Hitchhikers from Russia!

I just can't wait to share this with you!

I had my part-time class today and we finished our class around 4.40 pm. After having little chat with Mugi, my new friend, we went our separate way. I hopped into my borrowed-for-one-day-car and drove off.

Just after I took the right turn towards the highway, I saw one guy and two girls standing beside the road on my left-hand side trying to hitchhike. As we all know, we don't really do hitchhike in Malaysia. My first thought was, "They might be in trouble and need help," while my second thought was, "Could they be a group of serial killers?!". Eh~

Despite my second thought, I did pull over anyway. The guy came to my car and tried to start a conversation. I use the word 'tried' because he couldn't speak English well.

"Hi!.." he sounded relieved. 

"Hi...Where do you want to go?"

"Urmm..we want go Penang (as if in benang), Penang...umm,  the Georgetown?"

"Umm, okay..why are you here?"

"We..we go car by car...we hitchhiking.."

"Ouh, okay..where are you from?"

"We are from Russia", he smiled. 

"Okay then...is it okay if I send you just until ferry?"

"Yeah, yes..ferry is okay.."

"Alright, come on in..!" I smiled. 

"Yes, thank you...thank you so much!" 

He called the two girls over. I guessed they did a good research on Malaysia as a Muslim country. Because to my surprise, he asked one of the girl to sit beside me while he cramped himself at the back seats with the other girl. (The back seats were cramped with my bag, books, Adrian's safety helmet, an empty box, pair of shoes, and their huge backpacking bags. It's amazing how they managed to squeeze inside).

The guy's name is Alex and forgive me readers for not being able to remember the girls' names. This has nothing to do with Alex being a cute guy. It just their names are hard to pronounce, and I did pronounce them wrong, and now I totally forgot their names. Betul, tak tipu!

Meanwhile, from our short and sweet conversation, they told me that they were coming from Thailand while hitchhiking. They will stay here in Penang around 5-6 days before going for their next stop, Kuala Lumpur. I'm not sure whether they will still hitchhike or take public transport, as I told them hitchhiking is not really famous in here.

As we were approaching the Butterworth Bus Station, I pull over in front of one of the jeruk stalls and asked the owner how to take ferry for pedestrians. Okay, I know I have stayed here like more than 1 year, and did took the ferry few times, but I admit, I don't really sure where the entrance is. So after confirmed the way to go there, I tried to explain to them as simplest as possible. And that's when I asked them if it's okay to take commemorative photo with them. 

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.....And tadaa...! kekeke...

After saying goodbye and wish them luck, they also express their gratitude by saying 'Terima Kasih'. They got it right at the second attempt. They didn't even offer a shake hand. Told you they already made a good research. haha..

So, that's it. Hopefully, they will find the beauty of Islam and beauty of Malaysia as well in our currently-not-so-peaceful country. May they have a safe journey, and may I have my own journey in the nearest future. Eheh.

chase the DEVIL out of me

It was not until I took my shower this morning when the scene appeared.

I was in a familiar room, like it was my own room (I know now it wasn't), when I suddenly felt so scared as if they were pair of dark eyes looking at me. I tried to get out of the room. But then I changed my mind. I tried to dare the owner of the invisible eyes.

I stood on the bed (I think it was a bed…or chair perhaps?), and challenge myself. Let’s just face this unknown source of fear once and for all. I tried to mouth few zikr that I know. To my surprise (or was it exactly how I thought it would be?)  I couldn't recite anything. My lips and my tongue didn't want to cooperate. Nothing came out of my mouth except hard breath and alien language. “So this is how people felt when they said they can’t recite a thing”, I thought to myself.

In that struggled, I remembered I was thinking to myself, “Just try to recite anything short. Anything that could scare that thing out of it wits.” And I finally did it. I can’t be sure now but I think I did recite ‘Lahawlawala quwwata illa billah’.

لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِالله.

[There is no might and no strength except with the help of Allah.]

A few times, until my lips and my tongue found their way to cooperate. Until the sound of the zikr came out clearly and loudly.

And that’s when something dark came out of nowhere scream angrily. And it came to me. And I wasn't even scared anymore. And I faced it. And...well, that’s as far as I could remember. That's as far as the scene appeared in my mind.

Honestly, it took me few seconds to determine whether it's real or just a dream. I tell you, it was a dream. And even if it was real, I hope I really chased the devil out of me. 

*****

“Maukah aku tunjukkan kepadamu sebuah kalimat yang berasal dari bawah ‘Arsy dari pusaka surga? Katakanlah olehmu: لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله ‘tidak ada daya dan kekuatan kecuali dengan kekuasaan Allah’, niscaya Allah akan mengatakan, ‘hambaKu telah menyerahkan dirinya dan meminta perlindungan.”
(HR Al-Hakim dari Abu Hurairah r.a)

Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu anhu) narrated: Rasulullah (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever recites when he leaves his home: 'In the Name of Allah, I have placed my trust in Allah, and there is no might or power except with Allah,' it will be said to him: You have been guided, spared and protected, and Shaytan will be kept far from him.”

Meaning & Virtues of Hauqalah