Pic done by- Ilzimam Meyen Return from Neverland -Zeneefa Zaneer Not so long ago, when the technology was developed, when the days and nights looked alike, when everything was measured by beauty and money, in a far away land, Over the sea in a sandy land, Lived a pious family With their children three. Mr. Salim was a pious man who was early to rise and walk to the masjid. Mrs. Salim was soft in heart with an extended arm for she treated the poor with a smile and shared her little fortune with them all. Dua was a young bold girl and her brothers yaqub and ishaq made their family complete. Although they were spending the day with happiness all three children craved to explore the world. The limited resources made them restrict to enjoy themselves. As they grew little by little they understood the importance of money and what their father earned became not enough for their daily need. "the cities over the hills are rich and developed." yaqub said. "countries over the seas are heavens" said ishaq. Dua nodded agreeing with both her brothers. But how to reach either land was a puzzle. They didn't have enough money to make their dreams come true. Besides mother and father wouldn't let them go to the magical cities alone. At such a moment they met a stranger. "I'm Fowel Doul from never land " he said befriending with the siblings. Three of them were excited to hear everything about the far away land of his. "every day is fun, everyone is rich and no one grew old" he described his land. Three siblings were so excited that they requested Fowel Doul to take them to Neverland. "we need to fly!" "but how?" three of them asked at once. *** Everything was planned and they were ready to fly over the hills, above the trees and through the clouds. One perfect night three of them sneaked out from the house and ran to meet their trusted friend Fowel Doulo. No you are wrong. He was genuine enough to keep his promise. So they flew with the help of the newest means, a flight. "kind huge bird to carry us to Neverland" Fowel Doul teased as the three of them gasped seeing the huge plane. They have never known about such a huge vehicle. They smiled when their dreams came true. *** Neverland was glowing in the night. The buildings were huge and tall, they looked like the ladders to the sky. Three of them were fascinated watching the beautifully sparkling city. People in the city never slept. They dined and danced enjoying their lives. Fowel Doul was right. People here never grew old for even the people with greying hair and hunched backs were spending long hours cindering their money for enjoyment. *** Mean while there had been only one good reason for dua to come along with her brothers. It was the spring of love in her heart for her newly found friend Fowel Doul. But once they came to Neverland Fowel Doul had forgotten her. He met his mermaid friends at the blue lagoon bar. He introduced Dua to the beautiful ladies dressed and looked like mermaids. Seeing her they felt jealous and they teased her and Dua found that Fowel Doul was enjoying seeing them tease her. She felt neglected and hurt. Soon she became enough of Neverland. She missed her parents who had taught her the good habits and proper conduct. *** The boys found new friends. They dinned together and it took less time for them to consume tobacco and liquor. They danced and sang forgetting their whole purpose of life. They soon learned to borrow money from the bar owner Mr. Hook. Everyone called him captain hook. Captain hook had lost one hand of his and he was famous for his hooked hand. He was one mean man in the city who was greedy for power and wealth. He lend money to his customers showing mercy but he was a cunning man. *** The time sailed. The boys loaned and loaned. They found no job but they loaned from Captain Hook. Do you think Captain Hook never knew that the boys were jobless and he was merciful to lend them money? Oh! No, he had better plans in his mind. The plan was mapped perfectly that he waited until the perfect day was born. *** Dua was heart broken and requested her brothers to take her back to their parents. "this is heaven sister, walk out and enjoy" they told coaxing her. But it was a time Dua realized that she was wrong, they were wrong. The siblings who had been prompt to offer Salah had forgotten to prostrate. "who cares, no one we know are present here" when Dua explained the importance of prayer her brothers said carelessly. "but we offer Salah for Allah, not for others to see" "everyone is enjoying and you are lecturing!" They snapped at her. *** "if you don't agree...you know how to pay back!" Captain hook hissed as he polished his hooked hand. It shined threateningly. The boys gulped with fear but they were not left with a choice but to join his crew to smuggle. *** They learnt to cheat and fraud. At night they dined with wine and in the day they smuggled with giggles. Dua had tried to convince them to leave Neverland but they were all hooked and had no other way of escaping from the trap. *** Dua ran back to Fowel Doul but all what he said was to be the mother of his motherless children. She sighed and refused and turned towards Allah, the One she believed could help her out. And then Allah made her realize that none in the earth would love them so deeply and sacrifice anything for them except for their parents. She wept until she could ease herself from the guilt she was tied in with. But then she knew, she knew that her parents would forgive them too. So she wrote to her parents explaining everything what they went through and she apologized them for the hundredth time. *** Proving her trust right, her parent's hearts thawed and they sold every fortune they had with to send the money and free her children from debt of danger. But captain hook wasn't ready to lose two of his fine men. He plotted and kidnapped Dua. "rob a bank and high jack a ship, I will loose my grip" By now realizing how bad and blind they had been the two brothers refuse to help captain hook. Instead they tried to save their sister. "help us, you brought us here. We trusted you" seeking Fowel Doul's help they said. "I'm just an agent. I help those who wants to come to Neverland, the land where none grows." He said carelessly. "everything is an illusion, we are growing yet we don't see it for we are drowned in sins. The waters of the sins make us feel we are young but we aren't. We have ruined ourselves and now we have endangered our sister's life" they said with much regret. They were left with no help but only then they realized that the One who belong them was waiting until they seek protection and help from Him the Almighty. With trust of Allah after sincerely repenting for their ignorance they were left with one solution. *** Getting help from the legal authorities and the police the brothers were able to rescue their beloved sister. Captain hook and his gang was arrested and was produced before the courts. The siblings became the witnesses, so they were pardoned and were deported to their own country. The three siblings were ashamed of themselves but they promised their parents that they would never do something like that again. They vowed that they would earn every penny working hard and would never find solutions to become rich in an easy way. And they promised themselves that they would spend each penny for good cause and would retrain from bad habits. They were much thankful for Allah for reuniting the family and gifting them with such wonderful parents who sacrificed everything for their return. They tried to spread awareness among their people about people like Fowel Doul and captain hook. Nothing comes easily and which came with no sweat will vanish like a bubble. More than anything what they understood was that Allah is always there to guide until His creation went astray. When one forgot to feel the presence of Allah that would be the biggest lost his life. Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said: “I am near to the thought of My servant as he thinks about Me, and I am with him as he remembers Me. And if he remembers Me in his heart, I also remember him in My Heart, and if he remembers Me in assembly I remember him in assembly, better than his (remembrance), and if he draws near Me by the span of a palm, I draw near him by the cubit, and if he draws near Me by the cubit I draw near him by the space (covered by) two hands. And if he walks towards Me, I rush towards him.” [Sahih Muslim, Book 35, Number 6471]]via IiWords FEEL FREE TO TAG/SHARE