She could see Mama,Aunt Jamila and even Aisha looking at her with amused looks on their faces.Aunt Jamila was Jamal,Kamal and Aisha's mother and was married to Baba's older brother.They had all come visiting for the holidays and they had already been there for one week.It seemed to Latifah that in that one week she had done more fetching,carrying,washing and cooking than she'd ever had to do in her entire life.Latifah had noticed that while she and Aisha helped their mothers with all the work,Kamal and Jamal got to go bowling and stuff with Latifah's father and Uncle Adam.Everyone except Latifah seemed to think there was nothing wrong with that. Latifah took Jamal his juice and stalked back into the kitchen with her hands on her hips.She planted herself in front of her mother and aunt.
'Tell me again why I have to fetch and carry to the guys whims while they lie around and do nothing?',asked Latifah angrily.
'Latifah,we've already discussed this and closed the subject.I distinctly remember telling you not to bring it up again.',said Mama sternly and then turned apolegetically to Aunt Jamila.
'Honestly I don't know what's gotten into her lately.She's usually very well behaved.'
'Sorry Mama.',said Latifah meekly knowing she had been quite rude.
'Sorry Aunt Jamila.',she added before going back to her place beside Aisha,who was drying the dishes.
'That's quite alright,dear.',replied Aunt Jamila patting ,Latifah's shoulder gently.
Anyone observing Latifah would think that was indeed the end of the matter but if they could read her mind they would see it wasn't so.In fact Latifah was thinking of just the right time to bring up the subject again and before she finished her chore she came up with just the perfect time.By evening,Latifah was so excited she could hardly sit still.
'Can I set the table now?Can I turn on the microwave?',she asked Mama again.
'Latifah,I've told you at least a dozen times that I'll tell you when it's time.',replied Mama a bit crossly.
At last it was time for dinner and Latifah promptly took her seat.She finished her food before everyone and did the dishes in record time.Everyone was suprised but then they didn't know that Latifah had a plan.Everyday after dinner they had a family discussion. Everyone took turns choosing a topic and today was Latifah's turn.
'Okay',said Baba as everyone took a seat ,'Who's turn is it to pick a topic tonight?'
'My turn!My turn!',exclaimed Latifah excitedly and without waiting for Baba to respond she forged on.
'The topic I want to discuss is why Aisha and I do all the work while the twins just have fun.'
Latifah turned to Mama who looked as if she was about to protest.
'You promised,we could bring up any topic that was important to us or any problem we have and this is both!'
Mama threw up her hands in mock surrender.
'Latifah,you cannot expect Jamal and Kamal to go into the kitchen and cook.',said Uncle Adam,looking amused.
'That's women's work.'
'Why is cooking and cleaning always women's work?',asked Latifah.
'Who made the rules?'
'That's just the way it has always been.',replied Aunt Jamila in her soft voice.
'Women do the cooking and cleaning and men earn the money.We're only trying to prepare you and Aisha for when you get married.'
'You see that's my point exactly.It's so sexist!',said Latifah,jumping up in her enthusiasm. Mama pulled her gently but firmly down again as she continued.
'Girl's are always being prepared for when they get married but what about the guys?I f Aisha and I have to help with the cooking and washing to prepare ourselves,then does that mean Jamal and Kamal are being 'prepared' for their marital responsibilities by having fun?'
There was a short silence during which Latifah muttered, with a glare at Jamal,
'The least they can do is get their own juice.'
'So what you're saying Latifah is that our fathers should get their own juice too.',stated a grinning Kamal.
'No that's not what she's saying,Kamal!',answered Aisha angrily.
That wiped the grin of Kamal's face.He looked as suprised as everyone else for Aisha was one of those unusually quiet girl who shied away from confrontation.
'We're quite happy to do stuff for our loving fathers who clothe,feed and educate us but you are just kids like us so we should be treated equally.'Aisha continued.
'Besides even Uncle Jamal helps around the house.',finished Aisha,casting a wary glance at her father.Baba chuckled.
'I guess there's no chance of you following your little brother's example,Adam?',he asked Uncle Adam who bristled and said,
'No there isn't.'
'But Uncle Adam it won't be Baba's example you'll be following but the Prophet's( S.A.S)!', said Latifah ernestly.
'You've always said that the Prophet Muhammad( S.A.S) is the best role model for everyone.Well even the Prophet(S.A.S)mended his own clothes and helped around his house and he was always just to his family.', This last part she said a bit cautiously,not wanting to sound rude.
There was a long silence then Mama glanced at the clock.
'Oh my!Look at the time.You kids go off to bed and leave us adults to discuss this what you've said okay?'
'But...',Latifah trailed off as Mama gave her a stern look.
'Okay,Okay'she mumbled.
They all bid their parents goodnight and went off to bed.Latifah and Aisha went off to Latifah's room.They put on their night-dresses,brushed their teeth and performed their abulution before going to bed.Aisha was soon snoring away but Latifah couldn't sleep.What could their parents possibly have to talk about?It all seemed pretty clear to her what was right.Why did grown ups have to make everything so complicated?And with that thought Latifah fell asleep too.When they woke up for Fajr prayer,Latifah was quite sure they would be told what decision had been reached.But after Fajr no one said a word and Latifah and Aisha soon grew tired of waiting for their parents to finish their du'as and dhikr.They gave up and went back to bed.
Aisha and Latifah woke up later in the morning to the smells of breakfast.Mama and Aunt Jamila entered at that exact moment.
'Good morning.' ,they mumbled sleepily to their parents.
'Are you two going to stay in bed all morning?I think there are two young men downstairs waiting for your verdict on their cooking.',said Aunt Jamila with a smile.
'No!' ,exclaimed both Aisha andLatifah at the same time,looking at each other in surprise.Scrambling out of bed they took the stairs two at a time and burst into the kitchen.The sight that that greeted them stopped them in their tracks.Kamal and Jamal were wearing Mama and Aunt Jamila's aprons and doing the washing up.The table was set and breakfast was laid out.The twins turned around with sheepish smiles on their faces.
'Umma and Aunt Huraira helped with the sauce.' ,confessed Kamal.
'Uncle Zakkariyya did the eggs but Abba refused to do anything except squeeze the juice.'
'We won't be doing this everday so don't get used to it,squirt.',Jamal informed his sister.
'We will be taking out the garbage, vacuming and stuff like that.' ,continued Kamal.
'And we'll take turns with you doing the dishes.'
At that point Baba and Uncle Adam strolled in.
'I still say the kitchen is for women' ,he was grumbling to Baba, 'but I guess there's no harm in the young men helping out around the house from now on .' ,he conceded.
'Oh that's just wonderful of you,Uncle Adam!' ,exclaimed Latifah,so excited she flung her arms around her uncle.
'Yes ,well....That's Okay.' ,mumbled Uncle Adam,disengaging himself from Latifah and looking embarrased while his three children chuckled softly behind their hands.
He glared at them and then bellowed out, 'Jamila!' ,just as Mama and Aunt Jamila walked into the kitchen.
'Oh,uhm.You're already here.', he said to Aunt Jamila who was looking at him as if he'd gone crazy.
'Well what are we standing around for?Let's eat.' ,said Baba.
They all sat down to breakfast,which Latifah promptly told the twins was 'quite good considering it was cooked by boys.To everyone's suprise and amusement Uncle Adam turned and looking half-sternly,half-jokingly at his niece,asked, 'Now who is being sexist?'
'Aa'ishah (RA),stated of the prophet,"He used sew his own clothes, mend his own shoes and do whatever other work men do in their homes." (Reported by Imaam Ahmad in al-Musnad, 6/121; Saheeh al-Jaami', 4927).
She (RA) was also asked about what the Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to do in his house, and she said, "He used to serve his family, then when the time for prayer came, he would go out to pray." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 2/162). 
(0 vote)
