“Based on the linguistic definition above, in terminological terms, al-masa'il al-fiqhiyah refers to new al-waqi’iyyah (factual) Islamic legal problems whose answers are questioned by the people because these issues are not explicitly covered in the sources of Islamic law.
“Do you understand, Husna?” Rafa asked one of his female students. The girl looked startled. Husna felt embarrassed at being caught daydreaming.
“Please pay more attention next time when I’m teaching,” Rafa continued.
Husna merely nodded and lowered her head because everyone in the room was now looking at her.
“All right, that’s enough material for today. And please turn in the assignment I gave you last week. Anyone caught not doing it shouldn’t expect me to pass you easily,” Rafa warned.
Rafa was already notorious at his new campus as a killer professor. He didn’t hesitate to give anyone who neglected his class a D.
Then, one by one, the students submitted their assignments. Afterward, Rafa left the room. He looked handsome in a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Along the corridor, many of his female students blushed whenever they crossed paths with him. It was common knowledge that Rafa was one of the most handsome professors on campus.
It wasn’t unusual for some of the students to sneak glances at him. Some even flirted with him openly, despite the news of his marriage to one of the country’s top actresses having spread throughout the campus. Rafa had only transferred there two months ago, but his name was already that popular.
Rafa had only walked a few steps when the phone in his pants pocket rang. Akbar’s name appeared on the screen. Akbar had been Rafa’s best friend since high school.
“Assalamualaikum. What’s up, Bar?”
“You still have class?”
“Nope. I just finished, actually. What’s up?”
“Great. Let’s meet at our usual café. Amanda’s here too.”
“Okay, I’m on my way.”
“Okay, we’ll wait. Assalamualaikum.”
“Waalaikum salam.”
The call ended. Rafa decided to drive to a café in the Kemang area. It took only about half an hour before his car pulled up neatly in front of the place.
As soon as he stepped inside, a minimalist interior with chic touches welcomed him. There were sofas as well as ordinary chairs for seating.
Rafa scanned every corner, trying to find his two friends. He had some difficulty because the café was fairly spacious and stretched far toward the back. Before long, he spotted Akbar waving from the left corner, right beside the window.
“Sorry, traffic was kind of bad. Have you guys ordered yet?” Rafa asked as he pulled out a chair.
“I ordered for you too. It should be here any minute,” Amanda said.
Rafa simply nodded in understanding without saying much. His two friends already knew his favorite order at this café.
“By the way, how was your first night as a newlywed? Did you succeed?” Akbar teased Rafa.
“Keep your voice down, asshole.” Rafa was annoyed. He glanced left and right to make sure the other patrons hadn’t heard Akbar’s mouth.
“Oh, come on. You’re acting like some virgin girl who just had her first kiss, getting all shy and everything,” Akbar teased, becoming even more relentless. Amanda still said nothing. She chose to sip her cappuccino while waiting for Rafa’s answer.
Akbar and Amanda exchanged puzzled looks at the change in Rafa’s expression. He had even slumped back against his chair. His two friends patiently waited. They knew Rafa’s marriage wasn’t going smoothly.
“Naura still can’t open her heart to me.”
Akbar and Amanda looked at each other.
“You mean Naura still won’t accept you as her husband?” Amanda asked. Rafa answered with a weary nod.
“So there was no first night?” Akbar chimed in.
Rafa let out a heavy sigh. He straightened in his seat, then rubbed his throbbing temples. Thinking about Naura and all the hostility she showed him frustrated Rafa.
“Forget the first night. She’s barely willing to sleep in the same bed as me unless she has no choice.”
Rafa’s thoughts returned to that night, after the reception.
Naura stood with her hands on her hips in front of Rafa. Still wearing her reception dress, she glared fiercely at him. Meanwhile, the man she was glaring at remained comfortably seated, playing with the phone in his hand.
“Remember, there’s not going to be a first night today. So don’t expect me to sleep in the same bed as you.”
Rafa didn’t respond. He was still busy typing replies to several friends and female students who had congratulated him.
“Rafa, are you even listening to me?” Naura snapped, feeling ignored.
Rafa lifted his head and looked at Naura. “Hmm… Whatever you want.” That was the only flat reply he gave before turning his attention back to the screen.
Naura stomped her foot in frustration. Then she chose to go into the bathroom to change her clothes. Before doing so, she made sure the bathroom door was properly locked.
Naura struggled to get out of her dress. All the while, she continued cursing her husband as she cleaned herself up. Once she was done, she grabbed the bag Nadia had given her earlier to look for something to sleep in.
“I knew it. Did you really think I wouldn’t figure out your sneaky little plan?” Naura muttered when she discovered that all the clothes in the bag were lingerie.
Naura then reached for her expensive maroon designer bag. “I’m smarter than all of you,” she added with a victorious smile. She decided to take out a long polka-dot pajama set.
After finishing everything, she quickly stepped out. The moment she poked her head out, Naura found Rafa still absorbed in his phone. He was half reclining, his back propped against the headboard.
Naura walked around the bed and directed a murderous glare at Rafa, who glanced at her. She half-grumbled as she climbed onto the bed.
“You sleep down there!” Naura ordered sharply.
Rafa raised an eyebrow at her. Being stared at so intensely by Rafa naturally made Naura nervous. “W-what are you looking at?” Naura stammered. Her narrow eyes widened as she glared at Rafa with open hostility.
Rafa snorted. “We’re husband and wife now. Of course I have the right to do whatever I want,” he said as he moved closer to Naura.
Naura instinctively clasped both hands in front of her chest when Rafa’s face came right in front of hers. The atmosphere fell silent, and Naura could feel her husband’s warm breath brushing against her face. Their eyes locked.
Rafa worked up the nerve to move his head closer, intending to plant a kiss on his wife’s lips. But he had to forget about that wish when Naura kicked him so hard that he went tumbling off the bed.
“Ow!” Rafa cried out in pain.
Naura ignored him. Instead, she grabbed several pillows and placed them down the middle of the bed.
“See? This is the sacred boundary you’re not allowed to cross. If you try anything, I won’t just kick you out of bed. I’ll kick you all the way to the North Pole, got it?” Naura shouted emphatically. She then pulled up the blanket and went to sleep with her back to Rafa.
Rafa finished telling the story, glaring irritably at Akbar, who had been laughing nonstop.
“Astaghfirullah, I feel sorry for you. From back then until now, you’ve never managed to win Naura’s heart.” Akbar laughed again.
Amanda smacked Akbar on the shoulder, trying to get the bespectacled man beside her to stop making fun of Rafa. The handsome man reluctantly held back his laughter.
“I have an idea,” Amanda interjected.
“An idea to melt Naura’s heart?” Akbar asked. Amanda merely nodded.
“What is it?” Rafa asked eagerly. But Amanda only flashed a mysterious smile.