The Longest Trip in the World

Very early in the morning, the car was already full. Bags, pillows, a flask, a box of cakes for Nenek, and two twins still in their pyjamas.

"Nenek's house is far," said Abi, buckling up. "Eight hours."

"How long is eight hours?" asked Baby Ais.

"About… from waking up until lunch, and then until the afternoon."

Baby Mo's eyes went wide. "That's the longest trip in the WORLD!"

Before the car moved, Abi raised his hands and prayed. The twins raised their hands too, though they hadn't memorised it yet.

Allahumma innaa nas'aluka fii safarinaa haadzal-birra wat-taqwaa… Allahumma hawwin 'alainaa safaranaa haadzaa, wathwi 'annaa bu'dah.

"What does it mean, Abi?"

"O Allah, make this journey easy for us, and bring its distance closer."

Baby Ais looked at the road ahead. "So the road will get shorter?"

Abi smiled. "We'll see."

One hour later.

"Abi, are we there yet?"

"Not yet, sweetheart."

Two hours later.

"Abi, are we there yeeet?"

"Not yet."

Three hours later, Baby Mo pressed his cheek against the window. "Abi… are we there yet or what?"

Abi glanced in the mirror. "Let's play a game. It's called Find Allah's Creation. Whoever spots it first gets a point. Ready: find… a cow!"

"COW!" yelled Baby Ais, pointing at a rice field. "One point for me!"

"Find… a mountain!"

"There! There! The one with the cloud on top!" shouted Baby Mo.

They found a buffalo wallowing in mud. A river with brown water. Coconut trees standing in line like soldiers. A white heron standing on one leg. Each time, Umi asked, "Who created it?" and they answered together, "Allaaah!"

Baby Ais collected twenty-three points. Baby Mo collected nineteen — then fell asleep in the middle of the word "buffalo", mouth open, a half-eaten cake in his hand.

He slept for a very long time.

When he opened his eyes, the car had stopped. Outside was a green fence he knew, a guava tree, and Nenek waving and waving from the porch.

Baby Mo rubbed his eyes. "Huh? We're here?"

"We're here," said Abi.

Baby Mo jumped for joy. "Abi! The du'a WORKED! The road got really short!"

Baby Ais rolled her eyes. "That's because you were ASLEEP, Mo."

Abi laughed so hard he had to rest his head on the steering wheel. "You're both right," he said. "Allah makes journeys easy in lots of ways. Sometimes with cows and mountains. Sometimes with a really good nap."

Allahumma innaa nas'aluka fii safarinaa haadzal-birra wat-taqwaa, wa minal-'amali maa tardhaa. Allahumma hawwin 'alainaa safaranaa haadzaa, wathwi 'annaa bu'dah. — "O Allah, we ask You on this journey of ours for goodness and piety, and for deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey easy for us and fold up its distance for us." (Muslim 1342)

Talk it over with your little one: on our next trip, shall we play Find Allah's Creation? Who do you think will win? 🚗