TWO BROTHERS

"Fikri, where's Fatih?" Mama asked. Mama felt weird that she had not seen his eldest son since Maghrib. "He's in the room," answered the questioned. "What's he doing? Why didn't he come out!" She inquired further. " I don't know," said Fikri flat.

This was a few days Mama felt something strange with Fatih's behaviour. Mama wanted to know what he was doing in the room. As a mother she wanted to make sure what change happened to the child. Fatih already entered the age of "teenee" alias teenagers. But Mama had to be careful also not be any in the room. Mama understood and wanted to keep his son's feelings.

***

"Fikri, where's Fatih?" Mama asked, that night. Fikri just walk out of the room and felt that Mama asked too frequently. He began to change his attitudes. " Mama, why don't you see him yourself in the room?," Said Fikri lightly. Mama was so curious. She peeped into her son's room through the door that is not so closed enaugh. "Haah! I can't see through!" Mama whispered angrily to herself. Fatih position was closed to the computer on the table. Mama just caught sight of a half Fatih's body and legs lying on his bed.



"Fikri must be interrogated!" Mama cried silently annoyed because not knowing what happened to his eldest son. Mama had two child. Both of them were sons. She used to seek information news and current events from the older brother or vice versa, and also although not infrequently from the child directly. Mama had one simple goal to educated the boys so they would care each others matter. Yes! Life in Berlin had to tighten the bonds of brotherhood.

"What's Fatih doing in the room? Mama saw Fatih earlier, but just a little bit," said Mama quietly to Fikri. His brother for being questioned finally spoke, "He reads the Quran Ma!." Mama still thinking and asked again, "Usually, he doesn't take too much time to read the Qur'an!" Mama disagreed. "Fatih wants to khatam Al-Quran Ma, so after the maghrib prayer he reads a lot!" Fikri explained, " I myself would have soon to seal!" Fikri talked with pride.

Mama understood now.

***

Morning.

"Sister Ziah, I specifically called you for this," she said on the phone. "What's up Mrs. Syifa?" asked the voice on the other side confused. "I want to thank you!" Mama continued. "Thank's for what? I'm not doing anything?" the voice asked more confused. "Thank you for friendship visit at the Lebaran night, now Fatih is so diligently reading the Holy Qur'an," continued Mama happy.

The voice on the other side is silence. Sister Ziah recalled her memory, perhaps there may be a sentence or a scene at that night that she said to Fatih. "At that time sister Ziah said blah ... blah ... blah ...," Mrs. Syifa continued to talk so long with her spirit.

"Oh Thank's God, then, hopefully sooner Fatih to seal," said Ziah happy.

At Lebaran night, Fatih was about two juz Al Quran lefted behind his brother Fikri. Ziah remember that she said two juz was very easy just twenty sheets and Fatih can read two juz very fast and pursue it even preceded Fikri!.

***

Home from school. Mother and the children were gathered in Wohnzimmer (living room).

"I'm glad when you read Al Qur'an. Later in the afterlife you will have reward from Allah," said Mama. "Like your cousins in Indonesia!" continued.

"As in Indonesia," Fatih and Fikri whispered to theirself. Mama forgot that her sons were wily. "Mama when in Indonesia, all the cousins got the yellow rice and also the money when they seal," said Fatih glanced at his brother while waiting for Mama's reaction.

"O.. O.. Usually they recite Al Qur'an without asking for anything, because they believe the reward from God," exclaimed Mama in her heart. "Because remember their cousin in Indonesia got a gift, now they also asking for a gift," said Mama in her heart. Smiling, mama saw the two her clever sons. "Yeah, Ma, when a seal they got the yellow rice," said Fikri. " And also got the money!" he continued, "Then we must often to seal, just so, I could make some money on!" Fikri really have a good idea. "Ha .. ha .. ha," she laughed inwardly amused to see her sons naughtiness.

"Hey you guys ... When you are reciting Al Qur'an the reward comes direct from Allah to you later!," Mama scolded. But Mama did not want to dissappointed her sons. The yellow rice is only a symbol of achievement for the children. Besides they do not necessarily like the yellow rice, because they were used to eating bread. Just because the yellow rice is a symbol of achievement of achievement khatam Al-Quran, then they demanded to got one.

"What about the yellow rice, Mama?" Fatih asked to make sure "Yes mama will make yellow rice at the Mosque," said Mama. Of course, Mama will be happy to prepare it for her beloved sons.

" And the money? how about that?" Fikri said looking forward. Mama remembered that her sons needed to buy something. " Oke then, Mama will give it for you, but used it for something that you really need!" Mama agreed. Actually Mama rarely easy to spend money to her sons. Mama did so to train them to work hard.

For example was Fatih, which was the oldest son. He worked as waitress in school cantine at lunch time. Since the fifth grade primary school he worked to get a free lunch at school cafeteria. As a payment, he was free to choose any menu for lunch until his stomach full. Fatih save every day of the two Euro lunch money from Mama for his other needs. He worked for two years until the seventh grade which is equivalent to first-class junior high school in Indonesia. He stoped it because he had more and more tasks and homework.

***

Fatih continue competing Fikri read the Qur'an every day in order to seal first. "Mama, Fatih was reading to one section of the Qur'an last night," said Fatih to Mama. Mama was glad to hear that. Both of her children became very excited reading the Qur'an.

"I hope they continue to diligently read the Holy Qur'an onward," she prayed silently.

***

A few weeks later.

"Sister Ziah, I want to make a ceremony for Fatih and Fikri that already khatam Al-Quran," said Mama on Saturday at the monthly lectures on Al Falah Mosque. "Oh Alhamdulillah that the boys already khatam. Let me go to get the teachers in order to make confirmation to the Mosque." Immediately Sister Ziah had two teachers to meet Mrs. Syifa.

***

For Mama it does not matter who had the first seal. Mama hopes her sons are always in harmony and mutually help each other. And continue to compete in doing kindnesses. Yellow rice and cash just world prizes. Insha Allah in the Hereafter will be more prizes for them, now they do not know. "Keep on reading the Qur'an, my children!" Mama messages in a happy heart.

***

Short Story by Munaya Fauziah, Berlin, January 14, 2010, 18:50