Saturday, October 16, 2010

Maghrib prayer at my house

My son told us that his friend Ishak (not his real name) was dropping by to hang out at the house. He was just informing us. No permission really needed. Just notification. These 15-year olds had just completed their PMR exams. It is time to hit the PS3 games with a vengeance.

Since Ishak was at the house we decided to "bungkus" some Otai burgers from the franchise burger stall nearby for the kids.

Got home. Dropped the burgers off in the lounge. Ishak greeted me with "Hi, Uncle". I responded with my usual, "Hi, Ishak." The dinner arrangements taken care of I headed upstairs for a much-needed TGIF snooze.

I just came downstairs. It is almost midnight.

I saw a folded blanket in the middle of the lounge floor. Ishak is long gone by now. My son having retired with his laptop to his room, I asked my daughter why the blanket was on the floor.

She told me, "Oh, Ishak needed to pray just now." I realised that it must have been the Maghrib prayer time.

I asked her how Ishak could have identified the kiblat direction.

She said, "I think he agak-agak."

I just want to say that I think Ishak is a way cool Muslim Malay Malaysian boy.

I also want to say that he wears his faith so easily, which shows that he has received very wise instructions on his faith.

Finally, I want to say that his parents are very cool Malaysians.

8 comments:

walla said...

Indeed, substance, not form.

Both sides of a divide that never was.

After all, one sky only, you know.

Kama At-Tarawis said...

Attaboy! I love him already, dm...

mekyam said...

hi ct!

may the kind of muslims ishak and his family are multiply again in msia. amin!

p.s. dropped by to see yours and walla's [hi walla!] take on the budget and to catch up on other entries. :D

SFGEMS said...

Hi!

It's stories like this that will win the hearts of the non-Muslims.

When I met my husband's stepmother for the first-time, I was bowled over by the fact that she called me "darling" although she wears a tudung. I would have expected the word "sayang". I found that really endearing. A good mixture of the east and west, so to speak.

Watching her interact with her children, I realised that I was truly comfortable with them because they accepted me for who I am.

My being of a different faith was not an issue to them and I believe this is how it should always be.

Lovely story! A feel good moment ensued.

:)

CPL said...

My first experience with a Muslim praying in the same room with me was when I went to Langkawi with my buddy Malik. That was about 30 years ago.

Pat said...

I loved this post, CT.

This is what we're all about. Simple. Nothing complicated. Accepting.

You put a political spin on this, and it all goes pear-shaped.

Beautiful post.

Thank you.

Raison D'etre said...

Nice, DM. Definitely nice.

A much welcomed post from the toxicating "Made for Gomen linked Kengkawan" Budget 2011.

Anonymous said...

I asked her how Ishak could have identified the kiblat direction.
She said, "I think he agak-agak."

If your neighborhood have Astro it's easy, just looka at the satellite dishes. They all face the direction of Makkah.

A good post.