April 29, 2008

Well, well. For a change this morning during the train ride. Another youngish couple. This time, both of them are standing. And, non stop PDA (Public Display of Affection). The guy was continuously stealing pecking moments, for lack of better word/phrase. He was whispering at her ear, she laughed, he kissed her fingers. Everything nice, eh? They were still at it when I got off the train.

People still look and steal on and off glances. But most of them had this "enough-already" expression on their faces. Ha ha ha... Anyway, loving gestures are nice and all. But, there's always a but eh? I shall stop here. Nothing is always what it seems.

Ah-nee-ways... why should there be a need for different races for their own masjeeds? Chinese Muslims in Ipoh are requesting permission to build their own masjeed because they cannot understand sermons in Malay. Hmm... While it is not wrong to have another masjeed, but separation because of race is not something I agree.

I blame the Malays for this. You know why? Because Malays are so consumed with themselves that they want other people to adapt and understand them better instead of them doing their part in bringing people closer together. There, I've said it.

It's sad you know. Who are Malays anyway? We are a mixture of different cultures and races too. So, why are we so big headed and think we are better than anyone else? Haih... these statements are purely emotional. Forgive me for digressing.

Coming back to the race based masjeed. I understand sermons need to be understood. And to be clearer, it's just natural for sermons to be delivered in the native tounge of the people. I understand that. But, couldn't there be a middle ground for everyone to sit down together and understand together? What is wrong with having bi-lingual sermons? Or multi-lingual even? Have two or three people sitting together at the front delivering the sermon together, and whichever part that someone cannot understand, it could be translated or explained there and then. Isn't that a chance to learn new language even?

Imams and Bilals could be from other races as well. They do not need to be exclusively Malays. So, what's wrong with having these educated people sitting together delivering the word of God together? If we are serious about learning the religion, we should also be serious in learning together, getting pass the skin colour and heritage. Islam is universal. So, what part of the word "universal" that we don't get?

We already have a lot of inter-racial marriage. Let's not divide the people in the masjeeds where we are communicating directly with the creator. Let's have P.D.A. amongst the brothers and amongst the sisters regardless which race they come from.


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