06-17-2003, 09:31 AM
[i:b7dc4035a4][u:b7dc4035a4]Written by AMY [/u:b7dc4035a4][/i:b7dc4035a4]
Perhaps one in sorrow is likely to recall the past. One scene after the other passes through my mind today as if showing a film—thinking of the gathering at Id al-Fitr, thinking of the brothers and sisters that day. Though it is not long, I miss it so much—a true Muslim gathering.
Finishing salat al-Fajr, we several sisters started to busy with preparing a meal. Before long, one by one arrived, stretching head into the kitchen, salaaming to each other, and catching sight of what was going on inside. Feeling so friendly and kindly though some of us didn’t know the others. It made us forget fatigue at all even we had busied from morning to afternoon—so gratified to see everybody having a good meal. Then we washed up together and practiced noon prayer together with brothers in the living room while sisters in another room. That feeling was terribly nice.
I had taken part in many parties and gatherings, but none of them were between Muslims. Perhaps all here were young people so that we had no difficulty to communicate and had a good time that day. We were so grateful to Brother S, whom provided a chance for us all to get together. Brother S said that for many young brothers and sisters if you instructed religion and faith directly, in reality it should bring no effect at all. However, using a mild and indirect way may produce pretty good result. As that day, not all the participants did very well in religion—many of them merely know he or she was a descendant of Muslim，or Muslim by birth. But, just at that day, he or she felt and enjoyed the happiness between Muslim brothers and sisters—even some sisters were just standing aside and looking on. Brother S said, as a matter of fact, he or she was touched and even awed by the sight, and from that day on might start to pray. After all, we were all Huis—a Muslim minority. At the moment, your prayer set a wonderful example for those who didn’t— much effective than pure sermon.
After my prayer, watching the brothers at the living room contentedly, I am deeply moved by the true Muslim gathering for not having taken part in such one long. In the hustle and bustle of city life, we need purify our soul and need gathering of Muslims at intervals to carry out a sweeping for soul rather than wasting time on non-Muslim parties, which has nothing to learn from and leaves us nothing but emptiness after merrymaking and spree.
A moment ago, I received Brother S’s call informing me of another gathering in this weekend. Hopefully it comes earlier.