One day, an Islamic family of three moved into a town with different kinds of people with different religions.

They moved into a small house in a small neighborhood. While the mother and the father were doing yard work their daughter, Bahia, would play outside. One day while Bahia was playing outside, she noticed two other girls that looked her age, playing down the way from her house. Bahia and her family were new to the neighborhood and did not have any friends. She wanted to go meet them, but she did not know what to say. While she was thinking about what to say, her mother noticed and took Bahia to meet them. The two girls were Beatrice and Constance. They were both Christians. When Bahias mother introduced her to the two girls they played together and became best friends. After being friends for a month they played together, had play dates, and went to each others houses. The first time Beatrice and Constance went to Bahias house, their friendship with Beatrice almost shattered to pieces. Bahia never slept over at Beatrice and Constances house and she only came out to play two hours a little after noon. They never knew why Bahia did that and they didnt really care. The first time Beatrice and Constance went to Bahias house they found out why. When Beatrice and Constance came to sleep-over at Bahias house, they had lunch there too. When they past the kitchen in Bahias house, they heard a noise that sounded like a chicken and a loud CHOP, then heard Bahia's dad say,Bis'Allah, in the name of God. Beatrice and Constance looked in the kitchen and saw Bahias dad praying over a dead chicken. Then Beatrice said, Thats stupid. Why do you have to pray to kill your food? Its just a dead piece of meat that was going to die sooner or later. God wouldnt care for a stupid little chicken. Bahia was with her father in the kitchen, but at the corner table where you couldnt see her from the door. She had heard everything Beatrice just said, but her father was too busy preparing for lunch he did not hear Beatrice. Bahia took that offensively because she respected her religion with her life. As Beatrice and Constance explored the house, they saw pictures of symbols that looked like a W and pictures of a man and said, Muhammad under it and a picture of a crescent moon and a star. They also saw Bahia's mother heading towards the bathroom, but stopped in front of the door and started pray then went in then heard water running. Beatrice turned to Constance and said, Thats so strange, to pray to clean them. That is just the dumbest thing Ive ever seen. Constance just looked at her and thought, Shes such a jerk, making fun of other religions, just because we dont understand their beliefs. But she did not say it. She just looked at Beatrice and nodded. Bahia was in her room setting up when she heard them. The hallway they were in was close to her room and Bahia had very good hearing. Bahia became angry at Beatrice after what she heard that day and she knew there was more to come, so she controlled her anger and pushed it down. The table was set and everyone was called to lunch. Beatrice and Constance were hungry, but did not touch their food until someone else did, but nobody touched their food. Constance and Beatrice noticed that Bahia, Bahia's mom and dad were looking at each other as if they were counting, then all three of them, together said. Bismillahi WA 'ala baraka-tillah. With Allah's name and upon the blessings granted by Allah. Then Bahias started to eat. Constance and Beatrice soon realized that they were praying and started to eat. When everybody was finished eating Bahia's family looked at each other again, but this time they said, Alham do lillah hilla-thee At Amana WA saquana waja 'alana minal Muslimeen. All praise is due to Allah who gave us food and drink and who made us Muslims. Then Bahia's family got up and cleaned the table. Once the table was clean, Bahia took Constance and Beatrice to her room. When Beatrice first saw Bahias room she saw the same symbols and pictures in her room and in the hallway, but Beatrice noticed

the symbols in Bahias room were hand drawn, and Constance saw a huge white piece of paper spread out on the table with a line in the middle. On one side was an outline of the symbol that looked a W, and the crescent moon with a star next to it. Bahia left them in her room so she could do the dishes, but when she left she did not go to the kitchen, but hid on the other side of the wall and listened to Constances and Beatrices conversation. They have some strange decorations. There are symbols and pictures of that Muhammad guy all around their house. How important can they be? They are just symbols and some guy, said Beatrice and Constance mumbled back,Yea. When Bahia heard this, the anger from earlier became bigger, and she became angrier at Beatrice, but was still able to push it down and went to do the dishes.

When Bahia came back they played for a while, then all of a sudden Bahia got up, looked outside, bowed down on the floor, and started to say, Subhana Kal-lah hum-ma wabi hamdika wata-bara kasmuka wata'ala jad-duka wala ilaha ghyruka. A'udhu bil-lahi minash Shayta-nir-rajeem. Bismillah hir-Rahman nir-Raheem"Alhamdul lil-lahi rab-bil 'alameen. Ar rahma nir-raheem. Maliki yawmid-deen Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een. Ihdinas siratal mustaqeem. Siratal Ladheena an'amta 'alayhim. Ghai-ril maghdubi 'alayhim. Walad dal-leen. Sub-hana Rabbi-al 'azeem. Sami 'allah hu liman hamida. Rab-bana lakal hamd. Allah u Akbar. Sub-hana Rabbi yal a'la. At-tahiy-yatu lil-lahi was sala-watu wat-tayyibatu. As-salamu 'alayka ay-yuhan-nabiy-yu wa rahma tullahi wa bara-katuhu. As-salamu 'alayna wa'ala 'ibadil-la his-sali-heen. Ash hadu al-la ilaha il-lal lahu wa ash hadu an-na Muhammadan 'ab-duhu wa rasuluh. Allah humma sal-li 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammadin. Kama sal-layta 'ala Ibraheema Wa'ala ahli Ibraheemainnaka Hameedum Majeed. Allah humma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammadin. Kama barakta 'ala Ibraheema. Wa 'ala ahli Ibraheema innaka Hameedum Majeed. Rubbana atayna fi dunya hasanatuh, wa filakheratay hasanatuh, wa qina a'zaban nar As-salamu 'alaykum wa rah-matul lah, Glory be to you oh Allah, and Praise. Blessed be Your name and exalted be Your majesty. There is no god but You. I seek Allah's shelter from Satan, the condemned. In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Sustainer of the Worlds; Most Gracious, Most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgment. Only you do we worship, and only your help we seek Show us the straightway. The way of those whom you bestowed your Grace, Those whose is not wrath and who go not astray. Glorified is my Lord, the Almighty. Allah listens to him who praises Him. Our Lord, praise is for you only. Allah is the greatest. Glory to Allah, the Exalted. All our salutations are for Allah, and prayers, and good deeds. Peace, mercy and blessing of Allah are on you, O Prophet. May peace be upon us and on the devout slaves of Allah. I testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and messenger. Oh Allah send your Mercy on Muhammad and his posterity as you sent Your mercy on Abraham and his posterity. You are the Most Praised, The Most Glorious. Oh Allah, send your Blessings on Muhammad and his posterity as you have blessed Abraham and his posterity. You are the Most praised, The Most Glorious. Our Lord, grant us the good of this world and of the Hereafter and save us from the torture of the Fire. Peace and mercy of Allah be on you. Then Bahia got up and left the room. Beatrice and Constance just looked at each other, and continued to play. Then a few hours after she came back, she did it again, but she didnt come back for 30 minutes. It was very quiet in

the room, and then Beatrice broke the silence saying, Muslims are stupid. They do all this stupid stuff that doesnt make sense. I mean all the symbols and the praying. Its just weird! Bahia heard what Beatrice said as she was heading back to her room. She just stood there, listening to their conversation. Beatrice, thats so rude! said Constance. So I cant say what I think!? Its just some religion! Beatrice said back, so Constance said, But its are friends religion! She could respect it with her life and youre coming around saying its stupid! Beatrice said, So, I can say what I want to say! Fine, but if Bahia hears you Whatever, Beatrice interrupted Constance. Bahia stood there, shocked of the argument that just happened and anger boiling up inside her at Beatrice, but controlled herself not to confront Beatrice. She did not because she felt like it would be makruh behavior of the Sharia, the moral codes and laws if Islam. Bahia looked up and said, Please, Allah forgive my friend, for she knows nothing. Allah means god and they worship him, for he is the only god. Constance and Beatrice did not talk to each other as it got late, Bahia and her family prayed again, and Beatrice was the first one to fall asleep. When Beatrice fell asleep, Constance told Bahia everything that Beatrice had said, and Bahia told her she already knew. They both agreed that Bahia was a jerk and that they both didnt want to be friend with her anymore. They did not know that Beatrice was still secretly awake listening to them and finally realize how rude she was, and promised herself that she apologize in the morning. As they all started to wake up, Beatrice decided to apologize later in the day, after they ate breakfast. They did the same prayers as they did the other day, and Constance sat next to Bahia, who sat by her father, so Beatrice sat between Bahia's parents. After breakfast, the three girls went back to Bahia's room. When they went in Beatrice said, Bahia, I know Constance told you what I said last night, and I am very sorry. Will you forgive me? And Bahia replied , of course Ill forgive you.