staying true to our roots and beliefs ...

it's always encouraging to see your child pick up new (positive) developments. often, when we least expect to get some interest from them, we find ourselves watching with much glee and hope for better things to come.

i'm not your most religious 'modern Muslim young mom' around. i do my prayers, yes. i read the Quran at least once every 2 days, or once a day (when i feel i've a bit more time to spare). i semi-cover myself. i've never seen the need to or fallen into the temptation to indulge in some (alcoholic) drink. but still, in short, i'd say that i've still a long way to becoming as perfect a Muslim person as possible.

as far as teaching and showing my child the simple basic daily relgious practices, again, still a long way to go. i've only gotten as far as teaching Big Z how to recite the 'bismillah', the 'fatihah' and the 'doa before tido'. and i got him a book on the introduction of jawi.

the past week though, Big Z has shown some keen interest in attempting to pray. he'd really get into the whole spirit of it all, though i suspect he gets a lil too excited too early on.


Me : what you doing in there (bathroom)?
Big Z : it's OK, Mummy ... i'm just washing ... just taking my 'smayang air'.
Me : oh ..? don't take too long, don't wet the whole bathroom.
Big Z (comes out from the bathroom) : OK. all done now. see, i take my 'smayang air' already.
Me : OK. you can smayang now then.
Big Z : OK
Big Z (stands in position on the sejadah, pauses then ...) : I think I smayang another day.
Me : what?? why not now?
Big Z : because ... i take my 'smayang air' already. so much! and now, i'm feeling tired and wet all over. so, i think i just smayang another day la.
Me : *speechless*


the scenario above is what happens more often than not! when he's not too lazy, he'll be 'reciting' some bits of Arabic jargon as he goes through the different praying positions. but, to watch this, both the Daddy and I need to be real quiet and just peek from outside. as soon as he catches us watching him, he'll get all shy and stop immediately.


lately too, he's been saying he wants to go to Mekah for a holiday. says he, "Mekah first, and then London to meet Thomas and all the trains there". *LOL*

on that note, i think i'll start him on mengaji class this year. i started reading the Muqadam at age 5 too. think it'll be good to start him this year then - he turns 5 in August. while there's interest from him, i should really encourage it.