Mr C, an Australian, fell in love with a Malaysian girl some twenty years ago. He was twenty seven.
He was dating Miss S a beautiful twenty four year old Kucing girl.
To impress and to win her heart, he started to learn first of all the Bahasa Melayu language. A lady teacher spent eight hours a day, and conversed and used only Bahasa Melayu. It was an intense one-on-one lesson. A sheer torture, according to him.
Motivated by a waiting blushing bride, he learned fast.
Then it was an even more intense lesson about Islam. He had to memorize a few Surahs and prayers. Daily he was subjected to 20 minutes of random questioning by the Ustaz and he had to be able to recite.
"I was very nervous!" He said.
It should have been made very much easier, I thought quietly.
To cut a long story short, after twenty years of marital bliss and after having lived in Malaysia, Australia and Indonesia, in April this year Mr C joined the same company I am working with in Jeddah.
He had expressed interest to go to Mecca from his early days in Saudi. However, without a valid travel document it was risky.
During the Eid holiday he went back to Australia to do his Residence Visa. Islam was clearly stated as his faith.
Today, I had the pleasure of accompanying Mr C for his first visit to Mecca.
"Entering the Mosque, I feel the serenity...peaceful!" He told me when we were resting in Mesjidil Haram after the Maghrib prayer.
"I am pleased to see the whole Mosque is used by the people and their families. Good to see the Mosque is not only used for praying" he added, pointing to groups of families having their bonding time and also to a Mutawaf teaching Islamic lessons to congregations of people in his audience.
For me, I am humbled!
Islam indeed is a way of life, for everyone.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from Aljawal
What's a wonderful moment looking Mr C with ketayap and jubah. It's just a small world here we're sharing together.
ReplyDelete