#ila - chapter 14

[pink-yuri]

♡ I Love Amy ♡

[spinchip]

NEVER THE DARK

Chapter 15

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Prologue - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14

warnings: Character death

I LOVE WHAT I DO NOT HAVE. YOU ARE SO FAR. // MY LOATHING WRESTLES WITH THE SLOW TWILIGHTS.

“She’s already seen you face, why does it matter if she knows your name?” Kai asis from where he’s still sprawled across the front of Miss Emma.

Birdy sits down heavily, his back to the group, “it does not matter." He says simply, but there’s a slump to his shoulders that telegraphs defeat. Hopelessness. Nya knows that this is bad. "All that matters is getting you to the Mountain of Madness.” 

Miss Emma floats on. Jay has stopped shocking her, collapsed on top of her bell tiredly as Kai keeps them moving. No one says anything. Over time, Miss Emma begins to droop again. When Jay gives her another shock, she just seems to lower herself quicker to the ground.

“She wants us off.” Nya realizes as the jelly's tentacles pool along the ground under them.

“We are a heavy burden for her to carry.” Birdy agrees.

They are passing over a forest- this one is a menagerie of blues, reds, and purples. The grass is a dark teal and white flowers and tall tubes protrude from the earth. Miss Emma drops low enough in a clearing that they can jump off without getting hurt and stops completely, waiting.

“Thank you.” Birdy says quietly to the animal. Kai pets her bell as a gesture of appreciation, and they all slide off her and onto the forest floor. The moment there are no more hitch-hikers on her bell, Miss Emma slowly drifts away, flying high enough to disappear into the clouds.

There's a long, tense moment as no one knows what to do next.

“We should keep moving.” Birdy says softly.

“She was telling us the truth, wasn’t she?” Kai asks bluntly.

Lloyd steps forward, “Kai-” He starts but Birdy cuts him off.

“What did she tell you?”

Kai locks eyes with Birdy and the air grows thick with tension.

It’s Jay who speaks next, “Barath told me you murdered Farley. He said that you were a warlord in your past life, and that you had committed crimes among the worst of all the people banished here.”

“Genocide.” Kai clarifies, “Destruction of land, culture, food. Untold numbers of death and destruction. Samira told me about how you’ve kept trophies of those you killed. Your mask, your knife… all belonging to the dead.”

Nya can’t help her own need to know the truth and she speaks up next, “Wox told me you were dangerous. That the respect these people have for you is based in fear and hatred.”

Cole hesitates, “And Ila said you walked into Oasis the day after you killed Farley covered in his blood.”

“All true.” Birdy doesn’t hesitate to confirm it. “You were right in the throne room, Kai. I am a monster.”

“Birdy-!” Lloyd whips around to face him, appalled, “No!”

Birdy squares his shoulders, “No, Lloyd. I must take accountability. I cannot run from this.'' He doesn’t break eye contact with Kai, “This is who I am, yes, but I have no ill will towards you all. Samira was right that I know how important you are to Ninjago too, and I will not allow my home realm to go unprotected and vulnerable without you. I belong here, in this place, but you do not. I will get you home, I swear it.'' His voice takes on an edge of desperate honesty.

They were still so far from the Mountain of Madness. If they left Birdy here and tried to find it on their own, it could be ages before they got out of here.

Lloyd looks from Birdy to the others, waiting. It hits Nya that Lloyd is waiting on them to weigh in- he wants to hear what they all have to say. It’s not like Lloyd never asks what they think on large decisions of this nature, but ever since they lost Zane Lloyd had taken the full weight of leadership and had refused to share it with the rest of the team. He was the one who made decisions. He was the one who was always alone in that choice. Maybe he was tired of being alone.

Nya doesn’t know what to think.

Cole steps forward first and Nya knows his opinion well enough that she can tune him out, “I still trust him.” But when he speaks, she looks at Cole and really listens, taking in everything he says, “He wasn’t working with Samira. He wasn’t in cahoots with Maurice. Everything he’s done has been solely for us, at the detriment of himself.” He locks eyes with Birdy, “Maybe he did some bad things… some really bad things… but he’s trying to help us. It’s all he’s been trying to do. I don’t think he’s going to lead us astray. I still want him to guide us.”

There’s a pause after Cole finishes, “Cole is right.” Nya says aloud, finding the truth in her words. Everything Cole said made sense. Birdy had been on their side from day one- “He stopped Maurice before he even knew we were the elemental masters. He had no reason to do that, but he did.”

“You can’t be serious!” Jay gapes, “Didn’t you hear him? Confirmed murderer! Evil bad guy here!! How can you just take his side?”

“I’m not on anybody's side but ours,” Nya fires back immediately, “I may not be thrilled about putting my faith in a- former- dicator, but I want what’s best for us, and getting back to Ninjago as quickly as possible is exactly that.”

Jay looks down at that, thinking.

“I can’t follow him.” Kai says sourly, crossing his arms over his chest.

Lloyd finally speaks up, “What Birdy did in the past-” He looks back at Birdy and pauses, face twisting as he hesitates on what to say next, “It wasn’t as black and white as it seems.” He settles on finally, “I trust him.”

There’s a heavy, tense silence. Lloyd meets Kai eyes, his expression imploring him to see sense.

“I don’t trust him.” Kai reiterates firmly. He closes his eyes with a grimace, “...But I do trust you. If you think this is the right call… then I do too.” he bites out begrudgingly.

“Fine.” Jay echoes, crossing his arms, “Let's go then.”

Birdy takes a moment to look around and get his bearings before he starts to walk, the others falling in line behind him. It's... awkward. He doesn’t speak much, only opening his mouth to warn them of obstacles, “Avoid the flowers,” He says, pointing to one of the numerous white flowers dotting the ground, “They tunnel into the ground. It is like stepping in a hole.”

Jay immediately steps in one and face plants, but he’s fine.

Nya start to notice that the plants they’re trekking through for this leg of the journey are strange, even for the Realm of Madness. Everything is coated in a thick waxy film and all of it is shaped like funnels or cups. Tall purple speckled plants with tube protrusions, green vase-like plants that grow as tall as her waist, huge pink and purple trees with tops like a sea anemone- and the plants she noticed that aren’t cup shaped have a sponge-like texture. Everything here is geared towards catching rain.

She looks inside one of the purple plant tubes and sees a small puddle at the very bottom, feeding into the stem. Raising her hand, she shoves at the liquid- but it doesn’t move.

“Birdy, what’s up with the water here?” She asks, pulling her hand away.

“It’s not water.” He answers stiffly, but she doesn’t think the discomfort is because of her. She’d noticed how still he’d seemed as they traveled deeper into the forest. There was something about this place that rattled him, “It’s acid.”

“ACID?” Jay squawks.

“It rains acid here,” Birdy says apologetically, “But we should be safe. It is the dry season.”

“I thought you said nothing was guaranteed in this place?”

“We need to move quickly.” He says bluntly.

As they hurry through the forest, Nya keeps an eye out for any potential dangers. That snake spider in the white forest had snuck up on them. She wasn’t keen on being surprised again. Because she’s looking towards the trees, she doesn’t notice everyone’s come to a stop until she runs into Cole.

“Oof-” She stumbles back, “Sorry- what happened? Why are we stopping?”

“I apologize.” Birdy says, emotionally flat where he’s standing in front of a large purple tree, “I was simply making sure we were on the right track.” When he starts moving again, he takes a wide step over something. As the others begin to move, Nya sees that the thing Birdy had stopped at and stepped over was a oblong dark spot on the grass. She’d seen a few of them before, scattered around the forest. She steps over it too but doesn’t ask about it. Birdy's voice had taken on that tone that comes when he’s not feeling like himself.

She blinks, surprised at herself for knowing that.

“If you don’t know where you’re going, then we should stop and take a break.” Kai says, pausing in the middle of that clearing underneath the tree's arching canopy, “We can keep going once you’ve got your head on straight.” he crosses his arms, planting himself firmly.

Birdy shakes his head, “I remember the way now. We should cover as much ground as possible today.” he says, voice toneless and disconnected. His body language is empty too, his shoulder slumped and his hands loose around his staff.

“I mean… we haven't had lunch.” Cole points out with a wry smile, “A quick snack break couldn’t hurt.”

“Do we have food? Or will we need to forage.” Nya asks.

“We have food. Cole hooked us up.” Jay says, slinging his backpack off and opening the top.

“I got Ila to make us some stuff for the road after… our talk.” He frowns, rubbing his chin, “I’m kinda surprised she did, actually… considering how they were plotting against us.”

“The food is safe. Ila is different from Samira.” He reassures them. There’s a thick pause. He hasn’t moved from the edge of the clearing, “We shouldn’t stop here.”

“Why? It’s the dry season, isn’t it?” Kai responds dryly, waving away a sandwich Jay offers him.

There’s a pause before Birdy stiffly sits down. “Alright.” He says blankly before he crosses his legs and gets into a classic meditation pose.

“You like to meditate?” Lloyd tilts his head.

“Sometimes.” Birdy doesn’t offer any additional information, and the group goes quiet as they eat and rest.

“So what’s the game plan when we get home? I mean, we don’t know anything about... Anything.” Nya turns to Lloyd.

He pauses mid-bite and frowns, “Well… we need to meet with Pix first and foremost. There’s no way she hasn’t been gathering intel in the time we’ve been gone. Mom might know something about that gauntlet and who might have gone after it, so we could go to the dig she’s on and ask her.”

“If we do that we gotta stop at home so I can get my gameboy.” Jay says immediately, “Do you know how long it’s been since I haven't played video games? I’m going through serious withdrawal here!”

Kai shoots him a withering stare that Jay is completely oblivious to.

“Well, as long as you don’t go pretending a piece of wood is a gameboy, then I’m not too worried about you.” Cole comments wryly.

“Oh, don’t tempt me. I have a whimsical imagination.”

“You like to play video games?” Birdy asks quietly.

“Yeah! There’s this game called Prime Empire, that’s the one I’m really into right now.”

“We were all really into it when it first came out.” Lloyd snickers, alluding to an inside joke Birdy’s not a part of.

“We were sucked into the game.” Cole explains even though Birdy hadn’t mentioned his confusion, “Jay saved us. It was a whole thing.”

“...You have had a lot of adventures.” there’s a pause as Birdy tries to think of what to say, “I would like to hear more about them.”

Lloyd hums, “Well, other than a few small fight here and there, and the current situation we’re in, the last big ordeal we had to take care of was The Mechanic and Fugi-doves team up.”

“The Mechanic cyborg-ed him.”

“Badly.” Nya adds darkly, “I could have done so much better.”

"Don't get any ideas." Cole ribs, nudging her playfully with his elbow.

Jay nods, “Yeah, he botched it up pretty bad. Fugi used to be a nothing villain, like, petty things. Now that he’s all…” Jay waves his hands in the approximation of gears turning, “Scary looking, he’s got actual minions.”

“I turned into the ocean.” Nya informs him, “But I got better.”

“Before that was Shintaro. We were invited by the princess for her birthday.” Lloyd continues.

“Queen Vania now. She’s cool, I think you’d like her.” Cole smiles.

“Her dad, the king, ended up being this evil warlock. His best friend was a floating skull.”

“Interesting…”

“I think you’d like him more than Vania,” Kai mutters, “Birds of a feather flock together.”

Lloyd graciously doesn’t acknowledge Kai, “Prime empire was before that, and then there was…” He stops. The air grows thick. “Let’s not talk about that one.” He murmurs.

“...What kind of game is it?”

Jay perks up, “Let me just tell you the story!” He launches immediately into an animated recap. The others interject every now and again to add their perspective and to correct Jays embellishments. “-And that’s how I lost my eye!” He says, pointing at the patch. Cole takes over after that, talking about princess Vania and the caves beneath Shintaro. The conversation devolves into one long timeline of their most recent life-or-death situations that Birdy listens to intently. He stops them with the occasional question, but otherwise is quiet while they recount it all.

So it’s a surprise when he interrupts Nya’s explanation of the Mechanics plot by leaping to his feet and taking a confrontational step towards Kai, “What are you doing with that?” He demands.

Kai jumps, surprised. He’d been leaning against the tree mindlessly checking his pockets for something to fiddle with- he looks down and realizes he’d fished out the painkiller Samira had given him and was rolling it between his fingers absently. “I’m playing with it.” He says with a raised eyebrow.

“That is not a toy.” Birdy bites out. Maybe he wouldn’t be so aggressive in any other environment, but this place put him on edge in the worst kind of way.

“I know that.” Kai shoots back sharply, standing to his full height, “What’s your problem?”

“Give it to me.” Birdy orders, holding his hand out, “I am not going to watch anyone else die here.”

“It’s not poison!” He clenches the pill in his fist, “It’s a painkiller for FSM’s sake.”

“It is engineered to be horribly addictive.” Birdy stresses, stepping up to Kai, “The withdrawals for that could kill you-”

“I've been managing my alcohol withdrawal just fine, thanks, I'm sure this wouldn't be any worse.” He snaps, shoving the pill back in his pocket.

Birdy jerks as if struck, “You are so dependent on alcohol you would die from it?”

“Stop talking to me.” Kai turns his back on him bitterly.

The air is fraught with tension, the energy pulled so taut it was only a matter of time before something snapped.

Birdy opens his mouth, “Do you think your friend sacrificed his life so you could ruin yours?”

CRACK-!

It all happens so fast Nya can barely keep up. Kai’s fist connects with Birdy's mask so hard he goes sprawling in the dirt. He stumbles back, slamming into a tree and slumping down at the base of it. He’s got one hand holding his mask in place reflexively, looking up at Kai in shock.

“You-” He snarls, body a pillar of fire as he towers over Birdy, “You do not get to speak about him! You are not even a fraction of the man he was! He may have been a robot, but he was more human than you will ever be!”

Cole gets in front of Kai and pushes him back. He keeps his hands on Kai’s chest to stop him from advancing on Birdy again, “Kai, stop!”

From his place on the ground, Birdy reaches a hand under his mask to wipe at his face. His fingers come back stained dark with blood, nearly black in the strange lighting of the realm. He looks up at Kai and his hand tightens around his staff dangerously.

“What are you going to do? Are you going to hurt me?” Kai spits, leaning to glare at him over Cole's frame, “Just like you hurt Farley? Fine then, go ahead! I can take you!”

Birdy looks down at his hand like it’s not attached to him. He throws the staff on the ground as if it’s burned him and shakes his head hard to clear his vision. He hasn’t said a word, mute in shock. He stumbles to his feet but he has to use a tree to catch himself, leaning on it to keep his feet under himself.

“I’m the master of fire! You don’t scare me!”

Birdy is shaking all over, hand trembling where he has it pressed against the strange tree. His chest is rising and falling rapidly and he has all his focus on Kai.

He turns and vanishes into the woods.

“Birdy!” Lloyd takes a step after him but aborts the mission, whipping around to Kai, “You two stay here with Kai and maybe knock some sense into him.” He points at Cole and Jay before turning to Nya, “Nya, come with me.” She has to scramble to keep up as Lloyd darts after Birdy, but it’s not long before Lloyd stutters to a stop.

He lets out a low growl in frustration, “I don’t know where he went.” He scrubs at his face roughly.

She places a sympathetic hand on his shoulder, “Just take a deep breath, Lloyd.”

“Everything fell apart so quickly.”

“I know.” She swallows roughly and looks away. She doesn’t have the words to make this okay. If they can’t find Birdy, if they can’t convince him to come back… they’ll be lost in the middle of nowhere in a realm that wants so so badly to kill them. Her eyes flick over the ground right to a footprint is half hidden by the leaves of a bright red shrub.

“Look!” She points to it, hoping a solid lead will cheer Lloyd up, “He went this way!”

They cautiously start to track Birdy, being extra careful not to miss any indicators where he ran off to. Finally, they come upon another small clearing. Another large, alien looking tree stretches up above them, the trunk of the tree is a deep blue and there are several bulbs along it where the wood splits to reveal huge chunks of a pale blue spongey growth. On the other side of the tree, Birdy’s foot sticks out from where he’s sitting in the dirt under the shade.

“Birdy!”

And right next to his foot is his mask.

Lloyd stops in his tracks the moment he sees it. “Are you okay?” He asks, staying out of sight of Birdy's face.

A gloves hand reaches out and takes the mask, slipping it on with his body still mostly hidden, “I am alright.” He stands up then and comes around the tree to face them, face once again firmly hidden. He’s holding a water bottle in one hand, using it to rinse the stain off his gloves. Well, he’s trying to.

“Here,” Nya says, stepping forward, “Let me.”

She swirls water around his hands and uses it to sweep the dark blood off the fabric. While she works, Birdy speaks, “I apologize if I worried you. I was always intending to return, I just needed a moment to… attend to my injuries.” He finishes awkwardly. “I was not going to leave you stranded.”

“Birdy, I didn’t come after you because you’re our guide.” Lloyd says, “I came because I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Speak for yourself, Nya thinks. Well, that’s not entirely fair- she did think that Birdy wasn’t the villain he made himself out to be, and she trusted him to a degree. She wouldn't call them friends, but she didn't want to see him hurt either. Maybe her decision to follow Lloyd was almost entirely based on selfish reasons, but she had also been alarmed by Kai’s punch, worried about the brutality of how the hit had landed. Kai could knock out an opponent's teeth with a weak swing- there was a lot of damage to be done with a sucker punch like that.

“He isn’t like that, really.” She finds herself saying quietly as she draws out the last of the blood in Birdy's gloves, “He didn’t used to be, at least. He was more levelheaded than me before… Before we lost Zane.”

Birdy stays quiet.

Nya keeps going, “He took it the hardest out of us all, I think. He feels a lot of guilt. He lost his elemental abilities right before it happened, y’know? So I think he blames himself.” she moves water over his gloves absently. The blood is gone, but she can’t look up to meet his eyes, “And yeah, Zane was special to all of us, but he did something else for Kai. Kept him balanced, maybe. He got lost after Zane died. He trained until he collapsed, he spent hours patrolling the city, he kept busy because then he could dull the pain. And when he had to stop moving, he drank.”

“Grief does funny things to us all.” Lloyd says softly.

“You’re right. Zane wouldn’t have wanted this for him, and Kai knows that, but you were wrong to speak on his behalf. He’s gone, and none of us want to hear a stranger put words in his mouth.” She lets the water drop, splashing to the ground.

A long moment passes quietly, “I apologize. It was not my intention to disrespect your friend.” It’s his turn to drop his gaze to the ground.

“C’mon,” Lloyd says softly, “I think the others will want to hear that too.”

When they get back to the others, the air is tense. Kai is leaning against a tree attempting to wrap a bandage around his bloody knuckles. Jay is hovering at his elbow and Cole is standing off to the side, not looking at either of them.

Kai notices them first, but cuts his eyes away and pointedly ignores the trio rejoining their group.

“It was wrong of me to bring up your friend.” Birdy says before stepping any closer, “I reacted so strongly because I was afraid for you, Kai. Those pills are designed for control. Samira supplies the people of this realm and then twists their addiction against them.”

“I don’t need your worry.” Kai says, but it’s lost some of the bite it had before.

Hesitantly, Birdy approaches Kai. Slowly, with enough time for Kai to draw away, and with more than a bit of caution to stay out of easy access of another swing, Birdy cups Kai’s injured palm. He takes the bandages next, moving to wrap his hand, “There is not a switch I can flip to turn it off.” Birdy says wryly, carefully winding the gauze around Kai’s hand, “I am sorry for what I said.”

Kai just stares at him.

“...You may not trust me, but I trust you.” He continues, finishing up dressing his knuckles, “I believe you would have made the correct choice.”

Something shifts in Kai. his features soften and he pulls his hand away gently- his guard is still up, but there’s a change in his heart, “Y’know, you’ve got a hell of an iron jaw.” he tries for a joke, but it falls flat. Then, “Why are you doing all this? After everything you’ve done, why have a change of heart now?” He asks, search for an understanding. He didn't get Birdy. Maybe that was part of his aggression- he didn't understand how a warlord like him could just... suddenly decide to be a good person. There had to be a catch.

Birdy looks away, ruminating over his thoughts and looking for the best way to put it all into words, “I am trying to make up for the pain I have caused. I regret the things I have done. I wish I had never stepped foot in that throne room- I have been stuck in the dark ever since, plagued by the mistakes of my past... but I have a choice, now. Even in the darkness, I can choose to reflect the light.”

Kai freezes, looking at Birdy with wide eyes. He opens his mouth, but there’s a crash through the underbrush that interrupts him.

A massive two-legged beast blasts into the clearing with a series of loud clicks, hissing at the group gathered there. On top of the animal, on a makeshift saddle with a pair of leather reins in her hand- is Morrigan.

“I found you~!” She sing-songs.

Her steed shakes its head hard, obviously agitated by the bit shoved in its beak. It’s a massive thing with a set of wings to match, and it’s body was a patchwork of soft brown feathers and iridescent scales. Large slits flutter around the base of its throat as it breathes in, scenting the air. It’s feet are distinctly bird-like, with claws like a raptor and rough textured skin. It isn't happy about its predicament as a faithful show pony, flicking it’s head and flapping its wings in rage.

“You disrespected me, lover! I told you- either you gave me those flowers or something very bad was going to happen.” She flips her brown hair over her shoulder with a flourish, grinning down at the group with shark teeth, “I’ve come to collect, darling.”

“We don’t have the flowers any more!” Lloyd argues.

“Oh, I know that, little boy.” She giggles, “I’m here to do something very bad!”

With that, she shoves her finger out towards them and commands the vulture-bat beneath her, “Sick ‘em, boy!”

With that, the beast roars- and its small beak splits in half, its face opening up in four pieces to reveal a garbage disposal of razor sharp, serrated teeth stained with old blood. Its dark purple tongue flicks out before it crashes forward with the intent to kill. Despite its massive size, the thing is fast. It is upon them before they can think, and it’s only the speed of a ninja that saves their bones from snapping in those jaws.

“What is that?” Jay squawks in unison with the bird, who charges at him.

“A vulture-bat!” Birdy says as he leaps for his staff, fear bleeding into his voice, “Keep your eyes on it! It is quicker than you think!”

“Ew.” Nya says with a nervous laugh, mostly to herself. The bird is horrifying in it’s awkwardness- it’s bones seem too big for it’s body, the tautness of it’s skin revealing the spaces between feathers and scales. Little peeks of pink flesh that’s stretched so thin the blood vessels underneath are clearly visible. It moves unnaturally too, it’s body too long for it’s legs. Every other step it’s chest slams to the ground and bounces back up like he’s compensating for a missing limb. When it roars, foul smelling spittle flies everywhere.

Then she sees it. A long, thin appendage coming out from it’s tail feathers.

It whips it’s body around and her only warning is the high pitched whistle that comes from a deadly strike. She ducks, and the tree behind her explodes.

It’s like razor-wire, thin enough to decapitate any animal that comes it’s way, yet sturdy enough to nearly halve the trunk without even the hint of structural weakness.

Morrigan pulls on its reins so she can look at her targets, “Y’know why I haven’t killed anyone, Birdy? Because everyone does as they are told and gives me what I want.” There’s a manic shine in her eye, “Now you’ll see what happens when you disobey.”

She pulls out a knife and stabs the vulture-bat in it’s haunches. It roars in rage and shakes itself hard, trying to dislodge her, and when that doesn’t work it dives forward with the intent on killing anything around it. It’s pain needed to go somewhere.

Cole brings up a wall of earth high enough to trip the beast and it crashes to the ground, it’s claws scrabble for a moment and it’s back on it’s feet in almost no time. Kai throws a ball of fire in an attempt to scare it, but the singed feathers only seem to enrage it further. It’s mostly a game of cat and mouse with the ninja just barely dodging teeth and claws and a razor tail.

Nya knows they can’t dodge forever.

Birdy dives under the razor-wire that nearly takes his head before he pops up at the beasts underbelly. He’s almost trampled before he managed to grab hold of a patch of feathers and haul himself up onto the animals back. He’d only done all of that to get out of harms way, but now that he was nearly face to face with Morrigan, he had no idea what to do. He brandishes his staff anyway, trying to find his footing on the rampaging beast.

Morrigan stands up, hands still wound up in the reins to keep her balance and she brandishes her sword, “You think you're the only one with a thirst for blood, don't you? You think you're the only one with the guts to slaughter someone!” She snarls with a sadistic smile, “You have no idea what I'm capable of when I don't get my way.” She yanks the reins to one side and the animal veers sharply, whole body tipping and turning. Birdy crashes sideways off his feet and is nearly flung from the beasts back before he can catch it’s tail feathers in one hand.

Nya flicks her wrist and calls a ball of water to her. She throws it as hard as she can, watching it soar through the air and slap into Morrigan. What’s most important is how the water drowns the leather and the scales on the monsters back.

The beast turns toward Nya sharply at the attack, and Morrigan can’t keep her footing on the slick saddle.

One foot slips from under her and she can't catch herself. She tumbles down the beasts shoulder, but before she can hit the ground her body yanks to a painful stop. The reins are still wrapped around her wrist, leaving her dangling at the monsters chest. The bird slams sideways into a tree because of how hard Morrigan yanks on the reins in her fall, narrowly avoiding bashing her to paste. There’s genuine panic on her face as she swings her sword up, trying to slice through the reins so she can survive this encounter.

Birdy crawls up the bird to it’s neck. He nearly throws himself off it when he lunges for Morrigan, holding his hand out for her to take, “Let me help you!” He shouts, voice nearly lost among the vulture-bats cries.

She would have to drop her sword. She looks at him for a long moment before her face twists in hatred. With a mighty heave, she swings the sword at Birdy, aiming for a killing blow. He yanks his hand back and she misses, the sword cutting into the vulture-bat’s shoulder.

It rears back in pain and Birdy goes flying off, rolling to a stop in the dirt.

Morrigan is thrown backward and shaken around as the vulture-bat reacts to the sharp sting. It spots her as she’s thrown to the side, it’s large black eye focusing on her. It understands immediately. With a sharp turn, It whips its head around so she goes flying in a wide arc- right in front of its mouth.

It’s face splits in four. It lunges forward.

The crunch of shattering bones makes Nya feel sick. Blood splatters across the clearing as the bird shakes its head like a dog with a toy, other… debris raining down from its jowls. She didn’t even have time to scream. That must have been a mercy.

The blood pooling on the ground seems to be eagerly absorbed by the ground, leaving swathes of darker spots on the grass.

Nya can see its throat spasm as it swallows what's left of her.

Everything is quiet. The beast’s gills flutter again.

Birdy grabs her arm, snapping out of her trance. “Go!” He orders urgently and quietly.

She turns and runs. She can see Jay ahead of her, and she focuses on not losing him and nothing else. She doesn’t flinch when the vulture-bat roars behind her, and she doesn’t stumble when the earth shakes as it chases after them.

“It’s gaming on us!” Lloyd shouts from somewhere behind her.

“We have to fight!” Cole confirms.

They break out of the forest into muddy earth, the thickness of it sucking at Nya's feet as she tries to run. There are no trees out here in the wastelands- well, no trees big enough to hide behind. The spindly little black plants will do nothing for them now.

She turns around right as the bird explodes from the forest, a looming monster taking up all her vision. Her heart leaps up to her throat. It doesn’t hesitate, covering the land in three long strides before it’s upon them again.

Cole tries to use earth, but the mud is too soft to even slow the beast down. Jay flings lightning but the bird is fast, dodging that and Kai’s fireballs alike. Lloyd hits it heavily on the side with a ball of green energy, and the beast roars in rage as it turns on him. There’s more fighting- fighting is too generous for what they’re doing. Surviving, maybe. Just barely. It’s so angry that any real damage to it just pisses it off even more, too much adrenaline in it’s system to feel any of it.

It bites dangerously close to Cole, whipping it’s long tail back with deadly intent-

SNAP

The tail slams into Birdy's side- hard. It’s enough force to throw him back until he’s tumbling in the mud, coming to a stop on his back.

Black blood streaks across the wet earth.

His whole left side is torn open.

Nya is moving before she can think, “Keep it distracted!” She orders, flying across the mud. She slams down on her knees at Birdy's side, trying to assess the damage- did they pack enough bandages? How bad is it that he most definitely got realm of madness mud all inside his wound?

He has a hand pressed against his side. His glove is soaked through with blood. He makes no attempt to move, “Nya.” he says quietly.

“You’re gonna be fine.” She reassures him immediately, “Just lay still.” She tries to pry his hand away from his side, but he won’t move it.

“Nya, it is too late.” His voice is resigned. She feels like his voice is always resigned, always ready to die, “I need you to listen to me. Please.”

She shakes her head, “Just move your hand. I have medical training, I can help you.”

He acts as if he didn’t even hear her, “You have to go north-east from here. Towards where the sun rises- if you see a tree split in half by a lightning strike, you are going in the right direction.”

“Birdy, move your hand! You’re going to bleed out if you don’t let me stop the flow!”

“Keep walking past that split tree. You’ll see four big mountains in front of you-”

“What are you talking about?” She snaps, stressed and desperate.

“I’m telling you how to get to the mountain of madness.” He says soberly.

She looks at him in disbelief, “Take us there yourself!” She snaps. She pulls on his hand and he lets her, too weak to fight her anymore.

Underneath his torn blue tunic, past the dingy white robes underneath, is glimmering silver skin and a tangled mess of torn wires and gutted tubing. Nya’s brain stalls.

“Nya.” She jerks as if she’s been struck. Everything else vanishes to background noise. That’s not Birdy's voice. It’s softer, higher-pitched. It’s the sound of snowfall and red tailed hawks and fresh baked cookies. It’s the sound of home.

She slowly looks up at him, at that stupid stupid mask. Her eyes are blurry with tears.

“Zane?”

“Watch out!” Jay screams, the sound of the fight behind them blaring reality back into her ears.

She turns around and the beast is upon them. She’s too rattled to think straight-

Zane bursts forward spilling oil and transmission fluid all over the mud. He shoves Nya back, behind himself as he pushes his hand forward in a desperate attempt to change the way this fight ends. A giant pillar of ice shoots out of the mud in front of him and brutally slams into the Vulture-bats chest. Ice spreads at the point of contact, frost swirling up its skin in painful cracks. The beast squawks in startled pain, jerking away from the two before it finally decides the fight isn’t worth it. It flaps it’s massive wings in a panic, scrambling away from the ice and taking flight. It flys like a bat out of hell, it’s ground speed nothing compared to how quickly it takes off towards the horizon.

Zane's knees buckle, and he crashes into the mud and doesn’t move again.

[riyad-as-salihin]

Riyad as-Salihin, The Book of the Remembrance of Allah, Book 15, Hadith 14

Chapter: The Excellence of the Remembrance of Allah

Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to seek (Allah's) protection after prayers in these words: "Alla-humma inni a'udhu bika minal-jubni wal- bukhl, wa a'udhu bika min an uradda ila ardhalil-'umur, wa a'udhu bika min fitnatid-dunya, wa a'udhu bika min fitnatil-qabr (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from cowardice, miserliness and from being sent back to a feeble age; and, seek refuge with You from the trials of this life and those of the grave)."

[Al- Bukhari].

[abelflints]

Abel x MC Ficlet

For day 4, favourite ships of @ila-appreciationweek

This is an old piece I did when chapter 14 first came out, I changed it after new chapters released.

Basis: She loves him. He loves her. But it's not time for him to see her skin, not just yet. (or, Rowan has scars too, she goes back to Abel's apartment in chapter 14, but decides that for now, she just wants to be held.)

Pairings: Abel x MC

Warnings: self-consciousness, spoilers for old chapters, there are some sinister sounding parts where Abel is fearing about the power, angst, vague references to pain from old injuries.

Work is under the cut!

He holds her and prays no villain will take her from him.

But they will.

They will. 

But not tonight. 

Not tonight.

He eyes the wolves fed fat on flesh warily, the flickers in the forest, the howls on the wind.

The foolishness of mortals prevails, once more.

If you see the creature coming, were they ever really a threat?

You see a necklace, the enlightened, a noose. 

Real creatures do not leave their prey in anticipation.

Real creatures know the art of the façade.

Of fitting, softly, delicately, into the network of cracks. 

His unsuspecting eyes; the warmed over hearth.

But all it takes is one creature, one gust of wind, one whisper on the breeze to blot out the sun, trading mischievous twinkles for crystalline tears, true.

Foolish, so foolish, now–

For he knows the swiftness of the pounce all too well, knows how quickly the course of life swerves.

Knows all it takes is one swift yank.

And suddenly you’re falling down…

Down…

Down.

Over trees, over roots, over rocks, over hills. 

Why would he forget all his past hurts, now?

But there’s a woman – and she’s waiting in the wings.

She stares up at him, with mis-matched eyes, and sings to him in dulcet tones.

The prey. 

He fears, if he’s unlucky, wrapping her in a warm embrace.

The prey. 

But he has been burned by maskhood before, and he shall be burned by it again.

She’s soft. She’s warm. A muted mirror of the man before her. 

Her skin is not smooth.

It’s not soft, it’s not supple.

The colours don’t match, the hues don’t blend, it hurts as she lifts her coverings, even for him.

Even for her. 

A mutual hesitation, a shared simmering of slighted skin.

She’s scared. He’s scared.

She wants to. 

He wants to. 

But all is silent. And all is still.

As it always was. As it always will be. 

He has a story. She doesn’t.

Just simmering. Simmering, simmering, softly, softly so, the fear alight in her eyes not at spirits, not at sinners, not at souls.

But at skin.

Her skin. 

His skin. 

Because they are a mirror, because they are the same. 

And he loves her. 

And she loves him back. 

So it’s simple, no?

…Never.

Earnestness, and modesty, for all the wits he would wat, for all the grins he would glat, for all the quirks they would crack–

The two of them could light up any room.

But this room, this room–  is dark and sweltering under the light of the moon, even in the afternotes of him etched into the wooding. 

Turning away as the other slowly, gingerly, disrobes.

All the jokes he would share– squandered by a single swipe.

He tells her, it’s not pretty.

That she won’t like what she sees.

She stares. Because she has no answer to give. Because the words die on her mouth. Because, she is the same. 

“Nor will you me” she’d say, if she had the courage, fumbling despondently with her clasps.

One hand stuck at their own sides because they just... 

They just don't know. 

Standing paused for so long that their skin goes cold in the chill of the night.

…But they'll wait.

They'll wait.

Eventually, she breaks the silence. 

"I'm sorry– I’m just– so stupid–"

"...You’re not stupid. You never were.”

"But I don't have a story!  I just have–  skin. And I don't want it… I don't want it."

Her head hung in desolation.

"And people– don't understand, when you don't want your own skin-- like it's something you can control? But I... I just wanna…–”

A pause, a mulling it over. 

"You don't owe me a story. You don't owe anybody a story."

"And if I can't give you my skin, either?"

“Nothing. You owe me nothing. You know that, right?”

“You, as you are, you, as you are, wherever you are– you, are enough."

“I… Ok. Ok.” She nods, throwing the man a shy smile. 

“...I– I want to stay. Hold me? Please?”

And she looks at him.

And she trusts him.

And he tries not to melt.

Fabric envelopes flesh once more, nestling into waiting– clothed– arms.

Lids close.

Arms embrace, time soars–

Lids open…

To the warm kiss of day-break ushering in streaming sunlight over entangled limbs and nestled bodies. 

The covers spill off of her, her shirt ridden up in the night– if he lingered, he would see skin mottled many mittling hues. 

But he doesn’t linger.

Because she looked at him. 

Because she trusts him. 

And he is melting.  

So the blankets are pulled back over, with smiles so soft and warm, the promise of sweet specialities and crisped delicacies on lips that quirk as he throws the slumbering beauty one last look, pattering to the kitchen with steps so delicate, nary a mouse could rival him.

(And maker, but he is melting.)

[anonymous1038]

@ila-appreciationweek day 6

Late to the party as I decided to go back to the previous two books (aka watching them on YT) to see which scenes I liked the best since I loved a lot of scenes from the two books. But i managed to compile a list of scenes from all three books I adore by a longshot.

ILITW

Chapter 7 scene where everyone including Connor gathers around Devon (whose name is Jasper in my playthrough) to protect them against Cody. I loved it as it proves just how much they meant to their friends and also Cody deserved to get smack talked like that.

Chapter 7 premium scene with Lucas, I love those boys so much and the kiss was the cherry on top.

Chapter 12 premium scene before homecoming, specifically Lucas's. It's just so soft and it really is like a calm before the storm kinda thing.

Chapter 14 where Devon talks to Dan in the premium scene. Poor guy suffered a lot under Jane's control and both of them talking about everything is just shajcjbssh

Chapter 16 where the survivors gather up in a restaurant. Loved it a lot.

ILB

Chapter 3 where Harper is trying to escape Ned's house from the cultists. Really gives off the feeling of being trapped and there's no room for error.

Chapter 7 dance scene with Tom. Very soft and a good moment before shit goes down with the cultists.

Chapter 11 scene where Tom faces his fears to save Harper. Loved it as it shows that even though he didn't witness it personally, he probably visualized it in his brain so many times that it's engraved, and despite that he still got in to save Harper.

Chapter 12 where Astrid threatens Tom's life. It's like a totally hopeless situation and for a moment I thought the guy was gonna lose an eye before Parker and co. saved everyone.

Chapter 17 where Harper gives Dick Sutcliffe a reality check. Hell yeah.

ILW

Chapter 16's scenes where all three MCs get something. Harper reuniting with the friends, Devon getting revived and Rowan (Violet) discovering what they really are.

Jocelyn's carnival scene in chapter 19. It's like the penultimate thing before the finale and it shows how much she's grown despite wanting to betray Rowan at first. And the kiss, the kiss holy shit i love it.

The memorial in chapter 23, everyone happy at last despite all the shit they gone through <3

[edmaiunbound-blog]

UnboundTale (The master post)

Welcome to the UnboundTale au masterpost!

Here you’ll find links to all of the au’s official comic pages and character bios. You may also find them posted on my DeviantArt.

Plot Synopsis:

The au takes place a couple generations after the events of the pacifist run. Three races now rule over the surface: Humans, Monsters, and Robots. We follow a new set of characters and a new world with a revamped story from the original undertale.

We follow Ray, who was helping their sister with errands one day, and ends up finding themselves in the Echo Flower Forest. There they encounter the ghost of a human child named Echo. Echo explained that her soul was taken by a hooded robot. Together, Ray and Echo go on the quest to find out who murdered her. All the while Ray has to learn how to control their newly awakened magic. Meanwhile, the Delta gang are dead set on hunting down one robot they’re convinced is the hooded robot, a cyborg popstar named Exo. The deeper Ray digs though the more unexplained secrets get uncovered. Morality becomes grey and accusations are thrown about everywhere. They’ll learn that the real threat isn’t what it seems.

Character Bios:

Ray (Ubt!Frisk) - Echo (Ubt!Chara)  - Flowers (Ubt!Asriel) - Peurgarou (Ubt!Toriel/Riverperson) - Exo (Ubt!Sans) - Broadway (Ubt!Papyrus) - Dora (Ubt!Dora/Oc) - Ila (Ubt!Ila/Oc) - June (Ubt!Alphys) - Venom (Ubt!Undyne) - Fluffy (Ubt!Asgore) - Blue-k (Ubt!Nabstablook) - Prince (Ubt!Mettaton) - Tabby (Ubt!Tabby/Oc) - Calli (Ubt!Calli/Oc) - Hooded Robot (?????)

Comic Pages:

Prologue:

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4

Chapter 1:

Pgs 1-2, Pgs 3-4, Pgs 5-6, Pgs 7-8, Pgs 9-10

Chapter 2:

Pgs 11-12, Pgs 13-14, Pgs 15-16, Pgs 17-18

Chapter 3:

Pgs 19-20, Pgs 21-23, Pgs 24-26, Pgs 27-28, Pgs 29-32, Pgs 33-34

Chapter 4:

Pgs 35-38, Pgs 39-40, Pgs 41-42, Pgs 43-44, Pgs 45-46, Pgs 47-48, Pgs 49-50, Pgs 51-52, Pgs 53-54, Pgs 55-56

[fisabilillah-inthewayofallah]

Daily Duas

Daily Reminder: Try to supplicate this dua every single day to become a habit. 

 1. Dua That Guarantees You Forgiveness (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Prophet Muhammad SAW (PBUH) said: "Whoever gets up at night and says: 

 La ilaha 'illa Allaahu, wahdahu la shareeka lahul mulku, wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ala kulli shayin qadeer. Subhana allaahi, wal hamdu lillaahi, wa la illaaha ila Allaah, wa Allaahu akbar, waLa hawla wa la quwwata illa billaah. 

 There is none worthy of worship in truth except Allah Alone, He has no partners, He has the Dominion and for Him is all praise, and He is capable of all things, praise is for Him, and Far is Allah from imperfection, and There is none worthy of worship in truth except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest, there is no capability nor is there any power except with Allah. "

Then he says: Allaahumma aghfirlee. O Allaah forgive me! 

 Or he supplicates and his supplication is answered, and if he makes Wudhu and prays, then his prayer is accepted. 

2. Dua That Guarantees You Jannah (Sahih Al-Jami, An-Nasa'i, Ibn Hibban) Prophet Muhammad SAW (PBUH) said: "Whoever recites Ayatul Kursi, verse 255 from chapter number 2, Surat Al Baqarah after every obligatory prayer, then nothing is stopping him or her from entering Jannah, except one thing: Death." 

3. Dua That Wipe Away Sins (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Muslim, At-Tirmidhi) Prophet Muhammad SAW (PBUH) said: "Whoever says:  

Subhana allaahi, wa bihamdih 

 How far from imperfections Allah is, and I praise Him. 

 "a hundred times during the day, his sins are wiped away, even if they are like the foam of the sea." 

4. Phrases That Are Heavier On The Scales Than An Entire Morning Of   Recitation (Sahih Muslim) Prophet Muhammad SAW (PBUH) said: "I recited four words three times after I had left you. If these are to be weighed against all you have recited since morning, these will be heavier." These are: 

 Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, 'adada khalqihi, wa rida nafsihi, wa zinatah 'arshihi, wa midada kalimatihi. 

 Allah is free from imperfection and I begin with His praise, as many times as the number of His creatures, in accordance with His Good Pleasure, equal to the weight of His Throne and equal to the ink that may be used in recording the words (for His Praise). 

5. Dua To Stay On The Right Path (Sahih Muslim) 

 Ya musarrifa-l quloobi sarrif qalbi ala ta’atik. 

 O, Allah! The One Who turns the hearts, turn my heart towards Your obedience. 

6. Dua To Be Save From Torments Of Grave 

 Allahumma inni wa a'udhu bika min adhabil qabri 

 O, Allah! Saves us from the torments of the grave. 

7. Dua For The Best In The Dunya And Hereafter 

 Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan, wa fil'akhirati hasanatan, waqina 'adhaban-nar. 

 O, Allah! Our Lord give us all the good of this world, and the good of the hereafter, and Save us from the punishment of the Fire. 

 8. Dua To Help Pay Off Your Debts (Sahih At-Tirmidhi) 

 Allahum-makfinee bi halaalika 'an haraamika wa aghninee bifadhlika 'amman siwaaka 

 O, Allah! Suffice me with what You have allowed instead of what You have forbidden, and make me independent of all others besides You. 

 9. Dua Of The Treasures Of Paradise (Sahih Al-Bukhari, At-Tirmidhi) Prophet Muhammad SAW (PBUH) said: "Shall I not tell you of a word which is one of the treasures of Paradise?" 

 La hawla wa la quwaata illa billah 

 There is no power and no strength except with Allah. 

 10. Dua To Literally Boost Your Energy Before you sleep recite: 

 Subhana allaah 33x, Alhamdulilah 33x, Allahu akbar 34x 

 11. Dua That Protects You From All Evil (Sahih Ibn Majah) 

 Bismillaahil-lathee laa yadhurru ma'as-mihi shay'un fil-'ardhi wa laa fis-samaa'i wa Huwas-Samee'ul-'Aleem. 

 In the Name of Allah, Who with His Name nothing can cause harm in the earth nor in the heavens, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.   

12. Dua To Get Prophet Muhammad SAW (PBUH) Help in Yawm Al Qiyamah (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Prophet Muhammad SAW (PBUH) said: "Whoever says the following, after hearing the call of adhan, the call of prayer I will intercede for them yawm al qiyamah." 

 Allaahumma Rabba haathihid-da 'watit-taammati wassalaatil-qaa'imatah, Aati Muhammadanil-waseelata walfadheelah, Wab 'ath-hu maqaamam-mahmoodanil-lathee wa'adtah. 

 O, Allah! the Lord of this perfect call, and the lord of the prayer that is about to be established, grant Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) al waseela, Resurrect him with that status, that is so praise worthy, which you have already promised. 

 13. Dua Forgiveness All Believers 

 Allahumma ighfir lil muslimeena wal-muslimaat, wal-mu'mineena wal-mu'minaat, al-ahyaa'i minhom wal-amwat. 

 O, Allah! forgive the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and the believing women, the alive from them and the dead. 

 14. Benefits Reciting Surah Ikhlas - Reciting 3 times a day is equivalent to reciting the whole Qur'an. - Reciting 10 times a day and Allah will build for him a house in paradise. 

 15. Sayyidul Istighfar (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Sahih Al-Jami, At-Tirmidhi) Prophet Muhammad SAW (PBUH) said: If somebody recites this invocation (given below) during the day, and if he should die then, he will be from the people of Jannah. And if he recites it in the night, and if he should die on the same day, he will be from the people of Jannah.” 

  Allahuma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, Khalaqtani wa ana 'Abduka, wa ana 'ala 'ahdika wa wa 'dika mastata 'tu, A 'udhu bika min Sharri ma sana'tu, abu'u Laka bini'matika'alaiya, wa abu'u laka bidhanbi faghfir lee fa innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta. 

 O, Allah! You are my Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but You. You created me and I am Your slave, and I am faithful to my convenant and my promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from all the evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to You all my sins. So I entreat You to forgive my sins, for nobody can forgive sins except You.

[phgq]

IBP seeks probe on lawyer’s 'violation' of Covid-19 protocols

#PHnews: IBP seeks probe on lawyer’s 'violation' of Covid-19 protocols

DUMAGUETE CITY – The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Negros Oriental chapter on Tuesday said it is seeking an investigation on possible lapses committed by a Capitol official and his companions who were found positive of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Lawyer Nerio Bulado, IBP-Negros Oriental chapter president, in an interview, said their request will be sent Wednesday to the provincial Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) via a resolution.

Bulado explained it took a while for them to take action as they had to determine all the facts surrounding the arrival of the Capitol official, a lawyer, from a high-risk area last Oct. 3, along with other individuals, some of whom were also found infected with Covid-19.

“We will ask for an investigation from the provincial IATF and then if there are any violations of rules and protocols for them to file the necessary charges,” Bulado said.

Asked if the provincial IATF will file a complaint if necessary, Bulado said “ila na ng problema kay part mana sa ilang trabaho (that is their problem because it is part of their job) but if they refuse to file, we also have other remedies, such as going to the Office of the Ombudsman”.

There are an estimated 200 members of the IBP here, and the Capitol official, known as patient NegOr CoV 191, is one of them, he said.

The local IBP's decision came after it was established that upon his arrival in the province, NegOr CoV 191 visited the Hall of Justice, where a number of lawyers, prosecutors, and staff members were exposed to him.

He also visited Silliman University, the Negros Oriental Detention, and Rehabilitation Center, a municipal trial court in nearby Sibulan town, and his homes in Bacong and Zamboanguita.

“We will finalize the resolution tomorrow and have it signed by IBP-Negros Oriental members before we send it to PIATF for them to take action,” Bulado said.

He added that anyone can file a case against the Capitol lawyer and his companions on condition of anonymity just as a class suit is also possible “because the Ombudsman will verify it and then act on a complaint".

Hundreds of primary, secondary, and tertiary contacts have already been identified to have been reportedly directly and indirectly linked to NegOr CoV 191 and the other authorized persons outside of residence (APORs) who were with him on the supposed official travel to Manila and who, upon their return, had been tested positive for the dreaded disease. (PNA)

  ***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "IBP seeks probe on lawyer’s 'violation' of Covid-19 protocols." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1119190 (accessed October 21, 2020 at 03:20AM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "IBP seeks probe on lawyer’s 'violation' of Covid-19 protocols." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1119190 (archived).

[spinchip]

NEVER THE DARK

CHAPTER 14

Read on Ao3

Prologue - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13

the girls are fightingggggggg

WHEN IS A MONSTER NOT A MONSTER? /// OH, WHEN YOU LOVE IT.

“We have to think about this objectively,” Cole insists, “These people may not have our best interests in mind.”

Kai paces up and down the length of their room, clenching and unclenching his fists as he ruminates, “Lloyd is strong,” He says aloud, ignoring Cole, “If Birdy were to try anything, Lloyd would be able to fight him off.”

Jay picks at his fingernails, worrying at his cuticles as he watches Kai, “Do you really think Birdy would hurt Lloyd?”

“No!” Cole bursts out, “He’s shown us he won’t hurt us- he had several chances to do something way before we got here.”

“We can’t rule anything out.” Kai says grimly, once more dismissing Cole's words.

Cole is on his feet before he has time to think, “Will you listen to me for once!?” He doesn’t shout, but he raises his voice- and he never raises his voice. Maybe it’s this place effecting his mind, bringing him to his breaking point- maybe it was because Birdy acknowledged that he spoke when his own boyfriends wouldn’t- maybe he was just sick of never getting a word in edgewise. Kai’s stopped pacing and they’re all staring at him with wide eyes. He takes a deep breath and brings his voice back down to a reasonable level, “Ever since we first met Birdy-“

“I have been listening, Cole,” Kai interrupts irritably, “But everything you’ve been saying- Everything you’ve been saying- ugh, everything you've been saying is just a bunch of-“

Cole’s mouth drops open as he recognizes Kai’s repetition- it’s his tell for when he’s had too much to drink, “You’re drunk!” He accuses sharply, pointing a finger in Kai’s face.

Kai shoves his hand away, “I had one drink-!”

“Okay, Stop!” Nya’s voice cuts through the argument sharply as she shoulders her way between them. She separates them both with a firm hand on their chests, “That’s enough. This argument is getting us nowhere!”

“Birdy wouldn’t hurt Lloyd.” Cole says confidently.

“But you heard what everyone’s been saying,” Jay butts in, “Even Ila admitted he murdered Farley, that’s what you said, and she’s the only one that seems to have a soft spot for him.”

“I heard that from a woman who works for a tyrant with a grudge against Birdy.” Cole shoots back, “They obviously weren’t being truthful or- or they were twisting the truth.”

“Samira is afraid of Birdy!” Kai immediately retorts, “She told me he’s dangerous!”

“We. Are. Her. Prisoners!” Cole enunciates every word, “Maybe, just maybe, we shouldn’t trust the woman who’s trapped us in her palace dungeons!”

“These are too nice to be dungeons.” Jay comments.

“Is that really what you’re focusing on-“

“Boys!” Nya shouts and the room goes quiet. She lets out a stressed, pent up breath, “We can’t let this divide us- no matter what, we have to be a team. We have no guarantee that Birdy will harm Lloyd,” She looks firmly at Kai with that, “But there’s also no guarantee that he won’t.” She shoot Cole a meaningful look this time.

Tension leaks out of the room slowly. Cole sits back down, and Kai resumes pacing.

Jay looks over at Nya, “What do you think?”

“I don’t know.” She admits, playing with the water in her glass. She sighs and lets the little globe of liquid plop back down with a splash, “Kai’s right in that they all have the same story- even Ila, who’s shown favoritism towards Birdy, described his actions against Farley as the work of a monster. Cole’s right in that these people have nothing to lose bad mouthing Birdy, and everything to gain. If they can convince us Birdy is a bad guy, then we’re vulnerable and desperate. We’ll need them.”

“I’m with Kai,” Jay says quietly, even if his heart winces at the thought. Birdy warned him to take off his watch… Birdy talked to him… but Birdy hurt people, “He was sent here for a reason, right? Maybe people like him… just don’t change.”

“He’s a good person,” Cole says softly from where he’s laying on his cot staring up at the ceiling.

No one says anything for a long moment.

“How can you be so sure?” Jay asks, voice vulnerable.

“I just am. I can feel it.” He’s not sure how to articulate it- how does he tell them that he feels a connection with this man? That when Birdy raised his hand to tuck that strand of hair behind his ear, when he thought he might kiss him, Cole had leaned in? When Birdy looks at him, the weight of his gaze feels familiar, “He listens to me.”

“I listen to you.” Jay claims with a frown.

“Yeah.” Cole says, rolling over onto his side, “I’m going to sleep.”

He misses Zane in the pit of his chest so deeply it aches. He’s been thinking about Zane a lot, recently. Since they arrived in the Realm of Madness. He always thinks about Zane- one of the loves of his life- but after three years he had been able to put Zane away. He could go in the kitchen without bursting into tears. He could smell oil without his heart aching. He could catch snowflakes and only cry a little bit. These past few days, Zane is all he could think about. He was there in the back of his mind during every second of every day, even if Cole tried to gently close that door.

He wonders, maybe, if Kai and Jay are right. If Birdy really is this bad guy who wants to hurt them- and Cole is too blinded by his love for Zane and can’t see what’s right in front of him.

Because the truth is, Birdy reminds him of Zane. The sound of his laugh, his dry humor, his manner of speaking- even the way he moves his hand when he gestures. All of it is a facsimile of Zane. Maybe Cole is ascribing trust to Zane, not Birdy- but Zane is dead, and Birdy is a murderer.

His eyes are wet.

He wishes he could ask Zane what he thought about all of this. He can almost hear his voice.

We should be on our guard… But everyone deserves a second chance.

He wipes away the tears on his face.

Would Zane still think that way, after Aspheera killed him? Would he still have that kindness in him? Would Zane think Birdy is a monster?

He falls asleep before he can think on it any harder.

Morning comes and they're still divided, a chasm opening up between them. Maybe it had been there a while. Cole is exhausted despite his long rest, and he barely manages to pull himself together when Wox comes to escort them to the grand hall.

Samira smiles at them all kindly when they arrive. She’s once again seated at the long table and there are piles of food around her, a sweet smelling screen hanging in the air. The room is full of other residents of Oasis, all at the tables lining the walls, eating and drinking as well. Barath is sitting quietly in his place on the Dais, scribbling in his notebook again. The other seats at Samiras table are empty and she beckons them towards herself invitingly, “Would you like breakfast?”

Cole picks the seat farthest away from her. Kai sits directly to her right. The food on the table is so sugary it makes Cole's stomach turn- his favorite food may be cake, but these buns and jams and even strips of unknown-animal bacon are painfully sweet. He chokes down a roll so he has something in his stomach and pushes his plate away. No one is talking.

Samira finishes her food and leans back in her chair, picking up her cup to swirl the not-water they’d been served with breakfast, “They are late.” She announces grimly.

Cole clenches his eyes shut and looks away.

“Late?” Jay asks nervously, “Was this mission timed or something?”

“I know how long it takes to get to the mist and back in this stage of the evershift. They should have been back by now.”

Kais face is cold and hard, “We should go after them.” He says firmly.

“I’m afraid I cannot let you do that,” She says apologetically, “It’s in all our best interest to give them more time... if Birdy feels rushed or cornered, I fear what he might do.”

Kai scowls at his plate before pushing it away and standing from his chair. For a second, Cole thinks he might try and leave anyway- but Kai just starts to pace again, walking up and down the hall with an intense, frustrated look on his face. Nya and Jay eat on quietly.

They stay here, in the grand hall, waiting. Kai keeps pacing. Samira moves back up to her throne at some point, and thanks Ila when the woman brings her a glass of wine. Cole thinks, in any other situation, he might have been bored to tears. Here though, he’s lost in his thoughts, ruminating over every aspect of this nightmare of a trip and examining everything. He feels like there’s something he’s missing- some piece of the puzzle that hasn’t revealed itself yet. He feels wrong-footed and out of sync but… at the same time, he feels whole. It doesn’t make any sense.

Nya and Jay are talking in low tones, just audible enough that Cole can catch snippets of their conversation.

“I know.” Nya sighs dreamily, “I miss the garage too. What I wouldn’t give to be in the basement fixing up a mech right now…”

“I wonder if Prime Empire has released any new updates…” Jay says just as longingly as Nya.

Cole shelves his brooding thought to join their conversation, “I’m most looking forward to a hot bath.” He says with a short laugh, running fingers through his grimey hair  as he sticks out his tongue and pulls a disgusted face.

“Oh, don’t even get me started on a shower…” Nya exhales, pillowing her cheek on her hand. “I wonder what Pixal is up to…”

Jay winces, “Oh, she's definitely working herself to death trying to figure out where we went.”

“Maybe Skylor is helping her- she'd come out of retirement if Pix was the one to ask, I'm sure.”

“What is wrong with you all?” Kai snaps irritably, stopping by Jay's shoulder with a scowl.

Cole blinks, taken aback, “What do you mean?”

“You’re sitting here just-” He makes disdainful, jerky gestures with a tense hand, “gossiping when Lloyd could be in serious trouble!”

“Kai, calm down.” rising from her chair, Nya reaches out a hand to steady him.

He flinches away from her and glares at the floor, “No, I am not going to calm down. Lloyd is out there with a murderer and I am powerless to help him.” His breathing picks up and his hands start to shake as he works himself up, “I promised myself I would never be this helpless again- but look at me! Standing around doing nothing!”

Cole stands up too, finally understanding. Kai had lost his elemental abilities when Zane died. “Kai…” He starts quietly.

“Kai?” another voice chimes in, this time from the mouth of the cave.

Lloyd stands there in all his unharmed glory- well, unharmed may be the wrong word. The edges of his clothes are discolored and curled up and he looks like he’d been rolling around in the dirt, and there’s a few scrap pieces of fabric rolled up into his nostrils that are brown with old blood.

Kai spins on heel and his whole body relaxes at the sight of Lloyd, safe and back under his watchful eye.

That moment of bliss vanishes the moment Birdy comes around the corner behind him.

Jay jumps to his feet while Kai wastes no time throwing himself towards the two. He grabs Lloyd's arm and yanks him around so Kai can get in between them, and the moment Lloyd is clear Kai draws his sword in a wide, dangerous arc.

It’s only Birdy's paranoia that saves him. He reacts automatically, whipping his staff around to deflect Kai's sword before it can sink into his thigh and incapacitate him. He shoves it down and Kai’s swing slides off the staff's blade with a hiss of clashing metal. Kai leans into the move, turning his hand to try and bring the sword blade-side-up in another attempt to fight off Birdy.

“Kai!” Lloyd repeats, shocked, “What are you doing?”

Jay manages to stop Lloyd from charging into the fight with a hand tangled in the back of his suit, “You don���t understand, Lloyd!” He pleads, pulling him backwards.

Jay doesn’t have the strength to stop Cole, though, and he takes advantage of that to barrel past them to shove Kai away from Birdy. “Lloyd is fine! I told you-”

Kai bares his teeth, “Fine? Look at him!” He gestures of Lloyd's bloody nose before he swings his sword around to point the bladed tip at Birdy's throat, “He’s hurt, and this is all your fault!”

“That’s enough-” Nya shouts, trying to intervene, but Kai is having none of it.

“No! We know what he is!” He snaps, “He’s not going to just walk away from his crimes scot-free!”

“What am I?” Birdy asks, and though his voice is bewildered Cole can feel the looming sense of dread at what the answer might be.

Glaring at him, Kai mustered up all his distrust towards the man and nearly spits out his reply, “A monster. You are a monster.”

The words sink in.

Birdy loses all will to fight. His staff goes slack in his hand.

“What?” Lloyd asks shrilly, eyes wide with disbelief.

“My warriors,” Samira’s voice breaks through the moment with an amused, dangerous smile, “Surround them.” She orders politely, lounging back on her throne with a satisfied air around her.

The other people in the room, the militia Samira had put together, rise from their seats and rush the ninja. Cole and Birdy are shoved into one gap, Jay and Lloyd in another. Nya and Kai are both alone when they’re surrounded by the mutated army. Almost instantly they are trapped and outnumbered. Nya’s hand twitches towards her throwing knives and one of the men beside her presses his sword to her throat.

“What is this?” Kai spins around to look up at Samira, shocked.

The woman doesn’t even stand from her chair, still sitting back relaxed in the cushions of her throne. She grins at him and it’s all teeth, “Have you ever heard the phrase ‘divide and conquer’?”

“Wox,” The wolf snaps his head over to look at her where he’s looming over Birdy, “The flowers.”

He nods briskly and goes to shove his hand into Birdy's bag, but the man beats him to it. For a moment Cole hopes he pulls something out of his bag that could fix all of this. C’mon, Mary Poppins!

But all Birdy does is wordlessly fish the bundle of flowers out and hand them to Wox with no resistance.

The silence hanging over the room is palpable as Wox brings the prize to Samira. She takes it from him with a brilliant smile and delicately unwraps the buds, running her fingers lightly over the petals. “I had my doubts, Birdy.” She says into the room, still staring reverently at the cure in her hands, “The flowers grow so deep now, I didn’t think even you would be able to make it back.”

She turns and passes off the flowers to Barath. He takes them eagerly and scurries off out of the room to get started on synthesizing the cure.

Cole looks at Birdy, pleading, “You have a plan, don’t you?” Birdy looks back at him dumbly, and shakes his head softly.

“Be quiet.” Samira orders sharply and the two redirect their gaze back up to her. She pulls the curved blade stabbed into the arm of her chair out with an easy flick of her wrist, dragging her finger over the blunted tip with a cold, satisfied smile on her face, “You completed the task, Birdy. Well done.”

“You promised you would allow us to pass through if I did.” Birdy reminds her, but his voice is empty and hollow.

“I did.” She nods graciously, but her eyes are sharp and burning when they sweep over the six of them, “But I gave you that deal before I knew the stakes. You kept things from me, and now our arrangement just isn’t fair.”

“Fair?” Lloyd echoes disbelievingly, “How is any of this fair to begin with?”

“You were working with her.” Kai accuses Birdy hotly, hands tightening on the hilt of his sword. “Weren’t you? You were working against us all along.”

“Are you serious?” Cole snaps back immediately.

Birdy is shaking his head, “I just want to help you.”

“Why?” Kai frowns at him, voice combative and challenging, “Why would you want to do that?”

“Because you are important to me.” Birdy barely chokes out, cringing away from his words.

“What?” Nya asks, confused.

“We’re… important to you?” Lloyd joins in, eyebrows knitting together.

“You… I am…” He can’t seem to find the words to explain himself. Cole’s holding his breath without realizing it- he can feel that puzzle piece sitting in the room with them, the piece of information that would make this all right again. Birdy is struggling to swallow it back down.

“Now Birdy, there’s no need to be shy for my sake!” Samira chastises, sipping from her wine glass again. She flashes a deadly smile, “I’ve already figured it all out. Really, you all made it too easy.”

Cole feels a cold chill sweep down his spine, “What?”

“He’s from Ninjago. Of course you’re important to him- you five are the elemental masters of creation, after all.” Samira lays out all her cards, and her eyes glitter like a lion who’s successfully downed an elephant.

It’s so quiet you can hear a pin drop.

Jay laughs nervously, “Wow, that’s- funny! That’s funny!” He laughs again and it is obviously forced, “Us, the elemental masters- hoo! Samira, I didn’t know you were a comedian!” His laugh this time is hysterical and infused with growing panic.

Samira doesn’t even acknowledge Jays words, “Three funeral flowers- that's just not enough payment for assets like these.” She says, almost apologetically, to Birdy, “Do you know what we could do with lightning alone? The luxuries we could have with fire and ice? The infrastructure I could build with earth?”

“How?” Nya finally asks what they’re all thinking, “Did… did Birdy tell you?”

She looks almost insulted at the question, “I am not stupid, Nya. Birdy didn’t have to say anything. All I had to do was get you talking and you slipped up on your own.” She smiles again, “After all, There’s only so many Uncle Wu’s in Ninjago-” She looks pointedly at Lloyd this time, who’d dropped that tidbit of information to her unknowingly, “And considering your attire… Well, it wasn’t a difficult connection to make. You’re color coded to your elements.”

“No.” Lloyd whispers, horrified. He looks around at the situation- they were all cornered. There were too many enemies. Nothing was in their favor.

Samira had... beaten them.

“Let me guess,” She says with a playful hum before she points to each of them in turn, “Fire, Lightning, Energy, Earth,” She points at Nya last, a confident smile on her face, “And Ice. Ninjago will miss you, I’m sure, but three funeral flowers simply isn’t enough to allow people of your status to leave us. You’re going to stay here for a long, long time.” She nods at a few of the warriors surrounding them and chains are pulled out, fully intending on binding their hands and incapacitating them.

“You were close,” Nya plants her feet and snarls defiantly up at Samira, “Ice is gone- I am water.”

She throws her arms out and every drop of liquid in the room springs into action. The wine in Samiras glass surges up and splashes directly into her face, blinding her momentarily. She shouts in surprise, jerking away so hard she falls off her thrown into a heap on the floor. Juice, the realms equivalent of water, coffee (maybe?)- all of it explodes in the faces of the people surrounding them. There’s a string of curses thrown out as everyone flinches, scrubbing the wet from their eyes.

“Go!” Lloyd shouts, and the Ninja take off running.

They come skidding to a stop at the bottom of the hallway that leads out into town, more warriors posted there- with Ila at the head. She looks sad, but not sad enough. She draws her own sword, “Surrender.” She orders.

“Follow me!” Kai spins on heel and takes off up the hallway, splitting off down a branching hallway seemingly at random. They race through the halls frantically, the sounds of pursuit thundering after them.

“What’s the plan?” Cole shouts, sprinting next to Birdy.

“There’s an opening in the mountain, it’s where the jelly farm is!” Kai informs them, breaking right hard at a fork in the hall, “I memorized the way there!”

“We are too high up,” Birdy informs him seriously, “We could not survive a jump.”

“That’s fine, because we’re not going to jump!” Kai says cryptically as they burst into the wide cavernous portion of the palace that the floating jellyfish are caged in.

He zigzags around a few of the interconnecting beams, heading straight for the only Jelly that was floating low enough for the six of them to leap on top of.

“Catch them!” Samiras voice orders sharply, not far enough behind them at all, in Coles opinion.

It’s Cole’s turn this time, and he skids to a stop. He slams his foot down behind him and the stone beneath his feet groans then cracks sharply and loudly, ominous spider-webbing fractures forming. Samira doesn’t slow down, using the precious few seconds of stability the stone has to make it far enough so that when she dives over the path, she’ll make it safely to the other side.

Kai swings himself up and over the rope railing, landing feet-first on Miss Emma's bell. Immediately she bows a little lower, “Come on!” He snaps to the others. Jay and Nya join him easily with Lloyd right behind. Birdy grabs Cole by the scruff of his suit and hauls him towards the jelly, shoving forward so that Cole has an unobstructed pathway directly to the others. When Cole turns around, Birdy has stopped running

Heis back is to the ninja, staff held out hostile, and Samira is standing in front of him. Her knife is in one hand and her Sword is in the other.

“I will hold her off.” Birdy informs them tightly.

“Birdy…” Samira says it like a plea, “I cannot allow you to so openly defy me.” The threat is there. Move, or I'll kill you.

Birdy just holds his staff tighter.

There’s a curve to his shoulders, a defeated slump that’s been sitting there since Kai said the word monster. He knows she’s going to kill him. He’s… going to let her.

Before Cole can get his bearings enough to leap back to Birdys side because, uh, we’re not leaving you! Lloyd is beating him to it. Lloyd’s dismount is ungraceful because of Miss Emma's soft, squishy bell, and he crashes into Birdy's side. Samira lunges the moment they both look off kilter but Lloyd is prepared for that. He uses his arm protector to deflect her sword- she shoves her knife forward then, and Birdy angles the two of them tangled together just right so the blade would crash into his side instead of Lloyds-

Where it just skitters off of, leaving his skin unharmed.

Lloyd strikes out at Samiras leg and she folds, crashing to the ground with a grunt. The second she hits the dirt Lloyd is pushing Birdy towards the others, and the two of them leap onto the jelly while Samira tries to get her bearings.

When Birdy sinks into Miss Emma's bell, she droops dramatically, lowering herself enough so that she can pass underneath all of the rock scaffolding surrounding her.

She proceeds to sit there and not move an inch.

“Uh, what was the plan again?” Jay asks, glancing at where Samira is being helped to her feet by Wox, who’d found an alternate route to the group, along with a gaggle of incoming warriors behind him.

Birdy spins to face Kai, “Jellys will chase warmth.” He says urgently.

Kai gets the message. He flops onto his stomach and presses his palms flat against the elderly Jellys bell. Heat pours into his fingers and Miss Emma immediately begins to lean into it, moving them closer to the exit at a snail's pace. “C’mon, Miss Emma!” He encourages, guiding her through the empty jellys pens so she wouldn’t accidentally run them right into another Jellys paralyzing tentacles.

Jay looks down at her fearfully, “Can’t this thing go any faster?” And no sooner than the words leave his mouth does he see the lines. Weak, fluttering things that web together under her bell, pulsing slowly in time almost like a heartbeat. He drops to his knees and presses his fingertips hard into her skin. Electricity. It is a heartbeat- and it’s too slow.

Jay had learned a lot about his element over the years, about the effect of electricity on the body. He knows with a great deal of certainty that a shock can be just as helpful as it is harmful, in the right situations. It can help the heart.

Like a pacemaker.

He shocks Miss Emma once, twice, three times, four- each time she surges forward a little faster, her heartbeat responding positively to the beat Jay had set. They’re moving faster, but already arrows were wheezing past them. They needed more space between them and the mob after them.

Birdy swings his satchel over and starts digging in the pack, rummaging around until he pulls out that seed he had scavenged in the desert earlier in the week. He rips off the wax wrap and hands it to Cole, “Crack it along the seam.”

Cole doesn’t hesitate, pressing it in his palms. He has to exert far more strength that he initially though, but the edge of the seed splits with an audible pop!

“It is not like a grenade,” Birdy takes the seed from Cole and spins around, “It is a grenade.” He throws it as hard as he can straight up. It flies into the midst of the stalactites as it reaches the apex of it’s toss- and then it explodes.

Miss Emma had already moved far enough away that the falling debris didn’t effect her. Samira and her warriors weren’t so lucky.

Finally, they reach the opening out into the realm, and Miss Emma eagerly shoots out into the open air. She flies them away from the nightmare behind them, and the ninja all take a collective sigh of relief.

Birdy stands at the back of the Jelly and looks out across the widening gap between them and Oasis. The smoke from the grenade begins to disperse, and Samira is standing at the bridge at the mouth of the cave, sword dropped by her side in defeat.

They’re looking at each other.

Samira holds her hand high in the air and slowly, carefully, as if she’s feeling out the letters and trying to find the truth there, signs four distinct hand signals at Birdy.

He goes still, body rigid.

“What did she say?” Lloyd asks from where he’s sitting on Miss Emma's bell.

Samiras hand drops, Birdy's silence all the confirmation she needed. She looks almost sad. She turns away, and disappears back into the caves.

“My name.” Birdy answers, voice heavy with dread, “She said my name.”

[thesupportersofahlussunnah]

The Biography of Abu al_Fadl ^Abdullah bin as-Siddiq al-Ghumariyy who died in the year 1413AH

Translated by Riad Nachef

Name

He is Shaykh Abu al-Fadl ^Abdullah the son of the grand scholar Abu ^Abdillah Shamsid-Din Muhammad the son of the great pious Waliyy, my master, Mohammad as-Siddiq the son of my master Ahmad the son of Mohammad the son of Qasim the son of Mohammad the son of Mohammad the son of ^Abdilmu’min al-Ghumari at-Tanji the son of Mohammad the son of ^Abdilmu’min the son of ^Aliyy the son of al Hasan the son of Mohammad the son of ^Abdullah the son of Ahmad the son of ^Abdullah the son of ^Isa the son of Mas^ud the son of al-Fudayl the son of ^Aliyy the son of ^Umar the son of al-^Arabi ^Alal the son of Musa the son of Ahmad the son of Dawud the son of mawlana Idris the son of mawlana Idris al Akbar the son of ^Abdullah the son of al Hasan al Muthanna the son of our master al Hasan the son of Imam ^Aliyy may Allah accept his deeds.

Birth

He, may Allah endow His Mercy upon him, was born on the last day of Jumada-l-akhirah in the year 1328 AH- 1910 G in stronghold of Tangier.

Upbringing and Travels

He grew up under the care of his father, may Allah endow His Mercy upon him. He memorized the Glorious Qur’an according to the recitation of Warsh, then Hafs, then he proceeded to memorize some religious texts. He memorized most of Mandhumat al Kharraz which is named “Mawrid ath-Tham’an”, a large part of al-Alfiyyah, al Arba^in an-Nawawiyyah, al ‘Ajirrumiyyah and a part of Bulugh al Maram and of Mukhtasar Khalil.

He read under the tutoring of his brother Abu al Fayd the explanation of al “Ajirrumiyyah by al-Azhariyy. Prior to that he had briefly covered the meanings of its terms with his maternal uncle As-Sayyid Ahmad the son of ^Abdilhafidh the son of ^Ajibah.

At the orders of his father he traveled to Fas to seek the knowledge at the university of al-Qurawiyyin. He read the explanation of al-Alfiyyah by al Makkudi under the tutoring of shaykh ash-Sharif al Habib al Mahaji, also he read the explanation by al Makkudi along with Hashiyat Ibn al Hajj under the Tutoring of shaykh Mohammad the son of al Hajj the son of al Muhashshi and he attended the explanation of Ibn ^Aqil and the Hashiyah of as-sija^iyy under the tutoring of shaykh Mohammad al Hajj the cousin of the one previously mentioned.

He attended the beginning of the explanation of Mukhtasar Khalil by al Kharshi under the tutoring of shaykh al Habib al Mahaji, and the book of al Jinayat wa Ma Ilayha under the tutoring of shaykh Ahmad al Qadiri. He read the chapter of al Buyu^ (dealings) and what is after under the tutoring of shaykh Mohammad as-Sinhaji, and other chapters under the tutoring of shaykh Mohammad the son of the aforementioned al Hajj and the grand scholar Ahmad the son of al Jilani, and a part of al Mukhtasar the explanation of az-Zarqani under the tutoring of of the grand scholar ^Abdullah al Fudayli. He studied the chapter of al ‘Ijarah up to the end of al Mukhtasar the explanation of ash-Shaykh ad-Dardir under the tutoring of ^Abdur-Rahman the son of al Qurashi.

He  attended  Fara’id al Mukhtasar the explanation of al kharshi and Hashiyat Ahmad the son of al Khayyat under the tutoring of Abu ash-Shita’ as-Sinhaji.

He attended the explanation of al Bukhari by al Qastalani under the tutoring of shaykh Mohammad the son of al Hajj in the Mosque of Mawlay Idris, and he attended the circles of shaykh al Husayn al ^Iraqi in the Mosque of ^Abdur-Rahaman al Mlili, and he attended Hashiyat al Shinwani ^Ala Ibn Abi Jamrah under the tutoring of the grand scholar ^Abdul Hayy al Kittani in the Mosque of al Qurawiyyin.

He attended Jam^ al Jawami^ the explanation of al Mahalli from its beginning up to the segment of as-Sunnah under the tutoring of shaykh al Husayn al ^Iraqi, and al Muqaddimat of the same book under the tutoring of the grand scholar ^Abdullah al Fudayli, and major portion of the same under the tutoring of shaykh al-^Abbas Binani and under his tutoring he took al Maqulat al ^Ashr and at-Tawhid by Ibn ^Ashir.

He attended Risalat al Wad^ under the tutoring of shaykh ^Abdullah al Fudayli and the explanation of al Quwaysini ^Ala Assalam under the tutoring of shaykh al Habib al Mahaji.

During his stay in Fas he met as-Sayyid Mohammad the son of Ja^far al Kattani, and was authorized to narrate by as-Sayyid Mahdi al ^Azuzi who narrates from the route of two people from as-Sayyid Murtada az-Zabidi who died in the year 1205 AH .

He returned to Tangiers after he embibed knowledge and skill and stood out among his peers and he taught al ‘Ajirrumiyyah and Risalat al Qayrawani at az-Zawiyah as-Siddiqiyyah. He used to attend his fathers lessons in Sahih al Bukhari and al ‘Ashbah Wa an-Nadha’ir by as-Suyuti and Mughni al-Labib and reviewed the explanation of ad-Damamini and Hawashi al’Amir and ad_Dusuqi and ^Abdulhadi Naja al ‘Abiari and other than that.

In the midst of all of that he wrote the first of his compiled works which is an elaborate explanation of al ‘Ajirrumiyyah which was named by his brother al-Hafidh Abu al Fayd “Tashyid al-Mabani Litawdih Ma Hawathu al-Muqaddimah al-‘Ajirrumiyyah Min al-Haqa’iq Wa al-Ma^ani.”

Toward the end part of Sha^ban 1349AH-1930G he traveled to Egypt and joined al-Azhar al-Ma^mur and attended the explanation of al-Malwi ^Ala as-Salam and Hashiyat as-Sabban under the tutoring of shaykh ^Abdulqadir az_Zantani at-Tarabulusi. He also attended Jam^ al-Jawami^ the explanation of al-Mahalli from the chapter of al-Qiyas up to its end and ar-Risalah as-Samarqandiyyah Fi ‘Adab al-Bahth Wa al-Munadharah under the tutoring of the grand scholar Mohammad Hasanayn Makhluf al-^Adawi al_Maliki.

He attended the explanation of al-Asnawi ^Ala Minhaj al-‘Usul lil-Baydawi under the tutoring of shaykh Hamid Jad and Tahdhib as-Sa^d Bi Sharh al-Khabisi Fi al Mantiq under the tutoring of shaykh Mahmud Imam ^AbdurRahman al-Mansuri al-Hanafi and he heard from him al-Hadith al-Musalsal Bil-Awwaliyyah.

At the orders of his father he directed himself toward the Shafi^iyy Fiqh and attended al-Manhaj for shaykh Zakariyya under the tutoring of shaykh Mohammad ^Izzat and read Sharh al Khatib ^Ala Abi Shuja^ under the tutoring of shaykh ^Abdulmajid ash-Sharqawi. He attended the lessons of shaykh Mohammad Bakhit al-Muti^iyy in at-Tafsir Wa al-Hidayah in the Hanafi Fiqh and his Hashiyah ^Ala Sharh al-“Asnawi ^Ala Minhaj al-‘Usul and he authorized him an all inclusive authorization (‘Ijazah ^Ammah).

He attended lessons in Sunan at-Tirmidhiyy under the tutoring of shaykh Mohammad as-Samalutiyy who authorized him an all inclusive authorization (‘Ijazah ^Ammah)just as other scholars have also authorized him.

In the year 1350AH-1931G he took the test of ^Alamiyyat al-Ghuraba’ which encompasses twelve kinds of knowledge and he passed, and he obtained the degree of ^Alamiyyat al-Ghuraba’ and then he obtained ^Alamiyyat al-Azhar.

His Teaching

He taught Jam^ al-Jawami^ Bi Sharh al-Mahilli, Sharh al-Millawi ^Ala as-Salam, Sullam al-Wusul Ila ^Ilm al-‘Usul Li Ibn Abi Hijab, al-Jawhar al-Maknun Fi al-Balaghah Lil Akhdari, Sharh al-Makkudi ^Ala al-Alfiyyah, Tafsir an-Nasafiyy, al-Ahkam Lil ‘Amidiyy, Al-Khabisi ^Ala Tahdhib as-Sa^d Fi al-Mantiq, and Tafsir al-Baydawi.

His Shaykhs

Morocco:

1.                  His father, as-Sayyid Muhammad ibn as-Siddiq, may Allah endow His mercy on him.

2.                  His brother, al-Hafidh, the Grand Scholar, Abu al-Fayd Ahmad.

3.                  The Grand Scholar ash-shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Hajj as-Sulami

4.                  The Grand Scholar, ash-shaykh al-Qadi al-^Abbas ibn Abi Bakr Binani.

5.                  The Grand Scholar, al-Muhaqqiq, as-sayed Ahmad ibn al-Jilani al-Amghariyy

6.                  Ash-shaykh Fathullah al-Binani ar-Ribati.

7.                  The grand scholar, ash shaykh ar-Radi as-Sinani, known by al Hamsh.

8.                  The grand scholar Abush-shita’ ibn al-Hasan as-Sinhaji.

9.                  The grand scholar, ash-shaykh Muhammad as-Sinhaji, the brother of the previous listed one

10.              The grand scholar, as-Sayyed Ahmad ibn at-Tayyib, al-Qadiri.

11.              The grand scholar, ^Abdullah al-Fudayli.

12.              The grand scholar, as-Sayed ^Abdur-Rahman ibn al-Qurashiyy, al-^Alawiyy.

13.              Ash-Sharif, al Habib, al-Mihaji.

14.              Al-Muhaddith, ^Abdil-Hayy al-Kittani.

15.              The grand scholar, al Qadi al Husayn al ^Iraqiyy.

16.              The grand scholar, as-Sayed Muhammad al-Makiyy, ibn Muhammad al-Batawiriyy.

17.              As-Sayed al Mahdiyy ibn al-^Arabi, ibn al-Hashimiyy az-Zarhuniyy.

18.              The king Idris ibn Muhammad al Mahdiyy ibn the grand scholar Muhammad ibn ^Aliyy as-Sanusiyy ash-sharif al-Hasaniyy.

19.              Al-Qadi al Musnid al Kabir ^Abdil-Hafidh ibn Muhammad ibn ^Abdil Kabir al-Fasiyy al Fihriyy.

20.              The grand scholar the sufi Abul Qasim ibn Mas^ud ad-Dabbagh.

21.              The grand scholar, al Muhaddith, as-Sayyed Muhammad ibn Idris al Qadiri al Hasaniyy al Fasiyy.

Tunisia

The shaykh of Jam^ az-Zaytunah shaykh      Tahir ibn ^Ashur at-Tunisiyy al Malikiyy

Egypt

1.      Ash shaykh Muhammad Bakhit al-Muti^iyy al Hanafiyy.

2.      The Musnid of the era, ash-Shaykh Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ^Abdul ^Aziz ibn Rafi^ al Husayniyy at-Tahtawiyy.

3.      Ash-shaykh Muhammad Imam ibn Burhan ad-Din Ibrahim, famous by as-Saqqa ash-Shafi^iyy.

4.      Ash-shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Hamidiyy as-Samalutiyy al Malikiyy.

5.      Ash-shaykh Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalifah al-Azhariyy ash-Shafi^iyy.

6.      Ash-shaykh Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ad-Dalbashaniyy al Musiliyy al-Qahiriyy.

7.      As-Sayyed Baha’uddin Abun-nasr ibn Abi Mahasin al Qawuqji at-Tarabulsiyy.

8.      Ash shaykh Muhammad al Khadir ibn Husayn at-Tunisiyy.

9.      Abul Wafa’ Khalil ibn Badr ibn Mustafa al Khalidiyy al Hanafiyy.

10.  The grand scholar ash-Shaykh Muhammad Dwidar al Kafrawiyy at-Tillawiyy ash-Shafi^iyy.

11.  Ash-Shaykh Taha ibn Yusuf ash-Sha^biniyy ash-Shafi^iyy.

12.  Ash-Shaykh Abdil Majid ibn Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Labban.

13.  Abdil Wasi^ ibn Yahya as-San^aniyy al Yamaniyy.

14.  Al-Ustadh ^Uwayd ibn Nasr al Khuza^iyy al Makkiyy.

15.  Ash-Shaykh Muhsin ibn Nasir Baharbah al Yamaniyy al Hadramiyy ash-Shafi^iyy.

16.  Ash-Shaykh Abdil Ghaniyy Tamum al Hanafiyy.

17.  Ash-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Bablawiyy al Malikiyy.

18.  Ash-Shaykh Muhammad ibn ^Abdil-Latif Khudayr ad-Dimyatiyy ash-Shafi^iyy.

19.  Muhammad ibn Muhammad Zabarah as-San^aniyy al Hasaniyy.

20.  Ash-Shaykh Mahmud ibn ^Abdir Rahman al Mansuriyy al Hanafiyy al-Azhariyy.

21.  Ash-Shaykh Muhammad Zahid ibn al-Hasan al Kawthariyy.

22.  Ash-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Hasanayn ibn Muhammad Makhluf al ^Adawiyy al-Malikiyy.

23.  Ash-Shaykh ^Abdil Majid ash-Sharqawiyy.

24.  Ash-Shaykh Muhammad ^Izzat.

Al-Hijaz

1.                  Ash-Shaykh, al Muhaddith, ^Umar Hamdan al-Mahrisi.

2.                  Ash-Shaykh al-Muhaddith, ^Abdil Qadir ibn Tawfiq ash-Shalabiyy at-Tarabulsiyy.

3.                  Ash-Shaykh Muhammad al-Marzuqiyy ibn ^Abdur-Rahman Abu al-Husayn al Makkiyy al Hanafiyy.

4.                  Ash-Shaykh Salih ibn al-Fadl at-Tunisiyy thumma al Madaniyy al Hanafiyy.

5.                  The great scholar ^Abdul-Baqi ibn Mulla ^Aliyy ibn Mulla Muhammad Mu^in al-Laknawiyy al-Ansariyy al-Madaniyy al-Hanafiyy.

Ash-Sham

1.                  Ash-Shaykh Muhammad Sa^id ibn Ahmad al-Farra ad-Dimashqiyy al Hanafiyy.

2.                  The grand scholar, Badruddin ibn Yusuf al Hasaniyy ad-Dimashqiyy, ash-Shafi^iyy, the shaykh of Dar Al-Hadith in Damascus.

3.                  Al-‘Ustadh, ash-Shaykh ^Abdil Jalil ibn Salim adh-dhara ad-Dimashqiyy.

4.                  Ash-Shaykh Muhammad Raghib ibn Mahmud at-Tabbakh al-Halabiyy al Hanafiyy.

5.                  Ash-Shaykh Yusuf ibn Isma^il ibn Yusuf an-Nabahaniyy ash-Shafi^iyy al-Bayrutiyy.

6.                  Ash-Shaykh ^Ata’ ibn Ibrahim ibn Yasin al-Kasm ad-Dimashqiyy al Hanafiyy.

His Shaykhs Among the Women

1. Umm al Banin ‘Aminah bint ^Abdil-Jalil ibn Salim adh-dhara ad-Dimashqiyy.

His Authored Works

He authored many compiled works some of which are:

1.                  Al ‘Ibtihaj Bitakhrij Ahadith al-Minhaj Lil Baydawi.

2.                  Takhrij Ahadith Luma^ Abi ‘Ishaq Ash-Shirazi Fi al-‘Usul.

3.                  ^Aqidat Ahl al-Islam Fi Nuzul ^Isa ^Alayhi Assalam Fi ‘Akhir az-Zaman.

4.                  Ar-Rad al-Muhkam al-Matin ^Ala Kitab al-Qawl al-Mubin.

5.                  Ithaf Al-Adhkiya’ bi Jawaz at-Tawassul bi Sayyed al-Ambiya’.

6.                  Al-Arba^un Hadithan al-Ghumariyyah fi Shukr an-Ni^am.

7.                  Al-Arba^un Hadithan as-Siddiqiyyah fi Masa’il Ijtima^iyyah.

8.                  Al-Istiqsa’ li Adillat Tahrim al-Istimna’.

9.                  Samir as-Salihin fi 3 Ajza’.

10.              Husnil Bayan fi Laylat an-Nusf min Sha^ban.

11.              Fada’il al-Qur’an.

12.              Tashyid al-Mabaniyy lima Hawathu al-‘Ajirrumiyyah Minal-Ma^ani.

13.              Fada’il Ramadan wa Zakat al-fitr.

14.              Misbah az-Zujajah fi Salatil-Hajah.

15.              Qisas al-Ambiya’.

16.              Qurrat al-^Ayn bi Adillat Irsal an-Nabiyy ila ath-Thaqalayn.

17.              Jawahir al-Bayan fi Tanasub Suwar al-Qur’an.

18.              Nihayat al-‘Amal fi Sharh wa Tashih Hadith ^Ard al-A^mal.

19.              Al-Hujaj al Bayyinat fi Ithbat al-Karamat.

20.              Wadih al-Burhan ^Ala Tahrim al-Khamr fil Qur’an.

21.              Dilalat al-Qur’an al Mubin ^Ala annan-Nabiyya Afdal al-^Alamin.

22.              An-Nafhah al-Ilahiyyah fis-Salat ^Ala Khayril-Bariyyah.

23.              Sharh al-Irshad fi Fiqh al-Malikiyyah.

24.              I^lam an-Nabil bi Jawaz at-Taqbil.

25.              Al-Fath al-Mubin bi Sharh al-Kanz ath-Thamin.

26.              Al-Qawl a-Masmu^ fi Bayan al-Hajr al-Mashru^.

27.              As-Subh as-Safir fi Tahrir Salat al-Musafir.

28.              Ar-Ra’yy al-Qawim fi Wujub Itmam al-Musafir Khalfa al-Muqim.

29.              Khawatir Diniyyah (3 volumes).

30.              Tafsir al-Qur’an al Karim (incomplete).

31.              Itqan as-Sun^ah fi Bayan Ma^na al-Bid^ah.

32.              Tawdih al-Bayan li Wusul Thawab al-Qur’an.

33.              At-Tahqiq al-Bahir fi Ma^na al-‘Iman Billah wal Yawm al-‘Akhir.

34.              Tanwir al-Basirah bi Bayan ^Alamat as-Sa^ah al-Kabirah.

35.              Al-Ghara’ib wal-Wahdan fil Hadith ash-Sharif.

36.              At-Tanassul wal-Infisal min Fadihat al-‘Ishkal.

37.              Kayfa Tashkur an-Ni^mah.

38.              Kayfa Takun Muhaddithan.

39.              Al-‘I^lam bi Anna at-Tasawwuf min Shari^at al-Islam.

40.              Dhawq al-Halawah bimtina^   Naskh at-Tilawah.

41.              Husn at-Tafahhum wad-Daraku li Mas’alat at-Tark.

42.              Al-‘Adillah ar-Rajihah ^Ala Faradiyyat Qira’at al-Fatihah.

43.              Ajwibah Hammah fi at-Tibb.

44.              ‘Izalat al-Iltibas ^Amma Akhta’a fihi Kathir min an-Nas.

45.              ‘Ithaf an-Nubala’ bi Fadli ash-Shahadah wa Anwa^ ash-Shuhada’.

46.              Al-Mahdi al Muntadhar.

47.              Al-Ihsan fi Ta^qib al-Itqan fi ^Ulum al-Qur’an.

48.              Tamam al-Minnah bi Bayan al-Khisal al-Mujibah lil Jannah.

49.              Kamal al-Iman fi at-Tadawiyy bil Qur’an.

50.              Istimdad al-^Awn fi Bayan Kufr Fir^awn.

51.              Tanbih al-‘Awwah Ila Fawa’id as-Salah.

52.              Awliya’ wa Karamat.

53.              Tawjih al-^Inayyah bi Ta^rif al-Hadith Riwayatan wa Dirayatan.

54.              Ghunyat al-Majid bi Hujjiyat Khabar al-Wahid.

55.              Sabil at-Tawfiq fi Tarjamat ^Abdullah ibn as-Siddiq Tarjamah Dhatiyyah.

56.              Murshid al-Ha’ir li Bayan Wad^ Hadith Jabir.

57.              Al-Qawl al-Muqni^ fir-Radd ^Ala al-Albani al-Mubtadi^.

58.              Irgham al-Mubtadi^ al-Ghabiyy bi Jawaz at-Tawassul bin-Nabiyy fir-Radd ^Ala al-Albani al-Wabiyy.

59.              Irshad al-Jahil al-Ghawiyy ila Wujub I^tiqad anna ‘Adam Nabiyy.

He examined several books among which are:

1.                  Al-Maqasid al-Hasanah lis-Sakhawiyiy.

2.                  Tanzih ash-Shari^ah li Ibn ^Iraq.

3.                  Al-Bahr az-Zakhkhar fi Madhahib ^Ulama’ al-‘Amsar.

4.                  Al-Iklil fi Istimbat at-Tanzil lis-Suyutiyy.

5.                  Akhlaq an-Nabiyy, sallallahu ^alayhi wa salam, li Abi ash-Shaykh.

He achieved printing tens of volumes pertaining to al-Hadith and other books from their original manuscripts.

He died, may Allah endow His mercy on him, in the year 1413 after the Hijrah – 1993 G in Tangiers and was buried therein next to his father.

[1] See Tashnif al-Asma^ bi Shuyukh al ‘Ijazah wa as-Samma^ for Abu Sulayman Mahmud bin Sa^id bin Muhammad Mamduh ps. 346-354, also Sabil at-Tawfiq fi Tarjamat ^Abdullah bin as-Siddique.

[christianworldf]

New Post has been published on Christian Worldview Institute

New Post has been published on https://christianworldviewinstitute.com/jewish-feasts/spring-feasts/feast-of-pentecost/the-concept-of-trinity-dr-zakir-naik-urdu/

The concept of Trinity !! Dr. Zakir Naik (Urdu)

Question: The Christians’ concept of God is the Trinity i.e. The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost, but these three are One. We Christians believe in one God, Who is a Triune God.

Answer:

1. The word ‘Trinity’ is not mentioned in the Bible, but in the Qur’an

The word “Trinity” does not exist anywhere in the whole Bible, but it is mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an in the following places:

a. In Surah Nisa chapter 4 verse 171 “Say not ‘Trinity’: desist: It will be better for you for Allah is one God.” [Al-Qur’an 4:171]

b. A similar message is repeated in Surah Maidah chapter 5 verse 73 “They do blaspheme who say Allah is one of three In a Trinity: for there is No god except One God. If they desist not From their word (of blasphemy), Verily a grievous penalty Will befall the blasphemers Among them.” [Al-Qur’an 16:125]

2. The closest verse regarding “Trinity” in the Bible, has now been thrown out of the Bible

The verse in the Bible which is closest to “Trinity” and is often quoted by Christian missionaries is the first Epistle of John, chapter 5 verse no 7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one.” In the Revised Standard Version of the Bible (R.S.V.) revised by 32 Christian scholars of the highest eminence backed by 50 different co-operating denominations, this verse which is the keystone of the Christian faith has been removed as an interpolation, as a fabrication and as a concoction. It has not been expunged from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible by the Muslims or by non-Christian scholars, but by 32 Christian scholars of the highest eminence backed by 50 different cooperating denominations as an interpolation, as a concoction and as a fabrication because this verse does not exist in the original manuscript. We Muslims must congratulate the galaxy of D.D.’s (Doctors of Divinity) who have been honest enough to eliminate another lie from the English R.S.V. Bible, thus bringing it closer to the teachings of Islam and the Glorious Qur’an.

1. Jesus (pbuh) never claimed Divinity

Jesus (pbuh) never spoke about Trinity i.e. three in one. On the contrary he says in:

a. The Gospel of Mark ,chapter 12, verse 29 “Shama Israelu Adonai Ila Hayno Adonia Ikhad” It is a Hebrew quotation which means: “Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord.”

b. The Gospel of John, chapter 14 verse 28 “My father is greater than I.”

c. The Gospel of John, chapter 10 verse 29 “My Father… is greater than all.”

d. The Gospel of Mathew, chapter 12, verse 28 “… I cast out devils by the Spirit of God….”

e. The Gospel of Luke, chapter 11 verse 20 “…I with the finger of God cast out devils….”

f. The Gospel of John, chapter 5 verse 30 “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgement is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”

2. The Catechism of the Church

a. According to the Catechism of the Christian Church, “The Father is a person, the Son is a person, and the Holy Ghost is a person; but they are not three persons but one person.” Person, person, person but not 3 persons but 1 person! What language is this? 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 and not 1. 1 x 3 = 3 and not 1. What makes a person different than the other person? It is his personality.

b. If we have three identical triplets and one of them commits murder, should we hang the other two? The answer is ‘No’, because he is a different person having a different personality.

c. When the Christians speak about the Father in Heaven they have a certain mental picture in mind, of an elderly man some what like Santa Claus sitting on one of the planets with the earth as his foot stool. When they speak about the son, they have a certain mental picture in their mind. A tall handsome man, who has a beard and long hair; somewhat like Jeffery Hunter who did the role of Jesus (pbuh) in the film ‘King of Kings’. When they speak about the Holy Ghost they have a certain mental picture in mind like that of a dove that came upon Jesus (pbuh) when he was baptised or like a spirit at the feast of Pentecost. If we ask the Christians “How many mental pictures do you have when you speak about Trinity?” they say “We have only one picture”. They lie when they say this, for 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 and not 1.

Ref :

http://blog.onlyislam.net/search?q=The+concept+of+Trinity source

[ltsharif]

(via One attribute of the Jews)  Quran Chapter 16 – 124 (Pt-14, Stg-3) (L-1776) درس قرآنOne attribute of the Jews Suratun-Nahl – (The Bee) – 16‘A-‘uu-zu  Billaahi minash-Shay-taanir- Rajiim. (I seek refuge in God from Satan the outcast)Bis-Millaahir-Rah-maanir-Rahiim. (In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful)إِنَّمَا جُعِلَٱلسَّبْتُ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ 124124.  The Sabbath was appointed only for those who differed concerning it, and lo! Thy Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein they used to differ. 124.  ‘Innamaa  ju-‘ilas-Sabtu  ‘alallaziinakh-talafuu  fiih.  Wa  ‘inna  Rabbaka  layah-kumu  baynahum  Yawmal-Qiyaamati  fiimaa  kaanuu  fiihi  yakh-talifuun.   Commentary‘Allaziinakh-talafuu  fiihi – (those who differed concerning it). It aims “the children of Israel”. Here, one attribute of them has been described instead of saying them “the Jews” so that it may be made known that this attribute had become their necessary disposition. It was the reason that they were strictly commanded so that they may be corrected. Purpose of revealing this verse is that you should not be involved in this bad habit (of disobedience). On the contrary, you entire people should obey all orders collectively without wrangling whatever is commanded to you.It is commanded that the Day of Sabbath (Saturday) was appointed only for the Jews, so that the habit of abiding by the Commands of God Almighty is taught to them, and by giving punishment of disobedience in the world, it is determined as cause of warning for other people. Even then those people did not make the obedience their habit. They used to give their opinion in every matter whatsoever was commanded to them. They were just like wicked and perverse children who express their opinions strictly and it is their habit that they refuse to do whatever is said to them. The Jews were divided into different sects concerning the Sabbath also. Some of them accepted but some did not obey. At last those who did not obey; were made pigs and monkey-like in the world.After that, the doom of the Doomsday has been waiting for them and they will be punished very severely. Accordingly, it has been commanded in this verse: They will come to know the truth of those matters on the Day of Resurrection; in which they differed and disputed.From it, the Muslims {Nation of Muhammad (grace, glory, blessings and peace of Allah Almighty be upon him)} should take a lesson that when it is proved concerning a matter that commandment of Allah Almighty and Sayings of His Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace of Allah Almighty be upon him) is this; then they should neither argue and nor raise objections in its execution. Seeking excuses for violation of order after knowing it; was nature of the Jews, which is against the teachings of Islam. First condition in it is to obey the Command.Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif).https://muhammadsharif120.wordpress.com/2018/03/07/one-attribute-of-the-jews/

[caroleratzer]

Echo

Bibliography

Ryan, P. M., & Mirtalipova, D. (2015). Echo: a novel. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

Plot Summary

Once there was a king who was anxiously awaiting the birth of his first son, who would inherit his kingdom. Daughters were unacceptable because they could not inherit, and the throne would pass to his much-disliked brother. When three girls in a row are born, the king instructs the midwife to take each baby into the woods and leave them to die. He then tells everyone, including his queen that the babies have died. But the midwife, like many in her position (as someone in charge of killing an innocent princess), is too kind-hearted to allow the girls to perish. Instead, she reluctantly leaves each with a witch and a promise that her “fate is not yet sealed.” When the girls grow up and decide to leave the witch, she places an enchantment on them. The story then shifts to a boy who has purchased a book and a harmonica from a traveling gypsy. Otto becomes lost in the woods and meets the three girls. They tell him that they must take their voices, carried by the harmonica out into the world and pass it on when the time is right. So begins the harmonica’s journey from the woods of Germany in the early 20th century to Nazi Germany, pre-WW I and II America, and 1950’s New York City. Along the way, the harmonica magically finds its way to whomever needs it the most at that moment.

Critical Analysis

The fairy tale that opens this novel could stand right alongside any gathered by the Grimms and leads into a magical journey connecting four vastly different characters from both Germany and America. As different as each story seems on the surface, each character possesses many of the same qualities: a love of music, faithfulness to their family, and a distinct lack of many of the prejudices exhibited by the adults around them. In the final chapters, readers see all characters and stories come together in what is truly a spectacular symphony.

Review Excerpts

NEW YORK TIMES - John Stephens After reading Pam Muñoz Ryan's enchanting new novel, you'll never think of a harmonica the same way again…Long before the three stories came together in the book's last, triumphant section, I'd been won over by the complex, largehearted characters Muñoz Ryan has created and the virtues—bravery, tolerance, kindness—that the novel espouses. But Muñoz Ryan…is also a writer who cares about sentences…Start to finish, the book is a joy to read. PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY ★ 12/22/2014 The fairy tale that opens this elegant trio of interconnected stories from Ryan (The Dreamer) sets the tone for the rest of the book, in which a mystical harmonica brings together three children growing up before and during WWII. Friedrich, an aspiring conductor whose birthmark makes him an undesirable in Nazi Germany, must try to rescue his father after his Jewish sympathies land him in a prison camp. In Pennsylvania, piano prodigy Mike and his brother, Frankie, get a chance to escape the orphanage for good, but only if they can connect with the eccentric woman who has adopted them. In California, Ivy Maria struggles with her school’s segregation as well as the accusations leveled against Japanese landowners who might finally offer her family a home of their own. Each individual story is engaging, but together they harmonize to create a thrilling whole. The book’s thematic underpinnings poignantly reveal what Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy truly have in common: not just a love of music, but resourcefulness in the face of change, and a refusal to accept injustice. Ages 10–14. Agent: Kendra Marcus, BookStop Literary Agency. (Feb.) From the Publisher Awards and Praise for Echo: New York Times Notable Book Publishers Weekly Best Book ILA Notable Book for a Global Society ALA Notable Children's Book SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL *“The story of Otto and the cursed sisters honor timeless and traditional folktales [and] Ryan has created three contemporary characters who, through faith and perseverance, write their own happy endings, inspiring readers to believe they can do the same.”

KIRKUS *“A grand narrative that examines the power of music to inspire beauty in a world overrun with fear and intolerance, it's worth every moment of readers' time.” PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *“Each individual story is engaging, but together they harmonize to create a thrilling whole.” “A masterpiece.” --Christopher Paul Curtis, author of Newbery Medal-winning Bud, Not Buddy “Daring and beautiful.” --Linda Sue Park, author of Newbery Medal-winning A Single Shard Children's Literature - Paula McMillen Five intertwined story lines wend from a magical forest to various locations during WWII; each story leads into the next. Each set of characters’ fates is intertwined with those in the stories that follow—all connected by a small musical instrument. Three babies, who should have been princesses, are hidden away in a witch’s house. Otto discovers the young girls when he gets lost during a game of hide-and-seek. They are trapped in the forest and can only be freed if Otto takes the gift they offer and passes it along. It carries a prophecy of saving a life. Many years later, a young aspiring musician and conductor finds an unusual harmonica in the Hohner factory where he works. The music it makes is unworldly and beautiful, but the harmonica must be left behind when Otto leaves his small town to ransom his father from a concentration camp. The harmonica next finds itself in the hands of two boys, adopted from an abusive orphanage in Pennsylvania. The older brother, Mike, plays his way into the famous Hoxie Philadelphia Harmonica Band. The harmonica is later donated to needy children as Mike’s musical career takes off. In California, budding musician Ivy must leave behind friends and a supportive teacher when her family takes up curatorial responsibility for the farm of an interned Japanese-American family, the Yamamotos. She is shocked to find that while in her new home, she must attend a separate school with other Mexican children even though she was born in the United States. Still, her compelling harmonica solo earns her a place playing the flute in the school orchestra and she passes the harmonica along to the oldest son of the Yamamotos, who is a Marine. The harmonica stops a bullet aimed at his heart. The final part of the book bring closure to all these stories, notably when a concert at Carnegie Hall in 1951 features the conductor Friedrich, the newest flautist, Ivy, and guest piano soloist, Mike. This book deals with difficult issues in an accessible way, thereby inviting discussion about prejudice and the fears and actions that can follow on both personal and national levels. Reviewer: Paula McMillen, Ph.D.; Ages 10 to 15.

VOYA, February 2015 (Vol. 37, No. 6) - Pam Carlson Would you believe that a harmonica can save lives? It all begins with a witch’s curse on her three foster daughters. They will never find their way home until a musical instrument is used to rescue a life on the brink of death. Young Otto meets them when he gets lost in the woods. Later his career as a harmonica maker launches their way to freedom when one of his creations is touched with magic. Three children living during the World War II era unknowingly pass that same harmonica along to one another. Each plays not only with skill but also with a beautiful infusion of intensity and longing. Friedrich dreams of becoming a conductor but must first flee Hitler’s Germany. Pianist Mike, an orphan in Pennsylvania, agrees to join the Harmonica Wizards to protect his brother. Excellent student and harmonica virtuoso, Hispanic Ivy misses an opportunity to play a solo on the radio and is then stunned to discover the depths of racism when her family relocates from Fresno to Orange County. Each of their stories ends in probable tragedy. Years later, their lives coincide in a tearful, joyous night of music. Resilient, smart characters refuse to give in to circumstances seemingly beyond their control. Ryan’s stories never fail to touch the heart, but this one is also a resounding argument to maintain music programs in schools. To quote Ivy’s music teacher, “Everyone needs the beauty and light of music, especially during the worst of times.” Reviewer: Pam Carlson; Ages 11 to 18. SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL ★ 12/01/2014 Gr 5–8—"Long before enchantment was eclipsed by doubt," a young boy named Otto lost in the woods is rescued by three sisters imprisoned there by a witch's curse. In return, he promises to help break the curse by carrying their spirits out of the forest in a mouth harp and passing the instrument along when the time is right. The narrative shifts to the 20th century, when the same mouth harp (aka harmonica) becomes the tangible thread that connects the stories of three children: Friedrich, a disfigured outcast; Mike, an impoverished orphan; and Ivy, an itinerant farmer's child. Their personal struggles are set against some of the darkest eras in human history: Friedrich, the rise of Nazi Germany; Mike, the Great Depression; Ivy, World War II. The children are linked by musical talent and the hand of fate that brings Otto's harmonica into their lives. Each recognizes something unusual about the instrument, not only its sound but its power to fill them with courage and hope. Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy are brought together by music and destiny in an emotionally triumphant conclusion at New York's Carnegie Hall. Meticulous historical detail and masterful storytelling frame the larger history, while the story of Otto and the cursed sisters honor timeless and traditional folktales. Ryan has created three contemporary characters who, through faith and perseverance, write their own happy endings, inspiring readers to believe they can do the same.—Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY KIRKUS REVIEWS ★ 2014-12-06 A multilayered novel set in turbulent times explores music's healing power. Sweeping across years and place, Ryan's full-bodied story is actually five stories that take readers from an enchanted forest to Germany, Pennsylvania, Southern California and finally New York City. Linking the stories is an ethereal-sounding harmonica first introduced in the fairy-tale beginning of the book and marked with a mysterious M. In Nazi Germany, 12-year-old Friedrich finds the harmonica in an abandoned building; playing it fills him with the courage to attempt to free his father from Dachau. Next, the harmonica reaches two brothers in an orphanage in Depression-era Pennsylvania, from which they are adopted by a mysterious wealthy woman who doesn't seem to want them. Just after the United States enters World War II, the harmonica then makes its way to Southern California in a box of used instruments for poor children; as fifth-grader Ivy Lopez learns to play, she discovers she has exceptional musical ability. Ryan weaves these stories together, first, with the theme of music—symbolized by the harmonica—and its ability to empower the disadvantaged and discriminated-against, and then, at the novel's conclusion, as readers learn the intertwined fate of each story's protagonist. A grand narrative that examines the power of music to inspire beauty in a world overrun with fear and intolerance, it's worth every moment of readers' time. (Historical fiction. 9-14)

The Newbery Honor – The Kirkus Prize – New York Times Editors’ Choice – ALA Notable Book – New York Historical Society Book Prize – National Parenting Publications Gold Award – Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year – Washington Post Best Books of the Year – NPR 2015 Great Reads – New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing – New York Times Notable Book – SCIBA Middle Grade Book of the Year – The Audie Award – International Literacy Association Notable Book for a Global Society – Booksource Scout Award – NCTE Notable Book in the Language Arts – ILA/CBC Children’s Choice – The Américas Award

Connections

http://www.pammunozryan.com/echo/ offers discussion questions, reader’s theater, and author interviews

Pair with other books about Nazi Germany such as “We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement that Defied Hitler” by Russell Freedman in order to make the time period more real for students.

Have students create a timeline or chart the harmonica’s travels.