Chapter Two- The Good in our hearts
The Rebel.
He was back early again, that young boy. Ada noticed that his son was coming home earlier and earlier. Glancing at his watch, he realised it was only 1230 in the afternoon. He doubt ever having lessons that ended that early in his youth. Obviously, something was amiss.
"Azan..."
His son fled up the flight of stairs. Azan was in no mood to talk to his father.
Naturally, being concerned, he went up to his son's room. There, the door was open and he saw Azan with his face buried under the pillow. The growing child was crying. It was an open invitation for him to help.
"What troubles you Azan? What brings you to seek refuge at home?"
A tense moment ensued. The figure continued sobbing albeit slower but it was evident Azan was gaining his composure.
"They dont understand me at all Dad... They just dont understand what i am going through. T-they laugh at me! They think that what i do is redundant and useless."
"And what is the thing that you are doing?"
"All that you have ever taught me dad. To think of God as we live. As we breathe. As we eat. As we wear our clothes. To hold fast our prayers and to do zikir when we are free so that our minds dont yonder."
You told me dad, that it is for my best. But they dont understand me. I dont understand you... when i seek to play ball with my friends after my Zuhr. Yet alone i am and the others refuses to play with me. Dad... have i done something wrong? Dont they see their mistakes?"
Azan stood continuously crying his heart out. His father, Ada, looked at him. He was barely 9 years old in age and yet, his thoughts were more mature than those around him. Some part of him felt guilt for it was the way he had brought up his son while some part of him felt pride. Yet, he knew that his son was still quite a long way to seek the answers to his own questions.
"What do you see on the pavement Azan, look outside your window"
"Its just bits of rocks dad"
"Look more cafefully, between the cracks and gaps"
"... its those pavement plants.. dad...."
" Everyday when you go to school, you'd walk on the same path. And trod on the same plant. Some people call them weed while most people like you son, dont even acknowledge their presence. "
"But you see son, it wasnt his fault he ended up growing in the most harshest place. However, although he didnt choose to grow there, he chose to live"
"People are going to step on your head, some do it more often than others but doesnt mean you should hate them more. Remember this, God forgives a part of your sin when he puts you through a test. And he wouldnt put you on a test that you cannot accomplish. When you belief that what you are doing is right, nobody can stop you... like the plant. You should thank these people who have made you stronger"
Azan took a moment to digest what his dad had said. He never really thought of the plant that way.
"Umm.. dad, so it is true that God forgives your sin when you go through hardship?"
His father smiled.
"The better man should wish that God forgives the oppressor first"
"But why?"
"Because you know what he knows not."
This time, Azan smiled.
He was back early again, that young boy. Ada noticed that his son was coming home earlier and earlier. Glancing at his watch, he realised it was only 1230 in the afternoon. He doubt ever having lessons that ended that early in his youth. Obviously, something was amiss.
"Azan..."
His son fled up the flight of stairs. Azan was in no mood to talk to his father.
Naturally, being concerned, he went up to his son's room. There, the door was open and he saw Azan with his face buried under the pillow. The growing child was crying. It was an open invitation for him to help.
"What troubles you Azan? What brings you to seek refuge at home?"
A tense moment ensued. The figure continued sobbing albeit slower but it was evident Azan was gaining his composure.
"They dont understand me at all Dad... They just dont understand what i am going through. T-they laugh at me! They think that what i do is redundant and useless."
"And what is the thing that you are doing?"
"All that you have ever taught me dad. To think of God as we live. As we breathe. As we eat. As we wear our clothes. To hold fast our prayers and to do zikir when we are free so that our minds dont yonder."
You told me dad, that it is for my best. But they dont understand me. I dont understand you... when i seek to play ball with my friends after my Zuhr. Yet alone i am and the others refuses to play with me. Dad... have i done something wrong? Dont they see their mistakes?"
Azan stood continuously crying his heart out. His father, Ada, looked at him. He was barely 9 years old in age and yet, his thoughts were more mature than those around him. Some part of him felt guilt for it was the way he had brought up his son while some part of him felt pride. Yet, he knew that his son was still quite a long way to seek the answers to his own questions.
"What do you see on the pavement Azan, look outside your window"
"Its just bits of rocks dad"
"Look more cafefully, between the cracks and gaps"
"... its those pavement plants.. dad...."
" Everyday when you go to school, you'd walk on the same path. And trod on the same plant. Some people call them weed while most people like you son, dont even acknowledge their presence. "
"But you see son, it wasnt his fault he ended up growing in the most harshest place. However, although he didnt choose to grow there, he chose to live"
"People are going to step on your head, some do it more often than others but doesnt mean you should hate them more. Remember this, God forgives a part of your sin when he puts you through a test. And he wouldnt put you on a test that you cannot accomplish. When you belief that what you are doing is right, nobody can stop you... like the plant. You should thank these people who have made you stronger"
Azan took a moment to digest what his dad had said. He never really thought of the plant that way.
"Umm.. dad, so it is true that God forgives your sin when you go through hardship?"
His father smiled.
"The better man should wish that God forgives the oppressor first"
"But why?"
"Because you know what he knows not."
This time, Azan smiled.
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