SSH Story: Shahidah

Shahidah used to be an abusee or someone who has been abused. Shahidah was married for ten years. She was married to a man in whom after the honeymoon started showing signs of his abuse. He was an average man built man he could have choosen any other wife, but for some reason he chose sister Shahida based on her looks. He (Musa) didn't find shahidah attractive, because in his eyes he thought she was ugly but married her anyway. So after the honeymoon he went straight to work and his job performance was slipping. He couldn't concentrate on his work either. At times he would get a little angry. Co-workers peered up from their cubicles and then back into their desks because they felt that Musa would notice all the stares and that they would be targets of his anger. Musa would yell at an employee because they took too long at making the coffee. He also yelled at Sarah whom he entrusted to organize his paperwork while he was on his honeymoon. Sarah asked him was he okay and he yelled "DO I LOOK OKAY TO YOU?" Sarah shook her head and ran away crying. He didn't feel bad about that either. He wondered what was throwing him off. He took a rain check and went home. Shahidah had just finished preparing dinner while the three kids were already to eat. There was a knock on the door and shahida waltzied up towards the door and said As-salaamu alaikum honey~

Musa: WHERE'S MY DINNER WOMAN?

Shahidah: Honey, didn't you hear my greeting I said As-salaamu alaikum

Musa: DOES IT LOOK LIKE I GIVE A DAMN?

Shahida: (went silent and retrieved his food) She watched as he gobbled his food and then lied back in his lazy boy as he had a very loud belch) Musa threw down the plate and the spoon on the floor for shahida to pick up. Musa clapped his hands as shahida was his servant or something.

Musa: OHHH SHAHIDAAA WHERE'S MY BEER WOMAN?

Shahida: Oh honey, we don't drink beer in this house remember?

Musa: (turned around and looked at his wife like she was stupid) WOMAN WERE YOU BORN OUT OF A CAVE, GO GET ME MY BEER!

Just then, Adam walked up to grab his mother's abaya.

Adam: Mama, i'm hungry, and the other two kids shouted YEA WE'RE HUNGRY TOO!

Musa: Forgot he had a child and yelled at Adam. GO TO YOUR ROOM AND GO SIT IN A CORNER! DADDY IS THIRSTY RIGHT NOW AND YOU ARE DISTURBING ME FROM GETTING MY BEER! He then looked at Shahida and stood up to her. Adam let loose of mommy's abaya and ran into the kitchen with the others. As big as Musa was shahida stood her ground, and she was scared.  Musa: (speaks slowly so she could understand clearly every word he said) Shahida was ready for whatever he brought forward. Musa: WO-MAN. IF-YOU-DON'T-GO-AND-GET-ME-A-BEER, I-WILL-SLAP-YOU-SOOO FREAKIN-HARD-THAT-YOU-BE-SO-AFRAID-OF-ME-TO-EVEEER-DIS-OBEY-ME-AGAIN-DO-YOU-UNDERSTAND-THE WORDS-THAT ARE-COMING-OUT-OF-MY-MOUTH? Once he finished Shahdidah responded with a submissive Yes. Musa: Goooooooood. He was happy that he was in control. As soon as shahida turned around a big hand flown past her eyeball and knocked her out. This man had kicked her and did all sorts of terrible things to her. The kids stayed in the kitchen fearing of what to do. Mommy didn't shout back or nothing. Then Adam heard footsteps coming towards the kitchen he whisper to his younger siblings to go hide under the table, and that he would follow after. It was too late and Musa saw Adam and called for him. Musa: WHERE ARE YOU RUNNING OFF TO BOI? Adam stood up slowly, he was shaking nervously. He didn't know what to do. Musa stared him  down. Musa: ANSWER ME! He yelled at him. Adam bursted out to tears and told daddy to stop yelling at him! Musa was furious. He didn't like none of his children nor his wife for that matter to talk back to him. Musa came around the corner with a confused look. Musa: What did you say? I know you are not talking back to me? Adam quickly thoguth of something to say and told his dad to look up and he ran, thus distracting his dad to go check on mom. Mom (shahidah) was out cold. He tapped mom once. Then twice, then again, and again. The he shook her aggressively, mommy wake up, wake up, daddy is scaring me, daddy is scaring me! Musa hears adam in the living room and just as he is shaking his mother to wake up. Adam stops and quikly did a tuck and roll out of the way before his dad had hitted him. Musa: Where are you running off to boi? Meanwhile the other two kids were making dua, something that shahidah was proud to teach them whatever the circumstance was and in this situation the two (rabia and yahya) were making some serious dua to Allah to wake mommy up and that daddy would stop chasing adam. Adam was darting around trying to confuse his father. Musa stopped and then laughed. He slapped his thigh while adam stopped to take a breather and fixed his glasses. Musa said outloud while the tv was still on. Musa: I don't know why I didn't think of this any sooner. Musa started taking off his belt and adam got nervous and started running upstairs while musa followed after him. Once Rabia and Yahya knew the coast was clear, they both ran up to mommy but mommy slowly opening her eyes like she was in a nightmare. She woke up to her beautiful children who had terriying faces on them and got up quick. She knew that look. Musa was around him somewhere trying to do something awful. She didn't think of it too much she had to start taking action. Shahida: Quick kids, go in the kitchen put on your shoes and go out the door, NOW! Both rabia and yahya ran to get those shows because they knew they couldn't stay no longer in this type of environment. So anyway, shahida also runs into the kitchen and FORTUNATELY her purse is their too! Yahya also grabs his older brothers shoes and while shahida and rabia are waiting in the car. Yayha pauses and looks upstairs wondering if he wait for his older brother. Yayha: Come onnnnn anyday now he said in his mind. But he snapped out of it and ran out the door. Just then adam runs towards the open door and musa jumps towards it too except adam gets away. He is very tired and getting exhausted. Musa hits the floor hard, as he gets up he slips on a piece of paper. Adam is at the bottom steps of the stairwell and sees and open door he runs out the door and he sees the family car. Adam: WAIIIIIT FOR ME MOMMA! Yahya hears a familiar voice and he turned back to look that it wwas yahya! He was excited and he jumped up and down in his seat to let everyone in the car know that Adam escaped and he was fine! Rabia siad: Mom, you have to turn around. She said, of course I am so as she drove up to adam and momma unlocked the doors so adam would open the front and he got in safely as the car drove away. Shahida was so happy to have been patient in waiting for her son. She couldn't leave him with that monster. So was Yahya and Rabia they were all relived. Yahya remmebered: Hey ma, we didn't eat yet. Shahida said: Oh that's right, Oh you know what let's go to the masjid they probably have something to eat there inshAllah. As all three children rubbed their bellies with their tongues smaking their faces and saying Mmm mmm masjid food they all said at once. When they got to the masjid the kids had their faces to the windows, ready to get out of the car. Shahidah parked the car and got out. The Imam just pulled in three spaces away as the kids were getting out the car. Adam noticed he was still in his sockks and looked around in the car. Adam: Did anyone bring my shoes? Yahya said: Of course bro, here they are. Adam was relieved as yahya passed adams shoes up front. As Adam was stepping into his shoes and then tying them, Shahidah looked around to make sure her kids were okay and Imam Khalil approached her and her kids. IK: Salaamu alaikum all! The kids and shahidah turned around and happily waived to IK. Kids: Wa alaikum as-salaam! Imam Khalil stooped down to their level and asked them all and how are you all today? Rabia had one arm behind her back and her finger in her mouth while moving side to side looking cute, Yahya was rockin back and forth on his heels with his hands in his pockets, and Adam had his hands by his sides. They shyly said: Alhamdulilah. The Imam smiled as he petted both Adam and yahya on the top of their heads and presented them each with their favorite flavored lolipops. They each thanked the Imam as the he rose back up to stand. Children, we have some dinner being served in the cafe why don't you guys go grab something to eat. The kids were excited. They put htir loliposps in their pockets and raced each other inside the mosque. Shahidah watched as her children raced each other and started crying. The Imam noticed that she was crying and he offered her a tissue. She took it and gently wiped her tears away. The sun was setting as it was turning into evening. Imam Khalil gave her the salaams. She said wa alaikum as-salaam. He asked her are you alright? She sniffled. No, I'm not alright, I mean subhanAllah but and then she paused. Imam Khalil reassured her it's okay i don't bite. Shahidah inhaled, then exhaled. Imam Khalil, I want a divorce. Imam Khalil was shocked. Are you sure? I mean you and musa look like a nice match together. Is something going on? Is he hurting you? She broke down and nodded her head repeatively, yes, yes he is and just recently. Imam Khalil was sympathetic, but he saw on his watch that maghrib was coming up and he walked with shahida until they got to the sisters entrance after maghrib if you want to talk about your situation you can but for now it's almost maghrib and I want you look on the bullentin board about a Sisters Sunnah Home that would best fit your descritpiton. The sisters who run the home try to help as many sisters as they can Alhamdulilah so maybe they may take a look at your situation and providing you with a place to stay how does that sound? Shahdidah dried her tears and was some what relieved. Woow she thought, there is a such place. He nodded in agreement yes there is. I hear nothing but great news from that place and I'm not just saying that. My wife tells me from other sisters that they really help sisters even if they are going through tough times. Shahida sniffs okay, jazakhallah khair for sharing this with me. You are most welcome sister shahida. The two of them went into the seperate entrances of the mosque. After maghrib prayer, sisters were either praying or making noise while shahida was there she made some sunnah salaats and went on to check her children, before she got to the other room in the masjid she saw the posting that the Imam was talking about. Shahida read it like it was a dream come true...as she looked at the posting she read to herself that when any sister that went past her would hear her say aloud. Shahida: Sister sunnah home, providing a place for single sisters and their children a home. Anywayz that night she was offered to stay at the home for a couple of days since her husband was abusing her and the children. So her and her husband settled on a divorce and they stayed at the SSH. The kids were happy cuz there was so much they could do while mommy drove sisters around the town.

Additional Info.

She is drives the van and is charge of dropping off and picking up sisters. It's like sister cab services only for sisters in the house.

She loves to learn arabic

Ethnicity

african american

Nicknames

shah shah

mommy