Happeepill Singapore

Malay Style Islam
05 SEPT 07

I gotta tell you honestly that I was brought up in non-religious family. Apart from some short verses that my siblings were made to memorize, my family was not practicing Muslims. We prayed OCCASSIONALLY and me and my Dad would go to the masjid ONCE a year during Hari Raya. My Mum did enrolled me in a weekend Madrasah (religious school) and I remembered how I dreaded that place. I didn’t like it because I didn’t learn much from it. Memorizing Arabic verses was the order of the day. The classes are being taught in Malay and I was speaking English most of the time at home (blame Sesame Street people.)

And I dislike the way they did things… it was quite haphazard compared to my secular Primary school. And since I joined the school when I was 9 years old, they expected me to know how to pray which I did not. I didn’t even know how to do my ablution. So when prayer time came, I would copy from other boys. When they knelt down, I would do the same. And lastly, I was an outcast. I had no friends. I don’t know why. I have no difficulty making friends in Primary school but in the madrasah I am alone most of the time.

Another day at the Madrasah.

And to make matters worse, me and my sisters were made to go to a neighbor’s place for “ngaji” in the evening.. We are there to learn how the Arabic alphabet works and how they make different sounds if they were to be place in different ways. I dreaded that too.

And sometimes, I realize that there is a habit with Malay teachers in my school. They LOVE to test us Malay students on Arabic religious verses. We have to stand up one by one and be made to recite, by demand, a particular verse from the Quran they deemed simple. And if you don’t know or have difficulty in saying these verses, they would shame you in front of the whole class. Yes, Malay teachers love to bully 12 year old kids.. . So as a kid, I had a negative impression on Islam. I dislike it and I hate the anxiety whenever these Malay teachers test us in class and the droning of never ending memorizing of Arabic text.

And another problem is that, as a kid, I was inquisitive by nature. I ask questions on Islam ALL THE TIME. And unfortunately, even asking questions are also a problem. I remembered vividly where my Mum scolded me for asking an embarrassing question in a religious class.

They went on the lesson without answering my question.

So there was no place for Islam during my childhood and teenage years. I remembered that I did not go to Friday prayers even though school let us off early. I would frown if my Mum suggest yet ANOTHER religious class for me to enroll. I would make this habit of praying only when I am in trouble. And I did try to go to Terawih prayers once because I got invited by a neighbour kid.. but I left early because the kid spent his time playing soccer as the adults prayed… and I am not into soccer.

I was a non-praying Muslim for a long time. I fasted during Ramadan because I was taught that was what Muslims do. Then the internet came and soon I was visiting credible Islamic sites, reading online hadiths and I even bought an English translation of the Quran. I read about as much as I can and digged deeper about taboo topics like masturbation, polygamy and jihad. At last answers are at my fingertips. I am glad with what I have learned and I am angry at the same time too.

I am angry because of the popular notion of how everyone must memorize the Quran but they did not emphasize on UNDERSTANDING the scripture.

I am angry of how they tell me to pray but they did not tell me WHY I should pray.

I am angry on how they tell me to make doa but they stop short at explaining how to execute a proper doa (and no, it’s not just facing your palms up.)

I am angry on how they made me learn ngaji and they didn’t even mention about the life of Salahuddin Ayoobi.

So it is understandable that I disliked Islam when I was a kid and I bet I was not the only one. There is so many ways to introduce Islam and memorizing Arabic verses day-in day-out is not the best approach. God willing, I will share with you guys what I read from credible Islamic sites and favorite prominent scholars. I am no means an expert in Islam, so do correct me if I go wrong.

If they won’t give it to me, I will find it for myself.
Evil Bunny

Back to Articles