Solat Jumaat

I decided that today I would take my two sons to the mosque for their first Solat Jumaat. As I walked down the stairs after showering, I was greeted with the sight of my sons in Baju Melayu ready to go for prayers. They look so cute. We had lunch and off we went to the mosque.

As if Allah wanted their 1st experience to go uneventful, when we reached the mosque, conveniently there was a parking spot waiting for us. The other cars whizzed by it unnoticed. Syukur Alhamdulillah for the parking spot, if not, it would've been a long hot walk to the mosque. I didn't want them to feel discouraged because of the heat.

Wudhu'. What a wet experience. Omar asking and yappin' away at this and that, I remained silent throughout and just physically made him do it. Emir was busy playing with water as usual. Thinking that it's ok to be wet. Finally, after lots of splashes & wet clothes thereafter, we managed to take our wudhu' without too much drama. My boys are known for their dramas (that trait definitely comes from the mother). Alhamdulillah.

Now comes the most testing part of all, to make sure the two cyclones remain still throughout the whole friday sermon. To my surprise, both Omar and Emir sat quietly. They did forget for a minute that they had to behave but they remain relatively calm. Omar asked me where GOD was. I said that he was everywhere. He even asked if the voice he's hearing was God's. I replied that it was the Tok Imam's voice, very much like his Ustaz giving the sermons. He then just smiled and started drawing circles in the 'tikaq'. Emir however was lying down making himself comfortable. I made him sit up and he gave me a hard, cold stare. I knew he was sleepy. It was both their nap time. Both of them fought hard to stay awake. Heads swaying left and right, fighting those heavy eyelids, a gentle light breeze coming from the ceiling fans (angin sopoi-sepoi), then startled by the Tok Imam's voice. I couldn't help but snigger and chuckle during the entire friday sermon. I am in love with my kids.

Solat time. Both Omar and Emir was in awe. They witnessed for the 1st time a jemaah prayer. They were amazed, of that I am sure. When the jemaah said "Amin", Both Omar and Emir went 'WOW! So LOUD!'. Yes, I was distracted from my prayer to Allah, that's why I have the imam. ;)

When prayers ended, we said our 'doas' and 'salam' each other. The people next to me were smiling at me as we walked out the mosque. I wonder what is going through their heads. We made our way back to the hot sweltering car and drove back home. Throughout the journey home, we were all silent. I felt weird as the boys hardly kept quiet, but they did. Both just stared out the window of the car. What is going through their heads right now?

Star Wars? PS2? or just still amazed at the whole experience. Hmmm... I wonder, really...

I think I accomplished something today. My responsibility as a muslim father.

Written by Tunku Izzat Hussain