The Happening.

Thursday evening 22 July 2010.

Thursday night is Friday night for the Muslims and the normal practice at the Mosque was the reciting of the “surah yasin” and followed with “tahllil arwah” led by the Imam. The regular kampong Jemaah was mostly present. The only Mosque Committee Member present in the Mosque was the Treasurer. The rest of the Committee Members, Allah knows where? It seems not important and “bidaah” to some for reading the surah yasin and tahlil at Malam Jumaat. Contrary to the previous night where there was a kuliah ugama by an Ustaz from their political party, the Mosque was packed. It was not only by the normal kampong Jemaah but rather strange faces from surrounding areas that thronged the Mosque to hear the explosive Ustaz.

After the tahlil there was commotion in the Mosque. Unknown hooligan snatched out a handbag of one of the Muslimah while she was praying. It had been warned several times that Ladies had to be extra vigilant with their handbags while praying in this Mosque. It had happened umpteen times. I just don’t understand in spite of the hundreds of kuliah ugama conducted in the Mosque and Pasar Tani, there are still hooligans who don’t understand what Islam is all about. Stealing is already an act of haram and stealing in the Mosque is even worse. Perhaps we should implement “hudud” but then again even in Masjidilharam, there are also thieves.

The Imam then announced that Tahfiz* Al Quraan would be deployed during the forthcoming Terawih Prayer in Ramadan. The Tahfiz would complete a chapter of the Quraan at every night. I laud the idea; at least the Mosque Jemaah can feel how terawih prayer is being conducted at Masjidilharam or Masjidil Nabawi. All the kampong residents should participate so that the Mosque and the nights of Ramadan can be glorified. At the Mosques in Medina and Mekah there is a five (5) minutes break after the ten (10) rakaats and the interchange of Imam.

*Tahfiz – someone that can memorise the thrirty (30) Chapters of the Al Quraan.

Friday Prayer 23 July 2010.

It was announced in the Mosque that there will be two (2) sessions of “gotong royong” to clean the Kampong Graveyard compound. On Sunday 25 July 2010 and Saturday 31 July 2010. The 25 July Sunday, organized by the Graveyard Bureau and on the 31 July Saturday by the Mosque Committee. Sunday was chosen because those who are employed are available and free but the JKKK is having a Kuliah Duha at the Pasar Tani ground. Therefore the Mosque Committee in collaboration with the kampong JKKK decided to hold another session of “gotong royong” on Saturday 31 July. On this issue it is a clear cut case that the kampong residents are disunited and going after different directions.

There seem to be a jinx. Every time Imam Haji Khairuddin becomes the Friday Imam, the public address systems seem to shy away. During the khutbah, the audio was cracking and sort out in time but when he lead the Friday prayer, the public address system came to a complete silence. Those in the Mosque behind him could hear him faintly but those outside it was silence and the prayer was only guided by the actions of other Jemaah from inside. Concentration was affected. I was lucky as my normal place is at the extreme right of the first shaf (line) in the Mosque proper.

The Mosque Committee should address this problem seriously once and for all as Ramadan is coming. There will be a lot of activities planned in the Mosque during Ramadan. If they cannot address the problem, please step aside and let someone handle the management of the Mosque affair. I still believe someone with technical knowhow should be appointed in the Committee to sort out technical problems. Square peg cannot fit into a round hole.

It never happened before. Being a veteran and regular of this Mosque since 1984, I feel somehow disappointed but what can I do?