I have not been keeping tabs on whats going on in web world, and sadly, that also includes not being able to be a good internet friend. However, I'm only phonecall or an sms away ye :)
Truth is, I'm having a lot of fun here in KSA. The black abayas and limited movements does not deter a girl's (let me use this term liberally) will to have fun! I have been attending school for over a month and mashaallah, enjoying every moment of it. School is at Dar Ad'Dhikir, a dakwah division initiative for Non-Arabic Speaking Muslimahs. I spend 3 weekdays a week, 4 hours each day. Those hours are divided into 3 sessions, and in a day I could be learning (Higher) Arabic Language, Quran (Hafaz), Reading, or Islamic Studies, depending on the level I'm in. I thoroughly enjoy my Arabic classes which is very intensive, but interesting and fun. My favourite class of all is Quran sessions as I learn not only to read properly, but the objective of the class is to memorize the Quran. At level 2, I'm currently in Juz Amma and during the past few weeks have managed to learn at least 5 surahs by heart. It is not an easy task, and a task I may never attempt if it was not a requirement of the school. But Alhamdulillah, the joy is certainly the sweet reward at the end of it. Now I have become obsessed with being the best at it in my class, but yesterday though, I succumbed to pressure and broke down because I cannot recite the last 2 ayahs of Surah Baiyyinah. I love reading the Quran, especially at Dar Ad'Dhikir because my teacher, Fatwa, has a beautiful voice which mashaallah is so enticing that makes a regular Quran session feels like a good karaoke session! And since singing is a passion, this new activity really literally fills my soul. I was having a hard time at the Arabic class initially because I never had a formal education on how to write (arabic). My handwritings was kinda like a 1st grader attempting to write alphabets. It has improved tremendously but I do feel like I'm picking up new small motor skills! These improvements will not be possible if not for the positive attitude of the school and the tremendous efforts on the teacher's part. They made sure we attend school, deducting marks if we are late or absent and collecting 'fines' if we were to speak in another language other than Arabic. Discipline and seriousness is rare in an Islamic organization, but I am so proud to be part of this successful institution. The institution also serves as an important door for non-arab muslimahs to connect to other Islamic-related activities. Recently there was a talk by the very popular priest-turned-muslim lecturer, Yusuf Estes from United States, and another workshop for Hejab at the World Assembly of Muslim Youth. Alhamdulillah. I love being busy, I love being swamped with activities, and I love be part of a group that just wants to serve Allah and are having debates and discussions on how to be better everyday. That is what I am here for, and this country has all that and even more...
When I said 'more', I mean...really literally more than I can handle. I've never questioned the school of thoughts, and accepted being a Sunni Muslim from the Shafie mahzab from the day I was born. My move to this country triggered what was not a curiosity to me in the first place. I met and am friends with someone from my own country who decided to 'convert' to another non-sunni mahzab. And then in hejab lectures, I am faced with new confrontations and different ideals of being a muslimah. What hejab means to some school of thoughts raises questions on my own passion about hejab and my work-in-progress effort, the Hejab Site that I was planning to launch. In school, we are required to come/leave with a full niqaab (veil), and it was a struggle at first to put it on simply because I was not used to it. The idea of it (niqaab/veil) was something that I thought as individualistic, yet emphasized here as a religious requirement. I am still seeking the truth and may Allah guide me to it soon.
And then the irony of it all, what happens when I leave the country, for holidays or for good, do I want to discard the Abaya and jilbab because I will look like an oppressed wife of a terrorist eventhough I feel that it is the proper and most fitting dressing for a muslimah? I shall leave that thought for another day of blogging, inshaallah...
And before I forget, I wanna thank Elisa for dropping by for breakfast and for meeting up for a quick bite at the mall last weekend. I really had a great time, and what a wonderful warm person you are, and I love your kids! Hope to see u soon in Khobar plak.
Take care !
Salam
