Sequel: Ummatul Iman: The Greater Trials ›
Status: ongoing
Ummatul Iman: Nation of Faith
Chapter 16: The Lost Library
Ramadan 21st, 1663
***Journal entry #06, Tariq ibn Sulayman***
It's been well over a month since we sent out our three companions to return to the homeland. With the dragon eyes in their possesion, Ali, Adam, and Rayhaan should be nearing the homeland withing a few weeks. I wish them the best on that mission; had I not been needed more here I would certainly have gone with them. However, my priority lies here, deep in the hidden forests of these uncharted lands.
General Dhul-Kifl and I have begun to explore the forest in more depth. Since discovering the ruins of one of the past great nations, our interests in this land have changed greatly. While we have yet to determine the exact cause of the extinction of these peoples, we have concluded that it was not a natural force. Allah knows best what it might have been.
The natives of this land of surfaced only twice since our initial contact with them. The first occurrence was the day after my cousins' departure. General Dhul-Kifl and I had been wandering along the mountainside where we first discovered the ruins, and from somewhere down below they began shooting arrows at us. We were able to escape with minimal injury; just a few scrapes and bruises. The second time, however, they were more hostile and precise in their aiming. During this escapade the General and I were below the mountain and were actually making an attempt to search through the old ruins. Not only were arrows shot at us, but spears and stones were thrown. They also deployed some sort of weaponry based on a chemical mixture from the poisonous plants here.
We made our attempt to hide, determined not to flee the area just yet. Under fallen stone walls we hid, hoping to avoid their assault. Admittedly that was rather foolish, soon they had us surrounded and fired on us from all sides. We narrowly escaped death by the Mercy of our Lord. For at the moment they drew nearer, a powerful earthquake shook the land with a mighty force. We could hear their men screaming and shouting as they ran in fear. We held the walls above us from falling down, using every muscle in our bodies to save ourselves from being crushed. Alhamdulillah we were successful. We waited there for moments after the shaking had settled. After some time, we managed to escape and ascend the mountain again. It was there that we camped for the night.
After that last encounter, General Dhul-Kifl and I are both highly intrigued about the ruins, more so now than ever. They manner in which they were destroyed, it seems to display careful precision and a plotted destruction. The weaponry used must have been something uncommon, and if we are able to attain this knowledge, it will surely be something beneficial to us in the war against Kwaade and his people.
Currently, we are in our tents resting up for the night. We have continuously moved about the forest in order to avoid capture by the enemy. We've gone a long way from the ruins; however tomorrow in the morning after Fajr we intend to return for another investigation. Our hope is that they will still be resting and it will be dark enough for us to move about unnoticed, with it yet being light enough for us to see our own path. InShaAllah all goes well....
-Assalamu Alaikum
_____________________
Ramadan 22nd, 1663
The small, wooden sail boat rocked along the ocean waves in a slow rhythm. The three large green and white sails barely fluttered in the gentle winds. It had been over a month since the ship set sail for the mainland. The crew aboard grew restless, with the days of endless sailing seeming to have no end in sight. Rayhaan ibn Khamisi was lying down in the middle of the deck, staring into the sky of blue, watching the white mounds of fluff pass by. "Ugh," he groaned loudly. "Even the clouds are going by faster than this stupid ship."
"Stop complaining," Ali ibn Nadeem, the team commander calmly said walking over. "We're all sick of this stupid ship, but we have a mission to do."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. This is just so boring. There is nothing to do in the day or in the night. Just float along, seeing nothing but blue ocean all around. It's maddening."
"Well," Adam Al-Sherif interjected from behind the . "Maybe if you'd spend your time in ibadah it wouldn't be as bad. After all, Ramadan is almost gone. While it's here you should take advantage of what extra good deeds you can earn. Read some Quran, make some nawafil* prayers, do some dhikring, do something beneficial."
"I've already done all that and more. We've been out here for forever; I'd rather have stayed behind with Tariq and the general. I'm sure they're having more fun back in that old city."
"This isn't about fun," Ali said, half talking to himself. "This is us doing our duty to protect the interests of the Muslim state and defend it from Kwaadi aggressions."
"Ugh," Rayhaan groaned. "You guys are boring too; I'm going to sleep, wake me up for iftar." With that, the young soldier got up and walked to the back end of the boat and promptly lie down there. Adam and Ali remained up front, looking into the distance. Just as Rayhaan had said, there was nothing in sight but miles and miles of blue. Ali sighed as he looked on. It was going to be a long journey home...
_______________________________________________
Ramadan 22nd, 1663
***Journal entry #07, Tariq ibn Sulayman***
Alhamdulillah, today has been a successful endeavor. The General and I managed to sneak into the city of ruins and explore them more in depth. There were no disturbances from the forest natives and better still, we have made an amazing discovery of what appears to be an old library. While mostly burned and destroyed, there seems to be a collection of old writings of an ancient peoples here. Unfortunately we are not able to understand or even recognize the language in which they are written. Nonetheless, I am certain these writings will be key to understanding what happened to this past nation and in turn give us a possible edge over Kwaadi. Only time will tell, InShaAllah I look forward to future discoveries with the General...
- Assalamu Alaikum
_____________________________________
Ramadan 25th, 1663
Days had passed and much distance had been covered. The winds had picked up a strong current and the ship was sailing at a great speed, at times threatening to flip over a wave. The clouds above were gray and ominous. They crew all knew what was coming: soon there would be a storm.
Preparations were made in advance. Using the skins of 20 large cattle they'd slaughtered back home, they covered all of their important items that they could not afford to let get wet. Their books, their food stock, their maps, clothing, and everything else best left dry was wrapped in the cow skins. Furthermore, they balanced out all of the ships cargo on the two opposite ends so as to keep it from tipping one way or another from the strong winds. The crew took shifts watching over not only the weather, but standing guard at the steering post in case of emergency.
All their preparations were soon put to the test as the night settled in and the dark clouds began to stir. The waves of black water grew larger and larger, trashing the boat every which way. The crew had all been awake and alert, as they had only finished their Maghrib prayer moments ago. They scrambled to hold down all their items and more importantly to remain in the ship themselves. Water splashed all about, soaking them in salty wetness. The fierce winds blew in as a powerful bolt of lighting jolted from the sky. The deafening boom of thunder followed soon after, resonating in the ears of the awestruck crew.
In their horror, all they could think to do was call out to their Lord for protection. "Ya Allah," Ali said to himself while he held tightly to a stack of crates of bread and beans. "Keep us steady and keep us straight by Your Guidance. We are but servants in Your path, doing only what we can to please You and serve the Ummah. Protect our ship from being overthrown by the rowdiness of the waves or struck down by the bolts of lightning from the sky. O Lord of the East and the West, there is no might or power but You, keep us safe and fulfill our mission!"
Across the way, the ever frightful Adam was busied in glorification of God while he held tightly to the central mast of the ship. His eyes were shut tight as he continuously repeated to himself, "SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahi Al-Atheem." His words just barely drowned out the crushing sound of the waves as they brutally beat at the sides of the ship. "SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahi Al-Atheem. SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahi Al-Atheem."
On the front end of the ship Rayhaan stood, mesmerized by the sheer awe of it all. His hands subconsciously gripped the ship's wooden edge as his unblinking eyes looked on in fear and amazement. The red and violet hues of the sunset sky had given way to the black clouds of destruction which poured down rain that pummeled wooden boat and ocean surface alike. The whirling winds howled like beast as a crackling bolt of lightning flashed in the distance. The echoing boom of the thunder nearly blew the ship back all on its own. Just as another bolt of lighting snatched away the sight of the crew members, so too did the wind steal away the boat waves beneath the boat.
The boat flew through the air, soaring heights above the surface down below. Rayhaan's eyes grew wide as he watched the boat fly higher and higher above water, with him at the very front, ready to flip out into the ocean the moment the boat crashed back down. For a moment time stood still. The heavy bullets of rain slowed to a stop. The sky was white with a spark of lightning. There was silence. Nothingness. All that he could think about was the end. Was he ready to meet his Lord? Would it be soon that the Angel of Death would snatch away his soul? So young, so full of potential, so...unready.
All he could think in that moment of realization was what he had done with his life. Time is a trust, had he used his wisely? Had he really done enough? Had he truly done all he could in this life to be a pleasing servant to God and earn His Mercy and Forgiveness? No, no, and no again. He would give the world and everything more to spare himself an untimely death at sea. 'Just one more chance Ya Allah,' he thought deep in his mind and more importantly in his fast beating heart. 'One more chance...'
In the same manner as it had ceased, time came to an abrupt continuation. The boat crashed down atop another rising wave and descended along with it to the surface. It eased into a gentle rocking as the waves began a more relaxed swaying. A collective sigh escaped the mouths of the crew even as the storm continued. Though still in a cold, wet storm, they had been saved from a tragic drowning or being turned over. Now all they had to do was bear the cold winds and the pouring rain. Compared to the huge Mercy God had just shown them, this was nothing but a slight inconveniencing...
__________________________________________________________
Ramadan 26th, 1663
***Journal entry #08, Tariq ibn Sulayman***
Alhamdulillah we have remained undisturbed during our stay in this library. The general and I have managed to travel in and out of the ruins with ease, and have now set up camp within the library. We've seen no sign of the natives in the past few days and the General is worrying the may be plotting something. My guess is that this library has some meaning to them and they don't want it harmed, so as long as we respect it they will not attack, lest they destroy it themselves. I have determined to attempt communicating with them the next time we encounter them, InShaAllah that goes well. As for now, the General and I have begun trying to decipher the strange language in which this library books are written. There are bizarre inscriptions on the library walls, and we have noted a pattern of similar symbols on some of the books. One such symbol is that of a figure holding what appears to be a branch of leaves and a branch of thorns. Allahu Alim what this all means. InShaAllah soon we will have our answers. Until then, just as the information of these books, we will remain hidden within the darkness of the lost library...
-Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh
***Journal entry #06, Tariq ibn Sulayman***
It's been well over a month since we sent out our three companions to return to the homeland. With the dragon eyes in their possesion, Ali, Adam, and Rayhaan should be nearing the homeland withing a few weeks. I wish them the best on that mission; had I not been needed more here I would certainly have gone with them. However, my priority lies here, deep in the hidden forests of these uncharted lands.
General Dhul-Kifl and I have begun to explore the forest in more depth. Since discovering the ruins of one of the past great nations, our interests in this land have changed greatly. While we have yet to determine the exact cause of the extinction of these peoples, we have concluded that it was not a natural force. Allah knows best what it might have been.
The natives of this land of surfaced only twice since our initial contact with them. The first occurrence was the day after my cousins' departure. General Dhul-Kifl and I had been wandering along the mountainside where we first discovered the ruins, and from somewhere down below they began shooting arrows at us. We were able to escape with minimal injury; just a few scrapes and bruises. The second time, however, they were more hostile and precise in their aiming. During this escapade the General and I were below the mountain and were actually making an attempt to search through the old ruins. Not only were arrows shot at us, but spears and stones were thrown. They also deployed some sort of weaponry based on a chemical mixture from the poisonous plants here.
We made our attempt to hide, determined not to flee the area just yet. Under fallen stone walls we hid, hoping to avoid their assault. Admittedly that was rather foolish, soon they had us surrounded and fired on us from all sides. We narrowly escaped death by the Mercy of our Lord. For at the moment they drew nearer, a powerful earthquake shook the land with a mighty force. We could hear their men screaming and shouting as they ran in fear. We held the walls above us from falling down, using every muscle in our bodies to save ourselves from being crushed. Alhamdulillah we were successful. We waited there for moments after the shaking had settled. After some time, we managed to escape and ascend the mountain again. It was there that we camped for the night.
After that last encounter, General Dhul-Kifl and I are both highly intrigued about the ruins, more so now than ever. They manner in which they were destroyed, it seems to display careful precision and a plotted destruction. The weaponry used must have been something uncommon, and if we are able to attain this knowledge, it will surely be something beneficial to us in the war against Kwaade and his people.
Currently, we are in our tents resting up for the night. We have continuously moved about the forest in order to avoid capture by the enemy. We've gone a long way from the ruins; however tomorrow in the morning after Fajr we intend to return for another investigation. Our hope is that they will still be resting and it will be dark enough for us to move about unnoticed, with it yet being light enough for us to see our own path. InShaAllah all goes well....
-Assalamu Alaikum
_____________________
Ramadan 22nd, 1663
The small, wooden sail boat rocked along the ocean waves in a slow rhythm. The three large green and white sails barely fluttered in the gentle winds. It had been over a month since the ship set sail for the mainland. The crew aboard grew restless, with the days of endless sailing seeming to have no end in sight. Rayhaan ibn Khamisi was lying down in the middle of the deck, staring into the sky of blue, watching the white mounds of fluff pass by. "Ugh," he groaned loudly. "Even the clouds are going by faster than this stupid ship."
"Stop complaining," Ali ibn Nadeem, the team commander calmly said walking over. "We're all sick of this stupid ship, but we have a mission to do."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. This is just so boring. There is nothing to do in the day or in the night. Just float along, seeing nothing but blue ocean all around. It's maddening."
"Well," Adam Al-Sherif interjected from behind the . "Maybe if you'd spend your time in ibadah it wouldn't be as bad. After all, Ramadan is almost gone. While it's here you should take advantage of what extra good deeds you can earn. Read some Quran, make some nawafil* prayers, do some dhikring, do something beneficial."
"I've already done all that and more. We've been out here for forever; I'd rather have stayed behind with Tariq and the general. I'm sure they're having more fun back in that old city."
"This isn't about fun," Ali said, half talking to himself. "This is us doing our duty to protect the interests of the Muslim state and defend it from Kwaadi aggressions."
"Ugh," Rayhaan groaned. "You guys are boring too; I'm going to sleep, wake me up for iftar." With that, the young soldier got up and walked to the back end of the boat and promptly lie down there. Adam and Ali remained up front, looking into the distance. Just as Rayhaan had said, there was nothing in sight but miles and miles of blue. Ali sighed as he looked on. It was going to be a long journey home...
_______________________________________________
Ramadan 22nd, 1663
***Journal entry #07, Tariq ibn Sulayman***
Alhamdulillah, today has been a successful endeavor. The General and I managed to sneak into the city of ruins and explore them more in depth. There were no disturbances from the forest natives and better still, we have made an amazing discovery of what appears to be an old library. While mostly burned and destroyed, there seems to be a collection of old writings of an ancient peoples here. Unfortunately we are not able to understand or even recognize the language in which they are written. Nonetheless, I am certain these writings will be key to understanding what happened to this past nation and in turn give us a possible edge over Kwaadi. Only time will tell, InShaAllah I look forward to future discoveries with the General...
- Assalamu Alaikum
_____________________________________
Ramadan 25th, 1663
Days had passed and much distance had been covered. The winds had picked up a strong current and the ship was sailing at a great speed, at times threatening to flip over a wave. The clouds above were gray and ominous. They crew all knew what was coming: soon there would be a storm.
Preparations were made in advance. Using the skins of 20 large cattle they'd slaughtered back home, they covered all of their important items that they could not afford to let get wet. Their books, their food stock, their maps, clothing, and everything else best left dry was wrapped in the cow skins. Furthermore, they balanced out all of the ships cargo on the two opposite ends so as to keep it from tipping one way or another from the strong winds. The crew took shifts watching over not only the weather, but standing guard at the steering post in case of emergency.
All their preparations were soon put to the test as the night settled in and the dark clouds began to stir. The waves of black water grew larger and larger, trashing the boat every which way. The crew had all been awake and alert, as they had only finished their Maghrib prayer moments ago. They scrambled to hold down all their items and more importantly to remain in the ship themselves. Water splashed all about, soaking them in salty wetness. The fierce winds blew in as a powerful bolt of lighting jolted from the sky. The deafening boom of thunder followed soon after, resonating in the ears of the awestruck crew.
In their horror, all they could think to do was call out to their Lord for protection. "Ya Allah," Ali said to himself while he held tightly to a stack of crates of bread and beans. "Keep us steady and keep us straight by Your Guidance. We are but servants in Your path, doing only what we can to please You and serve the Ummah. Protect our ship from being overthrown by the rowdiness of the waves or struck down by the bolts of lightning from the sky. O Lord of the East and the West, there is no might or power but You, keep us safe and fulfill our mission!"
Across the way, the ever frightful Adam was busied in glorification of God while he held tightly to the central mast of the ship. His eyes were shut tight as he continuously repeated to himself, "SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahi Al-Atheem." His words just barely drowned out the crushing sound of the waves as they brutally beat at the sides of the ship. "SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahi Al-Atheem. SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahi Al-Atheem."
On the front end of the ship Rayhaan stood, mesmerized by the sheer awe of it all. His hands subconsciously gripped the ship's wooden edge as his unblinking eyes looked on in fear and amazement. The red and violet hues of the sunset sky had given way to the black clouds of destruction which poured down rain that pummeled wooden boat and ocean surface alike. The whirling winds howled like beast as a crackling bolt of lightning flashed in the distance. The echoing boom of the thunder nearly blew the ship back all on its own. Just as another bolt of lighting snatched away the sight of the crew members, so too did the wind steal away the boat waves beneath the boat.
The boat flew through the air, soaring heights above the surface down below. Rayhaan's eyes grew wide as he watched the boat fly higher and higher above water, with him at the very front, ready to flip out into the ocean the moment the boat crashed back down. For a moment time stood still. The heavy bullets of rain slowed to a stop. The sky was white with a spark of lightning. There was silence. Nothingness. All that he could think about was the end. Was he ready to meet his Lord? Would it be soon that the Angel of Death would snatch away his soul? So young, so full of potential, so...unready.
All he could think in that moment of realization was what he had done with his life. Time is a trust, had he used his wisely? Had he really done enough? Had he truly done all he could in this life to be a pleasing servant to God and earn His Mercy and Forgiveness? No, no, and no again. He would give the world and everything more to spare himself an untimely death at sea. 'Just one more chance Ya Allah,' he thought deep in his mind and more importantly in his fast beating heart. 'One more chance...'
In the same manner as it had ceased, time came to an abrupt continuation. The boat crashed down atop another rising wave and descended along with it to the surface. It eased into a gentle rocking as the waves began a more relaxed swaying. A collective sigh escaped the mouths of the crew even as the storm continued. Though still in a cold, wet storm, they had been saved from a tragic drowning or being turned over. Now all they had to do was bear the cold winds and the pouring rain. Compared to the huge Mercy God had just shown them, this was nothing but a slight inconveniencing...
__________________________________________________________
Ramadan 26th, 1663
***Journal entry #08, Tariq ibn Sulayman***
Alhamdulillah we have remained undisturbed during our stay in this library. The general and I have managed to travel in and out of the ruins with ease, and have now set up camp within the library. We've seen no sign of the natives in the past few days and the General is worrying the may be plotting something. My guess is that this library has some meaning to them and they don't want it harmed, so as long as we respect it they will not attack, lest they destroy it themselves. I have determined to attempt communicating with them the next time we encounter them, InShaAllah that goes well. As for now, the General and I have begun trying to decipher the strange language in which this library books are written. There are bizarre inscriptions on the library walls, and we have noted a pattern of similar symbols on some of the books. One such symbol is that of a figure holding what appears to be a branch of leaves and a branch of thorns. Allahu Alim what this all means. InShaAllah soon we will have our answers. Until then, just as the information of these books, we will remain hidden within the darkness of the lost library...
-Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh