My life when abroad
I am halfway through reading Ustaz Hasrizal’s ‘Aku Terima Nikahnya’, and a list of good memories came to my mind, which made me tempted to put my thoughts into words at this point.
The respected Ustaz explained that a marriage is a journey which needs a clear destination. That’s quite simple. And he elaborated more by quoting a verse form the Quran (Surah Furqan, chapter 74). It is a prayer for us to attain tranquillity and a peace of mind from of our wives and children as gifts from God.
Islam gave a clear guidance and encouragement on how we live our lives before marriage comes. Precautions laid down by Allah do not only imply as threats, but they also act as a module to discipline ourselves and build our character, in hope that we are mentally equipped to enter the post-marriage phase.
I guess I might be very lucky to have a number of experiences of going somewhere without being accompanied by close friends, especially those of the same faith.
JAPAN
The first one was when I had the opportunity to go to Japan when I was 16. I lived with the Nozawa family, which had my foster parents, grandparents, an elder sister and a younger brother all living in the same cute Japanese house. The AFS (American Field Service) Japan offered me to attend Okazaki-Kita Senior High School for about 3 weeks. Being the only non-Japanese in the school, I was invited to attend numerous programmes, meetings, celebrations etc which apparently made me a little bit well-known among the students there. But Alhamdulillah, I praise God for made me occupied with hanging around with my Japanese friends (the boys) in their football trainings every evening, which limit my time engaging with the girls.
SPAIN
The second one was in Spain. It was in March this year when our coursemates (Geology 3rd year, Cardiff University) went for a fieldtrip in Cantabria, Spain. Now, during dinner time, we were seated in a four-seat dinner table. Each of the table were given a bottle of wine, every evening for dinner. Had I not disciplined myself during that trip, I might be joining them drinking that wine every evening! But fortunately God gave me the courage to choose not to drink alcohol throughout the 12-day trip.
The second occasion in the same trip was also interesting. We were given loads of work to deal with on our last day in Spain.
“Come on, Azad. Wear your dancing shoes and we’ll go blooooddy crazy tonight!” they said. I replied
“Firstly mate, I don’t know how to dance. Secondly, I don’t have a dancing shoe. And thirdly, I don’t even plan to buy one when I get back to Cardiff, mate! Haha”.
“You’ll join us for socials tonight? You might drive us back to our hostel when we go blooooddy knocked later!”
“If that’s so, I wouldn’t mind”.
Unfortunately (or fortunately?), the work given that night was too much. My friends were ‘pissed off’ by the work and left it unfinished. They went off to the pubs as early as 10pm Spanish time. I was the only one working in that hall. The work kept me occupied up until 3am the next morning! Satisfied with my completed work, I went out later looking for my friends. They were nowhere in the nearest pubs. They’ve must been pub-crawling. So I went back to my room and have a good night rest.
The next morning came, and after performing the Fajr prayer, I noticed that my friends were in complete mess all around the hostel. They were everywhere, even at the sofa at the hostel’s reception!
“What happened to you, mate?”
“Oh, bloody hell. I tried knocking my room, but it was locked. I guess they might’ve found some girl and sleep together. So I went outside climbing the walls trying to knock on the window but no one opened it. I was too drunk, I guess, and I fell off into the bush down there. I think I’ve broken my f*****g ankle, mate”
A few friends came later that day, and they told me that that night was wild. Loads of alcohol and dance and socializing. Thank God for making me busy with my work.
UKRAINE
Lastly, the experience in Ukraine. Now, friends, Ukraine is a country where there are very few or almost no one who have heard about Islam. It is also a country where they have very few tourists every year. I went there in July this year for a 9-week placement at the Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil & Gas. Upon my arrival there, I was introduced to Tetyana Fomenko, a Ukrainian girl appointed to be my personal translater for the whole 9-week. Her task was to assist me in translating Ukrainian language to English every weekday, 9am – 5pm. That included work within and outside the university. I must admit that there were a few conversations that she asked about how muslim girls looked like and the hijab thing. She also asked about other issues pertaining alcohol, sex etc.
“I must say here that I 100% disagree with pre-marital sex, and I don’t drink alcohol, and I don’t kiss any girl except my family and my wife, that is, after I get married, of course!”
HAVING SAID THAT
My point here, friends, is that we have to stand firm with our belief. I am not at all attractive, as my other friends! But we have to admit that sometimes our desires came when we’re at a place where, logically, it’s impossible for anyone we know to know what we’re doing. This is the time when we’re put into God’s test. These tests will build our character, hopefully we’ll become stronger in faith and steadfast in principles.
Challenges ahead are far greater. You and I do want to get married. If we are so daring doing something that God prohibits before we’re married, what’s stopping us to do it again after we’re married? Avoid cheats, adultery and anything along the same line before marriage.
I will graduate as a geologist, God-willing, and I might be sent anywhere in the world. We surely want a peaceful heart and a blessed life.
I pray that may God award me, and you, the strength to face all these challenges. Ameen.
Eid mubaarak, Happy eid to all muslims, specially dedicated to Papa, Mama, Tok Jah & Uncle Mie who are in Saudi Arabia performing the pilgrimage.
One Response to “My life when abroad”
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My name is Mohamed Azad and I am from Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
salam.
wau.(tabik spring)
alhamdulillah.you had travelled to a lot of countries and yet, you still could take care of urself.
and well done for being such a well-disciplined person!