The Qadi (solemniser) was ready and just before he spoke into the mic, my very-soon-to-be father-in-law lifted his hand, signalling to the Qadi to wait. Taking the mic, he said, “I was glancing at the gifts and I am very attracted to one particular gift. The Quran. Bring it over.” Instantly, the Quran was brought to him.

My heart was pumping wildly against my chest as I cast a worried glance at him.

“You bought this?” he asked, eyeing me behind the glasses that stood crookedly on his nose.

I nodded, half smiling. Carefully and tediously, he took the Quran, opened to a random page and placed it in front of me.

“Read!”

My heart stopped beating! I was sweating profusely. Without thinking, I burst out almost crying, “How could you shame me?”

A stunned silence swept across the hall. Calmly, he glanced around at all who were present and said, “I politely request, that no one should interfere. I wish to make sure; my daughter marries a man and not a boy. And for all of you here, to take this as a lesson.”

Without batting an eyelid, he then looked at me sharply and said, “How dare you question me? Do you know who I am? I am the father of this woman you are marrying. All my life, I educated her to worship Allah. All our life we prayed in congregation together, and then you came into her life. And now, you are sitting here to take over me, as that person who will guide her. “

“So where are you bringing her? Where? To the Maldives? Who are you going to present her to? FB? IG? I want the man who will take over me, bring her to Jannah, and present her to Allah!” continued my very-soon-to-be father-in-law.

“You brought the Quran as a gift but you don’t even know how to recite the Quran? How are you going to lead the prayers? And I have never seen you pray! Do you even pray? Where are you going to lead my daughter to? Where?”

“How dare I shame you?? Who are you ashamed of? Definitely not Allah!” he exclaimed.

“I am not here today, to ruin this solemnisation and wedding. I am here, to make sure, that before you shake the Qadi’s hand, you are going to shake my hand, holding the Quran, and swear by the Quran, that you will, in 3 month’s time, come and see me, with this Quran, and reciting it in front of me. And by then, to also be able to lead my daughter, as the imam during the prayers.”

He then held out his hand to me and said, “Say; that you swear to Allah, to learn the Quran and Solat within 3 months.”

My face was stained with tears and regret. My conscience pricked me as I repeated after him, “I swear to Allah I will learn the Quran and Solat within 3 months.” He then handed the mic to the Qadi and said, “Proceed with the solemnisation”.

Everybody cried, even the Qadi. After the solemnisation, I asked the Qadi softly, “How will I ever be able to learn the Quran and Solat in 3 months?”

He answered, “Go to REVAMP. You will learn them in 2 months time!”

I signed up for Quran recitation class here, and for the Solat class here.

And 2 months later today, I’m leading my wife in prayer and reciting surahs. My heart has never been this peaceful.