The Love of the Sinner

CHAPTER 9. Big Sins

Read until it's over, yeah. Keep loving and commenting. May the kindness of friends be better repaid.

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CHAPTER 9

     When pulling the book on the shelf, it turns out that there is a thin book that was attracted by Aulia. The book fell and Aulia took it.

'The 3rd Great Sins book series: Zina.' Aulia read the title of her book in her heart.

      Due to high curiosity, Aulia read the book. Just reading the list of contents alone, he felt his body tremble. 

'The punishment of an adulterer for a person who is not bound by marriage is by the law of whipping 100 times.' Aulia read the passage inside the book.

        Aulia opened the book at random. He read a few paragraphs at random as well. His eyes were fixed on the sentence, 'Two evils will be avenged by God when in the world; fornication and disobedience to the father's mother.'

"Astaghfirullahal'adzim, astaghfirullahal'adzim," said Aulia with tears again soaking her cheeks.

       While sitting on the floor covered in carpet, Aulia sat down to read the thin book. He started reading from the beginning. His eyes moved following the lines of sentences that were in them. Often he felt his body tremble, while reciting the holy verses of the Qur'an which contain the sin of adultery. Penalties for the perpetrator of adultery, either who does not yet have a partner, or for the perpetrator who already has a partner. The danger of adultery for the perpetrators.

"Allah forgive me, for I never learned the religion of Islam. If I had been reading and studying the Qur'an correctly since childhood and understood it, I probably would not have dared to do that with Kak Rangga" said Aulia monologue.

"Son, are you going to study for Ba'da Ashar?" Grandma Halimah asked as soon as she opened the door.

     Aulia turned her back on the door and wiped her tears quickly. Then he turned his body and smiled at Grandma Halimah.

"Where are you going, Grandma?" Aulia turned around to ask.

"To the Al-Ikhlas pesantren mosque, every afternoon there is always a study for princesses and mothers" replied Grandma Halimah.

"Can I come? I'm not a santri" asked Aulia as she stood up and walked closer to the old woman.

"Of course I can. It's free to the public. The study for women is ba'da Asar while for men ba'da Maghrib," replied Grandma Halimah.

"Then I will come, Grandma," replied Aulia.

***

     After congregating Ashar prayers, Aulia joined Grandma Halimah to the big mosque in the Al-Ikhlas pesantren complex. Aulia realized that Grandpa Yusuf's house was near the boarding school. People wear Muslim clothes there too. The women there wear long, hooded clothes. Be it toddlers, children, teenagers, mothers, to grandmothers. 

'It was only fitting that people were looking at me with strange gazes even the men lowered their heads, ' Aulia's inner self.

"Assalamu'alaikum, Nek Halimah" said a middle-aged woman and several young women with him.

"Wa'alaikumsalam, Nyai Sarah. When do I get back from Umrah?" asked Grandma Halimah while receiving a helping hand.

"Yesterday the day after. This who?" nyai asked Sarah when she saw Aulia.

"Grandson of the city" replied Grandma Halimah.

"It's beautiful, hopefully at home to live in this village," Nyai Sarah said with a gentle smile.

"Insha Allah, Ma'am," replied Aulia.

"Oh, I'm called Mom, feeling weird. Just call Him Sarah like everyone else" Nyai Sarah said.

"Aulia, Nyai Sarah is Miss Lik Gus Fathir," Grandma Halimah said.

"Oh, it turns out to have known Gus Fathir," concluded Nyai Sarah with a seductive smile.

"Kan Gus Fathir brought Grandma and Grandpa to the city yesterday, so certainly met with Aulia, wong ponakan Nyai himself who drove the car," Grandma Halimah said with a small laugh.

"Oh, that's the story," continued Nyai Sarah with a laugh.

     They also entered the mosque and listened to lectures from Nyai Khadijah who gave religious knowledge about the priority of maintaining the peace. Aulia was very happy to listen to the lecture that afternoon. The relaxed manner of discussion and simple language make Aulia can easily understand the contents of the verses of the Qur'an and the hadith recited by the speaker.

       The number of people who respected Grandma Halimah, made Aulia more amazed by the figure of the old woman. It turns out that Grandma Halimah used to be one of the teachers there. His sister Sarah was also his student.

***

     Around 17:00 Aulia and Grandma Halimah reached home. It turned out that Grandpa Yusuf was already home. He was sitting there reading a book.

"Assalamu'alaikum," greetings Grandma and Aulia together.

"Wa'alaikumsalam," replied Grandpa Yusuf.

       Halima kissed her husband's hand and was followed by Aulia. Seen the radiance of affection from the two seniors. Aulia did not think that Grandpa Yusuf was 82 years old while Grandma Halimah was 77 years old. Their fit face and body, will definitely be estimated to be around 60 years old.

"Aulia is here sitting with Grandpa" said Grandpa Yusuf as he patted his sofa.

     Aulia complied and sat down on the long sofa. He saw the title of the book that Joseph's grandfather had read. All the writing on the cover is Arabic.

"Do you want to study religion at home or at a boarding school?" ask Grandpa Yusuf.

"I want to study with Grandma and Grandpa" replied Aulia. 

     He felt that at this moment he did not want to be the spotlight of people he did not know. Just now at the mosque many people were glancing at him, then they were whispering. Aulia did not like that, feeling uncomfortable. Especially at this time he is so layman of religious knowledge. If she studies at home with Grandma and Grandpa it will be easier to focus.

      Aulia will also not hesitate to ask something if it has not been understood by him later. He is the type of person who wants to be high. 

"Yes, that's it. Later Grandpa and Grandma will teach you," said Grandpa Yusuf.

"Thank you, Mother" Aulia replied.

***

      After praying Maghrib, Aulia learned to teach with Grandma Halimah. He also learned the Hijaiyah, how to pronounce correctly. Grandma Halimah was a patient person. He slowly taught Aulia that the pronunciation of the letter sounds coming out of Aulia's mouth was correct. 

      Aulia who has an intelligent brain and is always easy to understand and learn something. The first day of learning he was able to pronounce the Hijaiyah correctly. Then he started studying tajwid.

       If Grandma Aulia gave lessons on how to read the Qur'an while Grandpa Yusuf gave other religious knowledge. Aulia was very enthusiastic when Grandpa Yusuf gave her religious knowledge.

"Grandfather, can the sin of adultery be forgiven by God?" aulia asked when she finished studying.

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When will Aulia meet Gus Fathir again? Wait for the continuation yes!