It’s Times Like These I’m Glad I Have An Internet Connection
January 04, 2006 | 04 Dhul-Hijjah 1426
I like the conversations and dialogs that start from having a blog. It allows me to communicate with so many people and I am a person that very much likes to reach out and touch someone. I received this email today from a brother from Malaysian I’ll simply call, Sidik:
Thank you for the du’ah.
We also [make] du’ah for Islam to be strong in the USA and the Muslims to be patient. I visited New York City a long time ago once when I was studying in [the] States. Back then, nobody had any clue what a masjid is or the month of Ramadan - so I think there must be significant changes in American society now.
My brothers and sisters are now gathered at my grandmother’s old house for the up coming celebration for the Eid ul-Adha. We are in the provincial north, so society is much more conservative than the big capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Earlier this morning, I accompanied my sisters to hunt for special blends of curry powder to make the festive beef and lamb dishes next week. The market is under an old banyan tree - really traditional.
I believe the day of ‘Arafah is on the 9th of January.
Just now was the ‘adhan from the local masjid to mark the ‘Asr [prayer]. I always find this period before twilight a bit mournful sitting in the old house, thinking about all those loved ones long gone and the link to connect [them all] is the Sunna [of] Rasulallah and the proper method of dhikr.
The whole country pays attention to the morning updates in Makkah now - we have a dedicated channel for that. In a way, no one is especially nervous this season since there’s no old relatives within the immediate family making the pilgrimage this season.
In sha Allah, Sidik, may you have a blessed ‘Iyd al-Adha for you and your family. Think of me and all the rest of us here when you have dinner (I bet the curried beef is fantastic!). Salaams.
