe and cozy confines of their homes. It seemed as if the long winter night even froze the time, all was perpetually trapped in oblivion.

Across the neighborhood's corner, near a street, there was some mysterious movement. Four silhouettes moved stealthily through the black curtains of night, holding tightly onto their pistols, talking to each other in whispers. They approached the house of Mr. Hamza, a wealthy trader, and started planning ways to enter. Inside the house, Hamza, his mother, wife and little boy child Abdullah were peacefully sleeping, unaware of the intents of the evil menace lurking outside their house.

One of the Dacoits jumped over the wall and opened the door for his companions to get in. The others quickly followed and silently positioned themselves in front of the rooms where Hamza family was sleeping.

They kicked the doors open and entered the rooms, waking the poor family up with the noise. All four were shocked and started at the dacoits with wide open eyes. A rough voice commanded them to remain silent, even though the frightened souls could barely utter a word. The few moments of silence became unbearable eternity. The harsh voice spoke again and threatened them of dire consequences if anyone tried to gather help. They brought all the family members, who were shivering with fear, into the living room. The same voice. veiled in a mask, ordered rest of the gang to quickly gather all the valuables of the household. Then they ordered Hamza I to lead them to I the valuables. Hamza, in utter frustration and fear for his family's safety ; asked one of the dacoits of the wrong he had done. In reply he held his gun to Hamza's head and asked him to shut up.

The awkward scene played havoc and Hamza's wife cried out to stop the dacoits from hurting her husband and led them to the valuables, quickly running back to brace her child.
Within no time the dacoits had gathered whatever there was to be taken and assembled for the last time to leave the house. Abdullah holding her mother's arm tightly, was watching every thing sadly, and sobbing in fear and grief. His young mind could not fathom the ordeal that his family was facing, and he wondered if the people who had broken into his house so rudely would also take them along. He started growing impatient with the thought and asked his father,

"Baba! Who are these bad people and why are they taking all of our things with them."

His father replied,

"These are thieves my dear son, and they are here, to steal our money. They don't care about the humans." Hearing this, the gang of dacoits laughted like mad people and turned away to leave.

Abdullah said, "Baba! But Dadi Amma told me if I recite Ayatul Kursi before sleeping, no evil will enter our home and Allah will take us in his protection. Baba! I had recited Ayatul Kursi before sleeping but why is this happening now. How did these evil people come here. Has Allah not taken us in his protection"?

He asked the question with such innocence and conviction that the leader of the dacoits froze in his own footsteps. A fear he had never known before struck him. He started sweating and shiveririg as if had suddenly been possessed by some strange power. With heavy feet, he came close to Abdullah and asked,

"Do you know Ayatul Kursi"?

Abdullah nodded his head and started reciting it from the depths of his heart. As the recitation proceeded, the leader started feeling weaker and weaker under the burden of this sins. When Abdullah finished, that harsh voice of the leader had changed to a feeble squeak askng his companions to put the valuables from wherever they took them. The leader then said to Abdullah, begging for forgiveness. "Son! indeed you are in Allah's protection, the Best of the protectors. No harm will come to those who utter Allah's name from the depths of their heart. Forgive us and pray for us; you have opened our eyes and shown us the path we had long forgotten".

With this his hand reached his pocket and came out with a thousand-rupee note. He gave it to Abdullah and waved at his companion to leave the house, and with it the residents in peace.

The dacoits left the house, but the sparkle in Abdullah's eyes did not leave them for a long time.