AYAT: A verse Of Qur'an

They were at the beach, standing in front of the ice cream stall. Ayat was ordering while Sidra stood nearby, staring around as if she were lost in thought.

"Hmm, take this-your favorite butter scotch," Ayat said, extending her hand with the ice cream, and Sidra took it reluctantly, offering a forced smile.

"Come on, let's sit on the ground over there," Ayat suggested, pointing towards the area where the waves were lapping at the shore.

They settled on the ground with the water just reaching their feet. "It's tasty, right?" Ayat asked, hoping to initiate a conversation, but Sidra remained silent, lost in her own world.

"You are so precious to a man like him, Sidra. You deserve a better partner. I know Allah has a plan for you; it's just a test," Ayat said gently.

Sidra looked at her, startled by the mention of a test. "What test?" she inquired, confusion evident on her face. Ayat smiled knowingly.

"The first test was when he approached you, Sidra. Allah wanted to see if you would do something prohibited in relation to your desires," Ayat explained, her voice calm but firm. Sidra listened intently, her gaze fixed on Ayat's veiled face.

"He approached you, and look how Shaitan trapped you. You began meeting him, touching him, hugging him-even though you knew it was haram. The traps of Shaitan are incredibly manipulative. Just having knowledge does not strengthen your faith; you must actively work on that knowledge," Ayat continued. Sidra lowered her head, feeling a wave of guilt wash over her.

"You knew it was haram, you understood it was one of the most prohibited actions, yet Shaitan was still able to ensnare you. Do you know why?" Ayat asked. Sidra mumbled, "Why?" and Ayat smiled softly.

"Because it is not the eyes that are blind, but the hearts," Ayat said, and Sidra felt tears welling up in her eyes again.

"You should be grateful to Allah that you have realized your mistake and are seeking forgiveness. It is His mercy to give His servant a chance to repent. Many souls still crave that chance, but they are trapped in their graves," Ayat's words revealed a deeper truth to Sidra. She stared at the ground, silent tears streaming down her face. Ayat did not stop her from crying; it wasn't misery, but rather the beginning of repentance..

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After 2 days

It has been two days since Ayat got engaged to Ashar. It was a simple engagement; Nayla just sent over some items and the ring, and Salma did the same for Nayla, sending a ring to her house. Ayat and Ashar wore the rings with their mothers present, and like any girl in her position, Ayat was starting to develop feelings for him.

Right now, Sidra and Ayat are sitting in the library, studying. Since Sidra experienced a breakdown, she has changed significantly. She now prefers to be silent rather than giggling and teasing Ayat. Although Ayat is aware of this change, she chooses not to say anything and lets Sidra do what she feels is best for herself.

"What is your plan after graduation, hmm?" Ayat initiates the conversation, as it is now her turn to start talking.

"Nothing," Sidra answers tersely.

"Oh!" Ayat says, getting up to look for some books to read for leisure since Sidra won't entertain or irritate her with chatter.

"See this book? It looks interesting, right?" Ayat says, throwing a book in front of Sidra.

"Hmm, it's a really nice book," Sidra replies, taking it in her hands and flipping through the pages.

"Have you read it before?" Ayat asks, sitting back down on her bench.