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The Matchmaking, Family Bonds, and Generations**
Two days after the encounter between Umm and Malam Sooraj Hashim Jibiya, he came to her family's house in person to see her father. He requested permission to court her and inquired if she was already betrothed to another man. Umm's father was profoundly pleased; no reasonable person would reject a proposal from the household of Malam Hashim Jibiya. It was a highly prestigious family filled with virtuous individuals and renowned Islamic scholars who were celebrated both within and outside the country.
Without any hesitation or prolonged discussion, her father consented, stating that Malam Sooraj could seek her affection. He promised that if Umm accepted him, he would gladly give her hand in marriage. Malam Sooraj (also known as Baba Malam) was overjoyed by this warm hospitality and returned home filled with anticipation and gratitude to Almighty God. He did not speak directly to Umm that day; instead, he returned two days later. Upon his arrival, he was hosted in the living room of Addah’s father.
Although Addah was happy to see him at their house, she restrained her excitement until she learned the exact reason for his visit. Her heart sank, and she wept bitterly when she realized he had not come for her. Ever since the day of the graduation feast, her heart had known no peace from longing for him. She had wanted to confess her feelings to her sister Firdausi (Umm) but could never bring herself to say it; every time she approached her on the matter, her heart would race with apprehension.
Today, upon learning that it was her sister he desired, she thanked God that she had never spoken out. She vowed to erase Malam Sooraj Hashim Jibiya from her heart forever, as she valued her sister's happiness far above her own. Thus, she cleared her mind, strove to forget him, and continually offered her sister prayers and congratulations on gaining him as a husband. From that day onward, Addah never allowed herself to pine for Malam Sooraj, up until the day his marriage to Umm was solemnized.
On the very day Umm was escorted to Malam Sooraj Hashim Jibiya's house, Addah crossed paths with his younger brother, Malam Mustapha, who had come to assist with the bridal entourage. Instantly, Mustapha fell deeply in love with Addah. He lost no time in informing his elder brother of his intentions. Just as Malam Sooraj had followed proper legal and traditional steps for his own courtship, he guided his younger brother through the process until Addah's parents gave their consent as well.
To describe the immense joy that engulfed Addah and Umm at that time would be an understatement. They wept and celebrated beyond measure, offering immense gratitude to Almighty God for binding them together once more in the same household as the wives of two brothers. Not long after, Addah's marriage to Mustapha was also solemnized, and she joined the household.
Initially, seeing how closely bonded Addah and Umm were made Abdallah’s mother (Momy) resentful. She isolated herself from them, even though her son, Abdallah, spent every day at Umm’s section of the house. From the moment Umm arrived, Abdallah practically became a child of the bride’s room; gradually, he even moved his clothes and personal belongings over to Umm’s quarters. His mother scolded him at first, but she eventually gave up and simply watched him. Later on, seeing that Addah and Umm harbored no malice, Momy calmed down, and the four women formed a harmonious circle. Abba Musbahu’s wife was naturally easygoing; she respected and honored all of them as the wives of her husband’s elder brothers, even though they were peers in age. In truth, even Abdallah’s mother was not significantly older than them; she had simply been given away in marriage much earlier, whereas the others had completed their formal education first.
Addah became pregnant shortly after moving into the house, while Umm’s side remained quiet. They celebrated Addah's pregnancy joyfully until God safely delivered her of a healthy, bouncing baby boy. He was named Hashim but was affectionately called Malam Qarami (Little Malam). Not long after, Musbahu's wife gave birth to her own son, who was named Ahmad. Close in succession, Abdallah’s mother gave birth to her fifth child—a daughter who was named Aysha after her.
Baba Malam and his brothers were overjoyed to see their family thriving in unity. They continuously prayed that God would bless Umm with a child as well. The births among the other wives continued in close succession. In fact, the other women had each given birth to four children before God finally blessed Umm with a pregnancy. Everyone celebrated with her, especially Addah, who by then had four children (one boy and three girls). Abdallah’s mother also had four (two boys and two girls), and Abba Musbahu’s wife had four boys.
Umm gave birth to a baby boy while Addah and the others were dealing with the early stages of new pregnancies. Sadly, the infant passed away after only three days. Umm wept bitterly, but she eventually dried her tears, recognizing that the God who gave her the child had reclaimed him and loved him more. Furthermore, none of the other children in the household were kept away from her; they ran wild and played in her quarters as if they were her own. This was especially true for Abdallah and Addah’s children; unless someone told you, you would never know they were not biologically hers.
By God's grace, less than three months after her delivery, Umm became pregnant again. Baba Malam rejoiced even more than he had during the first pregnancy. Addah and the others gave birth before her: Abba Musbahu’s wife was the first to deliver a daughter named Yusrah; Addah followed with a daughter named Adawiya; and Abdallah’s mother gave birth to a girl named Safiyya (after her own mother) but nicknamed Amal. A few months after them, Umm gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who looked exactly like her. She was named Zainab, but because she shared a name with Hajjo, she was affectionately called Nu'aymah.
About five years after Nu'aymah’s birth, Umm gave birth to another boy named Muhammad. After that, she did not conceive again. By this time, Addah had given birth to three more children (two girls and one boy), bringing her total to seven children (six girls and two boys). Abdallah’s mother had twin girls, making her total four girls and three boys. Abba Musbahu’s wife had one more son, bringing her total to five boys and one girl. After this, childbearing ceased for all the women in the house.
#### **Part 2: Childhood Bonds, Separation, and Rising Jealousy**
Life in the household flourished beautifully. God continued to elevate the status of their husbands in their Islamic propagation (*Da'wah*) efforts, educational scholarship, and humanitarian work. The women were equally active in serving their faith. Their children grew up closely bonded, highly disciplined, and well-cared for, sharing everything in common.
A profound attachment formed between Abdallah and Nu'aymah. From the moment she was born, he was fiercely protective of her. Even as he grew older—graduating from primary school and preparing for secondary school—he would save a portion of whatever he ate for Nu'aymah. No one could reprimand or strike Nu'aymah and expect peace from Abdallah. He only showed a slight restraint toward Umm, but even then, he would resort to silent sulking if she upset Nu'aymah. Everything Abdallah did revolved around Nu'aymah; she was his primary conversation, his anger was triggered whenever she was crossed, and he wept whenever she cried.
As if sensing his devotion, Nu'aymah was aloof with almost everyone in the household except "Yah Ab" (Abdallah). Whatever treats she received, she would save a portion for him. Initially, the family viewed their close bond as mere childhood play, but as it deepened beyond normal limits, they began supporting them with prayers instead.
When Nu'aymah was nine years old, Baba Malam and his brothers established a vegetable oil company in Lagos. This required Malam Rudwan Hashim Jibiya (Abdallah’s father) to relocate there with his family to manage operations. The relocation caused Abdallah immense distress because it meant leaving Nu'aymah behind. It was incredibly difficult to detach him from her; he insisted that he would only go if she accompanied him, or else he should be left behind with her family. Seeing his extreme distress, Hajjo intervened and ordered that he be allowed to stay behind in the Kano house, much against his mother's wishes. It was agreed that he could visit his parents during school holidays, or they would visit him.
Thus, Abdallah watched his parents move to Lagos while he remained in Kano solely because of Nu'aymah. Two years after their departure, Abba Musbahu, who had married a second wife, joined Abdallah’s father in Lagos along with Ahmad’s mother. He left his new bride in the Kano house and only visited on weekends, as Abdallah’s father was overwhelmed managing the business, religious duties, and trade single-handedly.
The Kano household was now occupied by Hajjo, Umm, Addah, and Ummah (Abba Musbahu’s new wife)—representing the families of Baba Malam and Abba Mustapha. The wives who moved away would return with the children during school holidays, and the husbands would visit on weekends when their families gathered there.
Life went on, and the bond between Nu'aymah and Abdallah grew stronger. Similarly, a tight friendship blossomed between Adawiya and Nu'aymah, as they grew up as agemate peers while Yusrah lived in Lagos. They did everything together, and no one could drive a wedge between them; people even began calling them "Hassana and Hussaina" (Twins) due to their closeness. Eventually, Adawiya moved her belongings into Nu'aymah’s room in their section of the house. They shared the same bedroom, attended the same school, and were in the same class. They shared everything. Yet, parallel to the overt affection between Nu'aymah and Abdallah, a silent, secret love for Abdallah began to weave itself into Adawiya's heart, unknown to anyone—including herself. She only realized the depth of her feelings when it had already taken over her mind and soul, reaching a point where she could not bring herself to step aside and leave Abdallah for Nu'aymah.
Once Abdallah reached marriageable age after earning his university degree, his family repeatedly urged him to marry, but he firmly refused, stating that Nu'aymah was the only one he loved. They tried to persuade him to marry someone else first, promising he could marry Nu'aymah later when she was old enough, but he completely rejected the idea. He declared that he would wait for her, no matter how many years it took. This astonished everyone, especially since Nu'aymah and Adawiya were only in their sixth year of primary school at the time. Eventually, the family relented and left him to his devices. He focused heavily on his studies and a private business venture he had started, while dedicating himself to expanding his religious knowledge, following in the footsteps of his elders.
That same year, Abdallah’s father relocated to Abuja to open another branch of their vegetable oil company, leaving Abba Musbahu to run the Lagos branch. Once they settled in Abuja, Abdallah’s mother began drawing her son closer to her. Slowly, she convinced him to move to Abuja to live with them, where his business interests began expanding from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia. By this time, Adawiya and Nu'aymah had entered secondary school.
When the girls were in their third year of secondary school, Abdallah moved to Saudi Arabia to further expand his Islamic scholarship while managing his business there. He stopped visiting Nigeria frequently, choosing instead to ship goods back home, which Omar and Ahmad managed while sending Nigerian products back to him in return.
Nu'aymah grew into an exceptionally beautiful, fair-skinned young woman, bearing a striking resemblance to her mother. She was incredibly sharp, fearless, and outspoken. She and Adawiya were highly mischievous and constantly instigated arguments and rivalry at school, both in their secular and Islamic institutions. Despite their rowdy behavior, they were exceptionally brilliant and talented students. Nu'aymah was particularly gifted; she completed her graduation (*Sauka*) of the Holy Qur'an while only in her second year of secondary school, and Adawiya accomplished the same a year later. After their graduation, they advanced to memorization (*Hadda*) and the study of Islamic jurisprudence texts.
Nu'aymah's exceptional academic brilliance prompted a teacher to suggest, while they were in their fifth year, that she should be permitted to sit for her Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) early so she could graduate from university at a remarkably young age. Baba Malam accepted the advice, especially when considering the long-awaited marriage between Nu'aymah and Abdallah. He decided that as soon as she completed her SSCE, the wedding would take place, allowing her to continue her higher education from her husband's house. However, he insisted that Adawiya should sit for the SSCE alongside her. This arrangement resulted in both girls finishing school in the exact same year. At this time, Adawiya and Amal were a full seventeen years old, while Nu'aymah was still sixteen and a few months, as Adawiya and the others were older than her.
#### **Part 3: Maternal Schemes and Family Ultimatums**
> *[Note: The text contains a brief promotional interlude from the authors of the "Zafafa Biyar 2021" collaborative series, announcing the end of free preview pages and providing payment details for the continuous reading of the novel "Saran Boye" by Bilyn Abdull. The story resumes below.]*
>
“If Abdallah must be married to someone else today as Yaya Malam has decreed, then his marriage must be solemnized with the daughter of my sister, Nusaiba!”
Abdallah’s father, who was preparing to leave the house for the Friday communal wedding ceremony, stopped dead in his tracks. He paused while buttoning his white Shaddah inner shirt and stared at Momy through the mirror reflection. He looked as though he was about to speak, but changed his mind and silently resumed what he was doing.
Momy stepped further into the room and stood behind him, visibly distressed. He finished fastening the three buttons, picked up his large outer robe (*Babbar Riga*), and unfolded it to put it on. Momy quickly grabbed the fabric of the robe, tears streaming down her face. He turned to look at her intently, trying to suppress his rising frustration. “I thought we settled this matter three years ago, Khadijah.”
She broke into heavy sobs, looking him directly in the eyes. “Abban Abdallah, for God's sake, please understand me...”
"No one is going to understand you, Khadijah!" he barked in an unusually harsh tone, his entire body trembling with anger. He yanked his robe from her grasp and pointed toward the door, signaling for her to leave the room immediately.
“Abban Abdal...”
"Khadijah!" he shouted her name even louder than before. Shocked and terrified, she recoiled against the wall. She wept bitterly, her lips trembling as if she wanted to speak but lacked the courage.
Abba hissed loudly, tossed the robe onto the bed, and stormed out of the room, leaving her behind. He walked to the back courtyard of their quarters, breathing heavily to vent his anger.
Momy collapsed to the floor, weeping pitifully. About four minutes after Abba’s abrupt departure, there was a knock at the door, followed by a greeting. Recognizing Abdallah’s voice, she quickly wiped her tears and stood up. She checked her reflection in the mirror, pulled out a tissue to fix her face, and answered his greeting, granting him permission to enter.
Abdallah walked in with a heavy, somber demeanor. He stepped deep into the room, his eyes fixed on his mother, who looked back at him with profound pity. Before he could reach her, she rushed forward, took his hand, and guided him to sit on the edge of the bed. “Abdallah, are you alright?”
"Momy, I am not alright, wallahi," he replied, sounding as though he was on the verge of tears.
Momy forced a brave smile and sat beside him, trying to hide her own distress. She clasped his hand tightly in hers. “Abdallah, I know you must find yourself in a state of utter confusion regarding this entire situation. However, for God's sake, you must calm your heart. Believe that whatever happens is for the best, which is why God has decreed it. Nu'aymah is not the only woman in the world, nor were you created solely for her sake...”
“Momy, please don't say that. Wallahi, I love Nu'aymah deeply. I have lived with her love ever since before I even fully understood myself. For God's sake, Momy, tell me—do I possess some terrible flaw that would make Nu'aymah reject me?”
Momy smiled tenderly, reaching up to gently pat his cheek. “You have no flaws, my dear Abdallah. There is no woman you could approach with words of love who would reject you. In her case, it is merely youth and immaturity driving her behavior. The only advice I can give you is to calm down and keep praying. If Nu'aymah is truly meant for you, and God has decreed that she will be among your wives, He will turn her heart back to you. If her marriage to you holds no blessings, may God remove her love from your heart. I will join you in this prayer as well, building on our faith.”
He nodded slowly, a single tear escaping his eye. Momy used her thumb to wipe it away, smiling gently. "I don't want to see these tears, Sweetheart." He nodded again, silently swallowing his immense sorrow.
“But Momy, I don't want them to marry me off to anyone else. Let them just leave it; I will wait for Nu'aymah. I begged Baba Malam to allow it, but he refused to listen to me. I know Abba won't listen to me either, since they never cross Baba Malam's decrees.”
Momy fell silent, appearing lost in deep thought. Abdallah gently nudged her, calling her name, which prompted her to snap out of it and sigh. “Abdallah, you know very well that no one can alter what Yaya Malam has decreed in this house. Even Hajjo backs whatever conditions he sets down. My greatest fear is that they might marry you off to one of the younger girls, like Yusrah or Adawiya. After all, you know that Hajarah and Kubrah already have their suitors, and everyone in the family knows that their matters are settled—they are merely waiting to finish their studies before their weddings are solemnized. Abdallah, you are getting older every year, not younger. You have reached an age where you should have established a family long ago. If you hadn't wasted years waiting for an impossibility, your child would be five years old or even older by now. Look at me, Abdallah—I am growing old, and I long to see your children, just as I know you need a wife by your side. You should marry a mature girl who can take care of all your needs, not someone you will feel you are babysitting. Ponder my words carefully and weigh them with understanding. Aysha, Sumayya, Badariyya, and Maryam are all your younger sisters in this house, but look at how many years they have been married. They all have beautiful children of their own, even though they are women and you are a man.”
“Momy, I understand everything you are saying. But as you can see, I don't even know which girl they plan to marry me to. I know Abba knows; can you please ask him to tell you?”
“He won't tell me, Abdallah. It is up to you to find a way out for yourself.”
“A way out, Momy? How?”
She took a deep breath, looking at him intently once more. “Abdallah, go to Baba Malam and inform him that you accept whoever they deem suitable for you—on the condition that they include Nusaiba, the daughter of your maternal aunt Fatima.”
"Momy, Nusaiba? Momy, you still haven't dropped this matter? Wallahi, I have ne
