Seven Prayers for Nenek

"Nenek is sick," Umi said that morning. "We're going to visit her today."

Baby Ais grabbed her crayons straight away. She drew Nenek's garden: tall, tall sunflowers, the bamboo chair, and the orange cat who liked to nap there. Lots and lots of yellow. So Nenek would remember her garden was waiting.

In the car, Umi taught her a du'a. "The Prophet ﷺ taught this du'a for someone who is sick. You say it seven times."

As'alullaahal-'azhiima…

"As-a-lul-lo-hal-a-zhi-ma," Baby Ais repeated, slowly.

…rabbal-'arsyil-'azhiimi…

"Rob-bal-ar-syil-a-zhi-mi."

…an yasyfiyak.

"An yasy-fi-yak." Baby Ais practised it the whole way. Sometimes smoothly, sometimes stumbling. Baby Mo joined in, then fell asleep with his mouth open.

"What does it mean, Umi?"

"I ask Allah the Almighty to heal you."

At Nenek's house, everything felt different. No Nenek calling from the kitchen. The room was dim. Nenek was lying down, her face pale, her voice very small.

Baby Ais stopped at the door. She crumpled her drawing a little. This Nenek wasn't the Nenek who usually chased her around the garden.

"Are you scared, Ais?" Umi whispered.

Baby Ais nodded.

"That's okay. Nenek is still Nenek. Come, hold her hand."

Baby Ais walked slowly to the bedside. Nenek's hand felt warm and a little wrinkly, like soft paper. Nenek opened her eyes and smiled. "Ais…"

Baby Ais gave her the drawing. Nenek looked at it for a long, long time. "The cat looks just like him," she said, and they both giggled.

Then Baby Ais held up her fingers. She began to whisper.

"As'alullaahal-'azhiima rabbal-'arsyil-'azhiimi an yasyfiyak." One finger.

Two fingers. Three fingers. On the fourth she forgot the middle, and Umi whispered the rest.

Five. Six. Seven.

Seven fingers raised. Nenek held the little hand tight. "Your du'a arrived, sweetheart. Nenek heard it. Allah heard it too."

Nenek didn't get better right away that day. She still needed lots of sleep and medicine. But when they said goodbye, her face wasn't as pale as before.

A week later, the phone rang. Nenek's voice sounded clear and cheerful. "Ais! I stuck your drawing on the wall. The cat sits under it every day!"

Baby Ais jumped up and down. Then she held up seven fingers to the phone, as if Nenek could see.

As'alullaahal-'azhiima rabbal-'arsyil-'azhiimi an yasyfiyak. — "I ask Allah the Almighty, Lord of the Mighty Throne, to heal you." Said seven times when visiting the sick. (Tirmidzi 2083, Abu Dawud 3106)

Talk it over with your little one: who shall we pray for today? Let's count to seven on our fingers, together. 🌻