Tuesday, October 01, 2013

Marriage, a Wonderful Institution...


Hamza and Ruwayda married. After the Nikaah (wedding), Ruwayda’s mother gave her a newly opened bank savings book with a R2000 deposit amount.

Ruwayda’s mother said: “Take this savings book. Keep it as a record of your marriage life. When there’s something happy and memorable happened in your new life, put some money in. Write down what it’s about next to the line…

The more memorable the event is, the more money you can put in. I’ve done the first one for you today. Do the others with your husband. When you look back after years, you will know how much of happiness you’ve had.’

Ruwayda shared this with Hamza when she arrived home. They both thought it was a great idea and were anxious to know when the second deposit could be made.

This was what they did after a certain time:
- 2 Jan: R200 Hamza became Hafizul Qur’aan.
- 7 Feb: R300, Ruwayda’s Dad took us with for HAJ.
- 1 Dec: R300, Hamza graduated
- 20 Mar: R200, Hamza got an excellent job
- 15 Apr: R2000, Ruwayda got pregnant and later gave birth to a baby
- 1 Jun: R1000, Hamza got promoted
… and so on…


However, after years, they started fighting and arguing over trivial things. They didn’t talk much. They regretted that they had married the nastiest people in the world… no more love… Kind of typical nowadays, huh?

One day Ruwayda spoke to her Mother:

‘Mom, we can’t stand it anymore. We have agreed to divorce. I can’t imagine how I have decided to marry this guy!!!’

Mother: ‘Sure, Ruwayda, that’s no big deal. Just do whatever you want if you really cannot stand it. But before that, do one thing first… Remember the savings book I gave you on your wedding day? Take out all money and spend it first. You shouldn’t keep any record of such a poor marriage.’

Ruwayda thought it was true. So she went to the Bank, waiting at the queue and planning withdraw the amounts and to cancel the account. She intended to give Hamza his due share.

While she was waiting, she took a look at the book record. She looked, and looked, and looked. Then the memory of all the previous joy and happiness just came up her mind. Her eyes were then filled with tears. She left and went home. When she was home, she handed the book to her husband, and asked him to spend the money before getting divorced.


The next day, Hamza gave the book back to Ruwayda. She found a new deposit of R5000…and a line next to the record: ‘this is the day I notice how much I’ve loved you throughout all these years. How much happiness you’ve brought me.’ They hugged and cried, putting the savings book back to the safe.

Do you know how much money they had saved when they retired? I did not ask. I believe the money did not matter anymore after they had gone through all the good years in their life.
“When you fall, in any way, Do not see the place where you fell, Instead see the place from where you slipped. Life is about correcting mistakes.”


In every moment of our lives, we are given a choice. How shall we regard this world in which we live? Is it good, or not? Is there hope for the future, or not? Is this world full of beauty, life, blessing and love; or is it cold, heartless and ruthless? In every moment, it is one or the other…and how we regard and react to it is up to us.

“If you are grateful, I will surely give increase My favours unto you” (Quran-Surah Ibrahim 14: 7).
“Behind every Dark Cloud there is a Silver Lining”

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