.Assalammualaikum kawan-kawan.
Today in the office, I was busy discussing with Boss and the other teachers of the equipment to buy in IKEA. While busy discussing on the day that we should go together to hunt for those items we were also searching for people (especially our own family members :)) to aid us in providing the transport to carry the loads home. When suddenly Boss said, " Monday can? My husband free can fetch us". I quickly responded, "Haiyah Boss, Monday so long leh. I scared my "off day" (the crucial time where woman suffered those unbearable cramps:P) finish already leh". Boss replied, "Haiyoh you ah". Then I cotinued, "eh must haiyoh lah, because wait I must consider my prayer time you know". While busy photocopying the Nursery stuff, my dearest ex-partner said excitedly, "Partner, you know at IKEA have prayer room eh! Then, I tell my husband. Then you can pray there". "Yah I know partner there is. Good Job eh partner! Next time my new partner will also be like you!" I exclaimed. "Yalah go anwhere find prayer room for you!" she laughed. Without knowingly, this scenario left a deep impression on me today and I am still smiling right now remembering the conversation.
Ya Allah yang Maha Kuasa. Tidak akan dibuka hati seseorang tanpa hidayah darimu. Sesungguhnya jikalau kita bersungguh-sungguh ingin mengenali sesuatu atau mempelajari sesuatu, biarlah hingga menara gading. Begitu indah sekali apabila kita dapat berbual mengenai agama kita dan kepentingan solat dalam Islam dengan orang yang bukan Islam. Ex-partner saya yang bukan seseorang penganut Islam begitu tertarik dan suka bertanya kenapa dan mengapa seseorang Islam itu perlu solat. Dan hari ini juga buktinya yang perbualan dan perkongsian kami selama ini ada juga sedekit sebanyak menjejas cara beliau melihat Islam. Whenever she goes, if she sees something that she hasn't seen before about the Muslim people she bumped into in Singapore context, she will be so curious to find out and asked various questions pertaining to us, Muslim.
Previously she was asking about why some woman needs to put on niqab and why man and woman cannot shake hand together when she found out that I rejected a father who wanted to shake hand with me after the Parent Teacher Conference. Also, when we are going out, just like today to watch movie, she is considerate enough to wait until Maghrib is over then to watch the movie. And you know what it takes to make her understand. JUST THREE WORDS. Talk About It. Alhamdullilah she begins to understand about the need of Muslim to pray when I openly talk to her about it. Always remember that if whatever we share and talk about comes from a sincere heart, Allah will help us deliver the message across to the other party's heart in His own beautiful manner, in shaa allah. It's remarkable to see how amazing the non-muslim sometimes try their best to understand the Muslim way of life.
I sincerely hope with this sharing, we the Muslims, should also stand up for our own religion. If others can make attempt to understand our prayers and also the importance of fasting, then we, whom are born Muslim, should uphold our religion and portray the correct way which a Muslim should model. Jikalau seseorang yang kafir boleh menilai berapa pentingnya solat pada diri kita, mengapa tidak pula kita? Harta di dunia bila-bila masa sahaja boleh dicari. Tetapi bekalan akhirat jikalau dilupakan, hinalah kita nanti di akhirat kelak. In shaa allah kita bersama-sama menyebarkan agama kita dengan cara yang sebaik-baiknya dan memperlihatkan kepada orang-orang kafir betapa indah Islam ini sebenarnya in shaa allah.
