By the time I passed the hot dog to my little cousin and made my way to the back of the boat, the speedboat was no where in sight. I returned inside to nurse Baby Z to sleep. Once she was sound asleep, I headed up to the top deck of the houseboat.
Different groups were well into their activities. A few of the girls were playing a game of underwater tight rope. Some of the kids were gathering wood for that night’s camp fire. My dad was on his third or fourth (or was it fifth or sixth) container of bait attempting to catch a fish. Some teens were zoned out on their cell phones; seems inevitable these days. Maysoon and I decided to hang out on the lounge chairs on the top of the houseboat. It was a beautiful view and very relaxing. No wonder why these seats were hardly ever vacant.
Highlighted: Sheriff's station
Time went on and many boats passed before me on the lake.
“Can you call them?” one little cousin finally asked. Call who? No one was carrying their phone. I reassured her there was no need to call anyone.
“He’s smarter than that. Where are they?” my cousin commented soon after. They’re fine of course. It’s a big lake, lots to see.
“There’s an ambulance and fire truck.” This time it was my observation. The words barely audible. Looking out across the water at the side of the mountain directly across from our location, I saw the two vehicles make their way down. Whenever I see emergency vehicles, I send up a prayer for those involved and a prayer for the safety of my own family.
“Which of the favors of your Lord do you then deny?” {Qur’an 55:13}
Nearly an hour has passed since they first left and I’m fighting that feeling inside of me that something isn’t right. I fully trusted the driver of the boat to avoid unsafe boating maneuvers, the windy weather and choppy water conditions had died down completely since earlier that afternoon, and everyone was wearing a life vest.
“Which of the favors of your Lord do you then deny?” {Qur’an 55:13}
I stared at the emergency vehicles across the way. I wondered what had happened. It was all much too far to even get a gist of what was happening. Eventually I decided to go down and wait for them. I was just about to sit down on the ledge of the boat to dangle my feet in the water when I remembered that I myself wasn’t wearing a life vest. I snapped on the closest orange vest and returned to my spot. Feet dangling in the water, I looked out over the lake and back directly at the side of the mountain with the ambulance and fire truck. Whoever it was, I hoped they were okay. Soon a small boat came into view and began to approach the houseboat. It was the sheriff.
Many things played in my head rather quickly. Sometimes I can’t remember any of it. Other times, I remember in excruciating detail all the thoughts that race through a panicked mother’s mind. My mind blurred, paused, and shut down. My heart, however, was racing. I remember getting up slowly. Other times I remember jumping up. I remember scanning the somber looking faces in the boat. I remember not seeing my husband’s face. My cousin is many yards away when I hear him trying to reassure me that everything is okay. His words sound as if he’s speaking underwater. His hands are motioning down as to “calm down”. “Where’s Rami!?!” “He’s fine!” my cousin assures me. I truly believe him, and it’s true, Rami is fine.
“Which of the favors of your Lord do you then deny?” {Qur’an 55:13}
Then it hits me.
“WHERE IS JENIN!?!” “She’s fine!” This time I don’t believe him. This time my heart isn’t at ease. The suppressed fear erupts. “WHAT HAPPENED?! WHERE IS SHE!?” Somehow I find myself inside the sheriff’s boat heading towards the side of the mountain I had been staring at for nearly half an hour, hot tears streaming down my face. With a mandatory life vest already on, there was no additional delay boarding the boat.
“Which of the favors of your Lord do you then deny?” {Qur’an 55:13}
A small body is laying in the boat on the seat, draped in white. Except her face. Her smooth face is exposed and her gorgeous brown eyes connect with mine. “Mama, I’m so scared,” I read in her eyes. “My precious daughter, Mama is with you,” mine respond.
My baby girl is alive.
“Which of the favors of your Lord do you then deny?” {Qur’an 55:13}
—
The speedboat had capsized from a wave. Everyone was tossed from the boat, only to resurface shortly due to the fact that everyone was wearing a life vest. Jenin, however, was missing. A few attempts were made to retrieve her from beneath the capsized boat, only for each person to return empty handed. After desperate cries for help from the water, another boat had come to every one’s rescue. Many of the exact details and exact sequence of events are unclear and unknown to me. What I do know for sure is that Amani prostrated to God and called on Him to send His mercy and gentleness onto Jenin and save her.
I was told that out of no where, two men angels on a speedboat or jet skis arrived. One man “dove into the water like a fish” and resurfaced with Jenin’s lifeless body. Lips blue. One of the women that had arrived on the first boat administered CPR, reviving Jenin.
Again, Amani immediately prostrated to God to praise him. Allahu Akbar, God is great.
The emergency response team arrived 30 minutes later. They too were stuck behind the locked gates.
How merciful is Allah? The one to retrieve Jenin was a professional diver. The woman on the boat was trained in CPR. On our way to the hospital, lost with failed navigation technology in our hands, the only person we found to ask directions was headed to the hospital himself on his way to start his shift. Allahu Akbar, God is great.
—-
I know why God chose me. I know why God chose Jenin. I know why God chose that weekend. Allah is the best of planners. Sometimes we cannot fathom Allah’s will. Other times, if our mind is clear and our heart open, we accept the signs and realize that divine intervention is truly a blessing. A test of mercy from the All Merciful.
Alhamdulilah.
Allah, Arabic for God.
I’m so sorry that you had to experience that but Allah knows best. I’m actually at school reading this in the computer lab and have to hold back my tears. I’m so thankful to Allah that Jenin is safe. Alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillah.
subhanAllah Amnah, that is a mother’s worst nightmare! I can’t stop crying right now just thinking about what you were going through. Alhamdulillah a million times over for His blessings and His ultimate planning…
Allahu Akbar! I can only imagine the avalanche of emotions that you would have been through in those few minutes!
I have no words to describe how I felt reading this… all I can say is alhumdulillah alhumdulillah alhumdulillah alaa kulli haal!! <3
May Allah reward you for your patience and faith in Him at that testing time! May He shower you with His infinite mercy always! Ameen
Allahu Akbar. As a mom, I can totally imagine what you went through. Alhumdulillah, so glad everyone is OK. May Allah bless you and protect your little ones from any and all harm. <3
Alhamdulillah all is well!
As someone who’s gone through something very similar, I can only attest that god truly is great. He is the most merciful and the most kind. *Hugs to your precious Jenin*
My heart was beating out of my chest and I have tears flowing down my face , I can’t imagine poor lil jenins fear when she went they that all these imagines are going thru my head ya haraaaaam ! Alhamduallah she returned to you safely . Alhamduallah
Salam,
May God continue to give you strength and protect your beautiful family. !
Alhumdullilah Amnah that Jenin is fine now alhumdulilah! I have tears rolling down my cheeks as I read this, but your message is clear! This morning, my little/big middle child was clinging to me as I dropped her off for school (Tuesdays are carpool days and she doesn’t like me not being the one to pick her up), I gave her an extra hug this morning because of the line you ended you blog with yesterday…I never said goodbye….and she gave me an extra smile…enough to go on with my day! Alhumdulilah for everything.
Even though I had read this on Iman’s blog and I knew Jenin was ok but I cried when i read this and had to pause and come back to it and I cried when I read it the second time, Alhamdulillah that she is ok and you came through this test without any harm. I pray that Allah swt keeps your family safe always x
Alhamdulilah for Jenin’s revival. Sooooooo scary! Allahu Akbar Alhamdulilah. May God protect you and your family. May you never experience anything like this again. Hugs to Jenin, what a brave young girl she is!
Peace.
Happy to know Jenin is fine. I missed heartbeat when i read jenin’s name in the post. Amnah please give sadka to poor in Jenin’s name. It will ward of all the evil and guard your little one from any harm.
Alhamdulualla Allah protect Jenin habibty and inshallah he always will do and protect May and baby Z and all ur family and i totally agree wuth u some situations in that Allah put us into can change our lifes forever and makes us see the life from a diferent prospective but one thing i know for sure is that Allah knows better and nothing happens before or after he decided it for us it was a test and u guys past it Alhamduliallah now that u got a second chance enjoy every single second every breath with ur little ines and wuth yr husband i love u so much and love the girls too so happy for u and happy for me to confirm one more time that Allah is there for us and that sometimes he give us scary tests in our lifes but at the end he always show us his love for us and that he is there for us
I also had to hold back my tears as my kids were present. My heart stopped and I felt I was falling as I read about a small body lying there wrapped in a white sheet. Alhamdulilah everyone is safe. I pray everyday for the health and safety of my children.
Everyone has their degree of tests and we are all faced with them. At times I don’t understand why, such as now in our lives. Allahoakbar. Certainly Allah is great.
All I can say is Alhamdullilah, Alhamdullilah, Alhamdullilah. That is all I say All day………………………..
Allahu Akbar, Alhamdulillah! So glad she’s ok, and can only imagine what this must have felt like. Thank you so much for sharing with us, and in a way that completely captured our hearts. Alhamdulillah…
Alhamdulillah that Jenin is okay. Like everyone else, I had trouble holding back tears. I had a similar close call that very same week, and all I can say is that it really puts things in perspective and changes the way you parent forever. After reading this, I think we all will hold our children a little closer. Thank you for sharing this.
Alhamdulillah! ………I’ve recently started reading your blogs……… I shudder to think what you must be going through at that time,though we should keep in mine that ALLAH SWT loves us many times more than our mothers, He Knows Best……..Heartiest Congratulations for getting your child back 🙂
Subhan Allah….My breath caught in my throat as I read this. Alhamdulillah that all is well with Jenin and the rest of your family. May Allah continue to bless and keep you all safe, aameen.
Alhamdulilah!!! I’m SO, SO, SO glad Jenin was okay! I didn’t know this happened to you and Jenin!! Oh my goodness, I can’t stop wiping away the tears! When I read about stories like these, it’s sad. But when I actually know the people in involved, “sad” doesn’t even do justice to the feelings I had while reading this. I’m so grateful to Allah that everything worked out the way it did. Alhamdulilah!!!
SubhanAllah, I don’t know how I missed this post before. Alhamduillilah for everything. I can’t imagine everything you were feeling.
SubhanAllah and Alhamdulillah. My heart was pounding as I was reading this post… I could only imagine how you were feeling. I’m so happy to hear that Jenin was ok alhamdulillah. All we can say is alhamdulillah for the tests that are given to us. May Allah keep her and all of your family safe from harm.
Subhanallah. I couldn’t even read every word of this post because I just wanted to make sure that your family was safe. Alhamdulillah. May Allah protect you and your loved ones always and forever envelop you in His Everlasting Mercy. Amin.