:: memorable Ramadhan ::

Since it is now the month of Ramadhan, I think it is better that I write something for my 'future reference' on events occuring in Ramadhan of which all are quite/very memorable to me.


In Adelaide:

1. On my first Ramadhan in Adelaide, (17th Nov 2001), I accidentally 'buka puasa' with slices of bacon, which is nicely hidden in the Caesar Salad. I didn't know that the salad contains that. It was actually my mak angkat that ordered it as she thought that it would be fine for me (a semi-vegetarian, she says), as she thought that it is just a salad..

2. In the same Ramadhan, I experienced this weird experience of 'tolak kereta' to start a stalled engine. I can still recall that the car belongs to a senior (Nizam). As we was heading home from the mosque at Lil' Gilbert Street, the engine stalled. He said that since it is a manual car, we can 'jumpstart' it by pushing the car, while it is put in 1st gear. The car's engine finally started, after we (the juniors) had made a few laps in front of the mosque..!

3. I had a shocking experience when during one of the terawih session, one of the jemaah actually stopped and slapped a kid that was running in and out, and it was all done when we were in the middle of a prayer! Amazingly, the father of the kid didn't protest or say anything after the prayer..! (In Malaysia, I think that will cause a big issue, with the parents spoiling the kids, etc.)

4. Some of my friends actually ruku' and sujud when the imaam was reciting the doa qunut BEFORE the ruku' (prostration). These same guys were the one that was giving salam (loudly) after the second raka'ah of witir prayer, while the imam and the others were actually doing a continuous three-raka'ah witir prayer. Amazingly, these friends of mine just buat bodoh, and put on a selamber face, while the rest of us were busy trying our best not to laugh (out loud) or look at their faces. In consclusion, I think, everyone's witir on that night was null and void. No one could actually stay focussed in their prayer.

5. During the final years of stay for some of my friends in Adelaide, suddenly, one of them actually convincingly said that we can sahur until the end of Subuh time (ie. sunrise)! We quickly pointed out to him that fasting starts from fajar (ie. the beginning of Subuh time) and lasts until sunset (when there is a mega-mega merah on the horizon). We started to wonder whether he did actually puasa properly all this while.. :)


In college (during my foundation, pre-uni days):

6. One of my non-Muslim female friend asked me whether I want to have beer for buka puasa. I said 'nope' as it not allowed for me, and I had never drank beer before. Suddenly she says: "It's OK. Just a sip. It's only for trying purpose. If you like it, you can finish it, and then, tomorrow, you just pray ten times, instead of the usual five".. I was speechless at that time because she doesn't look like she was joking. She was serious, and it shocked me even more (because I thought that all Malaysians had enough exposure about each others religion by the time they enters college).


During high school (in boarding school):

7. One of my friend convincingly buka puasa by mengorek hidung.. This was when we were rushing to get to the mess hall for buka puasa. And since it was puasa time, nobody had water or anything on them to buka puasa. And suddenly, this friend of mine recited this doa for buka puasa, and straight away korek his hidung! I told him: "Oi! Tu batalkan puasa, bukan buka puasa", and his answer was like: "Ye ke? Tak sama ke?"...

8. 5 of my friends and me panjat pagar (sneaked out) of the hostel on the evening before the first day of Ramadhan. We went out for a large meal, and to go and 'watch-and-enjoy' some (I can't remember, maybe it was two, or three) 5-stars porn movies at a mini-cinema. And it was in the middle of the SPM weeks. That year, our SPM was split into two periods, as the 1st of Ramadhan falls in the middle of the SPM weeks. Thank God we all weren't caught by the wardens (who were busy preparing for the next day, ie. 1st day of fasting). And thank God we did well for SPM.


Miscellaneous time (apart from those three periods stated above):

9. When I was younger and first started to learn how to puasa, my parents forgot to tell me that ladies having menses (ie. datang bulan) are not allowed to fast, as God forbid them from doing so. And me being the only child, I didn't know about these rule (I mean, some of us learn about it from their sisters). Thus, during one my earliest fasting days, I saw my aunt eating (at home) during daytime. I almost shouted at the top of my lungs to alert my grandma that my aunt had curi-curi makan..! My aunt and mom later explained to me that she is not fasting. When I asked them why is it like that, the answer given was: datang bulan. As I did not know what that means, I assumed that she was ill (at that time, the only reasons that I know of for why someone can tak berpuasa was by being ill). Thus, I asked her: "Makcik tak sehat ke?". As she doesn't know what to say (or maybe lazy to explain the concept of datang bulan), she just nodded yes. And my reaction was then: "La.. Kenapa tak cakap?", before I quickly panggil my grandpa to send my aunt to a clinic for a check-up. To solve everything, my aunt just swallow dua biji Panadol and told me that she hopes she will be 'sehat' in a few days time...


Well, that's all for now. I got some other experiences, which some of them are not share-able at all!

Till next time, selamat berpuasa and selamat berbuka..