There are always some things about myself that I would not have ever noticed had I not persisted in reflecting. This must be the reason why I greatly enjoy meeting people, observing, learning and writing. It is as if I'm opening the rusty windows of my heart, letting some gentle breeze blow through it, sending a message of peace to the interconnected mind. It is an opportunity to know and understand myself better, the Safwan that I falsely thought I've known every single thing about. Early that morning, I gained another insight..
I was deep in my dreams when suddenly Sedin's voice entered into my realm without prior warning. I sat up with resisting eyes and peeked around- outside it was still dark, only not pitch-dark, but everyone in the house was already awake. There were a few movements in and out of the room, and shortly after one of them made the call of prayer. In a few minutes we were ready, standing in straight, well-disciplined rows with Sedin at the front most to lead us. The prayers definitely did not take more than 5 minutes, but to me it was deeply effective. Praising the Almighty, asking for His guidance, love and forgiveness- I would not have preferred any other ways to start my day with.
Yet again I was astonished- and went straight into contemplative mode. My religious background and upbringing are not flawless, there are many others who outdo us by significant distances. We don't frequent the mosque everyday, or strive in learning a large part, if not whole, of the Quran by heart, but we have our principles and certainly cover our basics. As the head of the family, our father taught us to focus on knowledge and togetherness- that we ought to learn and do so with each other's company. He set the example by teaching us the Quran and ahadith after the dusk prayer each day almost without a miss. As a result, I grew up prioritizing prayers in congregation, that I care about it so much, and have by far persuade many to share this same feeling. I've seen, from my primary school to university experience, how challenging it can be to get everyone from the same household to pray in congregation, not to speak of the dawn- early morning- prayer. You would have to treat each time as the first, convincing them of the same thing, bearing their same excuses, waiting for their predictable procrastinations- still there is no guarantee of full attendance. But these people prove to be different. These young Bosnian Muslims, every one of them made it into the congregation, and mind, it was hardly 5 in the morning.
I am not in a speck of doubt that there is more to be seen. There is something about this country and her people that I am yet to learn; something, I guess, simply different. On the streets, an average observer's eyes will not gather much of their spiritual penchant, but here, living with them in their houses, and from what I've seen in the mosques, it is not to be belittled. When the sun rises, I'm all set for a handful more of new discoveries!
Monday 23 August 2010
Sunday 15 August 2010
Hearing through the eyes?
It was already late in the night, and we needed to recharge ourselves for the thrills of the day called tomorrow. I almost couldn't wait to start relating about our walk in Sarajevo- under the bright sun-, but what we learnt that night must not remain untold.
Sanadin walked us along the still-foreign streets of Baščaršija until we arrived at where he wanted us to spend the night in. It was a flat in a shop-lot, almost like the flats I've seen in UK, Ireland, and in my own country Malaysia, where shop-lots are bifunctional. We were introduced to Sedin who appeared to be the 'person-in-charge' amongst the few students who shared the flat, and I immediately liked him. During the whole time we spent there, there were two things he never did- he never spoke a word of English, and he never dropped the broad smile he assumed. Undoubtedly the latter left a lasting impression on me..
People are intrinsicly thinking, contemplative beings. Through our senses we absorb our surroundings and depending on each individual's effort, these are digested as food for thought. If we care to make some further connections, those thoughts will translate into another form, be it written, lingual, or behavioural. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "(what constitutes) the religion is good advice", he didn't say it for nothing. When one's contemplative-digestive-active connection is intact, we'd hope to see changes and improvements to kick-start. But we musn't limit it to only spoken words, because actions many times do speak out louder. Sedin might or might not realise it, but his smiles have taught me how much even a single honest smile can mean. His soundless smiles sounded to us like a 'welcome', a 'make yourselves home', a 'we're happy to have you over', a 'please come again anytime you want'- as if these words emanated from his smiles each time he turns one to us. I never knew my eyes could actually hear!
With the complete bedding handed to me, my eyes were almost tight-closed. On the broad, cozy sofa-turned-bed, I reclined like a tired traveller- indeed I was like nothing less. Wait a minute, where was Nubli? Or better still, where's the toilet in case I need to use it in the middle of the night? Communication was very limited between us and certainly their smiles won't give a shed of answer to these. Eventually my fatigue saved me from these trivials, for I was too tired I couldn't spend an extra minute awake.
Sanadin walked us along the still-foreign streets of Baščaršija until we arrived at where he wanted us to spend the night in. It was a flat in a shop-lot, almost like the flats I've seen in UK, Ireland, and in my own country Malaysia, where shop-lots are bifunctional. We were introduced to Sedin who appeared to be the 'person-in-charge' amongst the few students who shared the flat, and I immediately liked him. During the whole time we spent there, there were two things he never did- he never spoke a word of English, and he never dropped the broad smile he assumed. Undoubtedly the latter left a lasting impression on me..
People are intrinsicly thinking, contemplative beings. Through our senses we absorb our surroundings and depending on each individual's effort, these are digested as food for thought. If we care to make some further connections, those thoughts will translate into another form, be it written, lingual, or behavioural. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "(what constitutes) the religion is good advice", he didn't say it for nothing. When one's contemplative-digestive-active connection is intact, we'd hope to see changes and improvements to kick-start. But we musn't limit it to only spoken words, because actions many times do speak out louder. Sedin might or might not realise it, but his smiles have taught me how much even a single honest smile can mean. His soundless smiles sounded to us like a 'welcome', a 'make yourselves home', a 'we're happy to have you over', a 'please come again anytime you want'- as if these words emanated from his smiles each time he turns one to us. I never knew my eyes could actually hear!
With the complete bedding handed to me, my eyes were almost tight-closed. On the broad, cozy sofa-turned-bed, I reclined like a tired traveller- indeed I was like nothing less. Wait a minute, where was Nubli? Or better still, where's the toilet in case I need to use it in the middle of the night? Communication was very limited between us and certainly their smiles won't give a shed of answer to these. Eventually my fatigue saved me from these trivials, for I was too tired I couldn't spend an extra minute awake.
Saturday 23 January 2010
No, you are a traveler!
"No, you are a traveler!" was what Harun repeatedly said when I tried- and insisted- on paying the bills. It was unexpected, indeed it got me perplexed, that I was receiving such hospitality from a near-complete stranger. 10 minutes ago, I wouldn't have recognised him if we were to bump in each other in the streets, and now he is treating us like his closest friends. Nubli and I really didn't mind spending a little bit, for so far we haven't spent much except on bus tickets. Moreover, I have came to this country coupled with a sincere intention to help its economy in any way I could afford (that's what toursists normally do, knowingly or unknowingly). I later succumbed, but not without a safety net- "next time I come, I won't drink unless you let me pay", sounded my friendly warning to him. We smiled and exchanged hugs- deep inside me I really wished to see him again. Do bear in mind that this man was running a business, and his business then was nothing more than three days old!
It turned out that this one example of Bosnian hospitality and generous reception is in no way exceptional. I traced my thoughts back to Mostar earlier today, when Nurudin won't allow us to even take our wallets out, him instead paying the confectionaries we were feasting on. In fact, Nurudin's tour-guide service, which lasted over two hours and covering some couple of miles, was completely free of charge. I was fully aware that being treated is a great thing, but I certainly didn't want to be taking advantage of these peoples' incessant acts of kindness. As inherent Malays especially, we are accustomed to avoid being a bother to anyone, lest we might add to their burden. For a long time I had this attitude, which I thought was faultless and venerable, until the day when a Muslim-revert brother Lim Jui Soon challenged me in his words, "Do you want to open me an opportunity to do good, or don't you?"
Interestingly, a little insight into Islam would instantly disclose the origins from where this culture was nurtured. It is possible that this makes a perfect example of how the Quran lives within the society, glowing in peoples' hearts, spreading the light and serenity to their surroundings- benefiting a foreign traveler like me, oblivion- to say the least- at that time. A culture which its engines are fuelled by the meaningful, impeccable verses of God's final testament, stands out in the midst of hedonism not like a sore thumb, but like a red rose against a monochrome background. These Bosnians could have instead shed our skins, empty our pockets and fill their tummy, but they chose to starve and facilitate us. Their reason was, as I recall their own words, "the Prophet was very kind to travelers- so will we..."
"It is not piety or righteousness that you turn your faces towards east and west (in prayers); but it is the one who believes in God, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives his wealth- in spite of love for it- to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to the poor, and to the traveler, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, (and the pious person is the one who) performs prayers, and gives the in charity, and who fulfil their oath when they make it, and who are patient in extreme poverty and ailment and at the time of fighting. Such are the people of the truth and they are the pious."
(al-Baqarah ; 177)
Back in Sarajevo, I jokingly thought, "Poor Sanadin, he had to pay for his cup of coffee, while we walked out without losing a penny."
It turned out that this one example of Bosnian hospitality and generous reception is in no way exceptional. I traced my thoughts back to Mostar earlier today, when Nurudin won't allow us to even take our wallets out, him instead paying the confectionaries we were feasting on. In fact, Nurudin's tour-guide service, which lasted over two hours and covering some couple of miles, was completely free of charge. I was fully aware that being treated is a great thing, but I certainly didn't want to be taking advantage of these peoples' incessant acts of kindness. As inherent Malays especially, we are accustomed to avoid being a bother to anyone, lest we might add to their burden. For a long time I had this attitude, which I thought was faultless and venerable, until the day when a Muslim-revert brother Lim Jui Soon challenged me in his words, "Do you want to open me an opportunity to do good, or don't you?"
Interestingly, a little insight into Islam would instantly disclose the origins from where this culture was nurtured. It is possible that this makes a perfect example of how the Quran lives within the society, glowing in peoples' hearts, spreading the light and serenity to their surroundings- benefiting a foreign traveler like me, oblivion- to say the least- at that time. A culture which its engines are fuelled by the meaningful, impeccable verses of God's final testament, stands out in the midst of hedonism not like a sore thumb, but like a red rose against a monochrome background. These Bosnians could have instead shed our skins, empty our pockets and fill their tummy, but they chose to starve and facilitate us. Their reason was, as I recall their own words, "the Prophet was very kind to travelers- so will we..."
"It is not piety or righteousness that you turn your faces towards east and west (in prayers); but it is the one who believes in God, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives his wealth- in spite of love for it- to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to the poor, and to the traveler, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, (and the pious person is the one who) performs prayers, and gives the in charity, and who fulfil their oath when they make it, and who are patient in extreme poverty and ailment and at the time of fighting. Such are the people of the truth and they are the pious."
(al-Baqarah ; 177)
Back in Sarajevo, I jokingly thought, "Poor Sanadin, he had to pay for his cup of coffee, while we walked out without losing a penny."
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