His class act

‘Is this Fa’iza’ I asked, to which she turned back and smiled. ‘What did you do to yourself? You look so different, much fairer and almost flawless. What is your secret?’ I enquired shaking her hands now that she had walked back to me.‘Nothing much Aunty Bint, I just had a little skin treatment in […]

‘Is this Fa’iza’ I asked, to which she turned back and smiled. ‘What did you do to yourself? You look so different, much fairer and almost flawless. What is your secret?’ I enquired shaking her hands now that she had walked back to me.
‘Nothing much Aunty Bint, I just had a little skin treatment in preparation for the wedding.’ Fa’iza answered shyly.
‘MashAllah, but this is more than a little skin treatment, this is transformational. Did you look in the mirror and see your face? You are positively glowing. I have to find out just what kind of treatment was done for you. It is surely worth it.’ I commended, releasing her hand and urging her to go on. I walked into her mother’s room as soon as she answered my knock with ‘come in.’
‘Assalamu alaikum’ I said, walking in. ‘I was just marveling at Fa’iza’s transformed looks. I think I am finally ready to believe all those who say brides are made 70 times more beautiful during their marriage through spiritual means. How else can anyone explain Fa’iza’s overwhelming glow? I couldn’t even recognize her at first.’ I told my friend Hajara.
‘The first thing to explain is that we got a master of the game to do her dilke and kurkum (traditional Kanuri skin care treatment).’ Hajara answered, rising up to give me a hug. ‘Welcome Bint. And the second thing is that our pockets cried a bit, because the bridal treatment is expensive but it seems to be worthwhile since even you are completely bowled over.’ She added, sitting on the bedroom couch next to me.
‘Oh yes I am, I hope the groom will recognize her as the young lady he courted. I mean she is already looking much fairer than we all know her to be. Yes this lady must be a master of her trade.’ I observed with approval.
‘Wait till you see the henna design that will be done for her later today. I helped her choose the design and the artist is the ultimate henna master any day. He is such a class act that brides actually book him well ahead of time for their big day.’ Hajara disclosed.
‘He, did you just say he? Why should a man do the henna for her? Isn’t there a woman in this town who can rival his class act?’ I asked perplexed.
‘No there isn’t. This man is just unique. His designs come out as strikingly as the skin treatment that you just saw on Fa’iza.’ She replied.
‘Then why don’t you just get the lady who did the skin treatment to do the henna as well. They usually do both. So if she is such an expert on dilke and kurkum, she should be on the henna design as well.’ I argued.
‘But it was the same man who did the skin treatment that will do the henna design. We didn’t patronize any lady. ‘ Hajara explained.
‘You got a man to do your daughter’s bridal skin care treatment, why?’ I asked, totally shocked.
‘I just said, a few moments ago, that he is the best there is; a real class act. What is happening to your memory Bint?’ she asked in exasperation.
‘There is nothing wrong with my memory. I’m just finding it too hard to believe that you will let a man, a non-mahram man for that matter touch your daughter in the name of a beauty treatment. How can you so easily forget the dictates of Islam because you are seeking the best bridal skin care?’ I demanded.
‘Look, I know where you are heading Bint. But it was the Prophet, peace be upon him that said ‘Actions are judged in accordance with the intentions behind them.’ I and all the mothers who took our daughters to Daudu for bridal skin care have no other motive than to have them beautified for their weddings. In the same way, when he touches our daughters the intention is not to share any intimacy with them, no, it is just to have them cleaned up and ready for their husbands.’ Hajara protested.
‘But the whole idea is that such physical contact is forbidden between a man and a woman who are not married to each other.  Even the young man she is getting married to has no right to touch her before the wedding Fatiha is conducted. What more of an artisan who is a total stranger to both you and her? Do not misquote the Prophet (peace be upon him) to make your dubious point because He (SAW) was talking about lawful actions in that hadith. His point is that certain good works done for the sake of anyone other than Almighty Allah will be rewarded for the intentions on which they are performed not for their outward appearance. But by sending your daughters to do what is itself unlawful and can lead to temptation, you do not enjoy the benefit of having a sincere intention or not. The whole act is simply sinful.’ I declared.
‘Kai, Hajia Bint, there is no need to exaggerate. What is so sinful about a young woman trying to look good for her groom?’ Hajara asked.
‘Everything, if she doesn’t go about it the right way. And what I find more worrisome is the fact that there are women doing these things, in fact to someone like me beautifying other women has always been a woman’s vocation. I never knew that men are into it. But if some men have gatecrashed into it, should we encourage them by patronizing them? No, on the contrary we should boycott them so as to keep the business among fellow women and stop this immorality. I am completely disappointed that you see nothing wrong with what your daughter has done.’ I scolded.  
‘I told you that people actually queue up to have a touch of Daudu’s expertise for their daughters. We had to book ahead for weeks to have him give us these few hours. Right now she is on her way to have the henna design done ahead of Kamu event this evening. Nothing improper ever goes on there. I mean he has assistants who are always around to chaperone them. He is never alone with his clients, so nothing can possibly give way to temptation.’ She argued.
‘But in your heart of hearts, do you really think it is right for a man to be rubbing creams and scrubbing your daughter even in the most intimate places because only he does it best? Even if he has reached a stage whereby he sees them as mere customers not as women to be desired, the fact still remains that he is a man and has no business touching your daughters so intimately. Please fear God in your dealings with these young women and guide them to do only what is right.’ I advised, heatedly.
‘Look, I promised Fa’iza the best wedding possible. She specifically asked to be treated and adorned by this one man. I can’t just go back on my word after promising her the best. Perhaps we can avoid such an arrangement in future, because of all the reasons you stated but right now there is nothing I can do to stop it.’ Hajara stated, helplessly.
‘Maybe there is nothing you can do now but we collectively must come together to end some of the needless and sinful innovations that have been created in the name of society weddings. Look at the issue of gwaggwaro or gele (the stiff headgear) even those have to be done by men and young brides and their friends queue up to have the men do it supposedly because they are the best. Then the crazy issue of makeup artists. Today a bride and her friends can’t just rub powder on their faces and apply lipstick, they have to employ a make-up artist to do it. And though there are young women doing it at exorbitant rates, they still say that the men are the best, so they go for them.
The one I never heard until I came to your house today was the issue of dilke and lalle being done by men. And you said that was in search of a class act. How far will you go in offending your Creator while claiming to be obeying His command to marry? No wonder the marriages today don’t even last, too many wrongs are committed in the process that they end up being contracted without the blessings of Almighty Allah. May Allah save us all.’ I concluded.
‘Ameen, Hajia Bint but please don’t curse this marriage. I am already jittery hearing what you have to say about marriages failing due to lack of Allah’s blessings. Please join us to pray that this one gets blessed and we will inshaAllah avoid such innovations in future.’ Hajara begged, with a hint of remorse.