Seoul Sermon & Blue Roses
Assalam alaikum,
Its a relatively mild winter in South Korea with uncharacteristically, no
snowfall in Seoul. Having explained to the concierge that I would like to go to
Seoul mosque, listening to a minute long discussion between him and with the
taxi driver, I did arrive there for Friday prayers, eventually.
Modern Islam in Korea took off about 50 years ago when two Turkish soldiers,
Zubercoch and Abdur Rahman participated in the Korean war as military service
members of the Turkish Army under the United Nations. The first 'mosque' was a
tent in a refugee camp where both the Quran and the teachings of Islam were
taught. A Korean Muslim organisation was set up, led by a convert named 'Umar'
Kim Jin Kyu as its president and the first mosque was opened in 1976 with 55
representatives from 20 countries at the opening ceremony.
I've visited Seoul mosque before, but this occassion, this khutbah (sermon) was
the most striking. Taking a seat to the back of the mosque, so I could have a
good view of everything (as well as to lean up against the back wall ;)) I
looked on in amazement as Muslims of many ethnicities strolled in. Africans,
Pakistanis, Indians, Koreans, Singaporeans, Malaysians, Chinese, Arabs, the list
went on, a melting pot of muslims - I wondered whether I was at the same mosque
I visited on previous occassions, and why hadn't I noticed such diversity
before.
The sermon began as usual, a greeting in Arabic, some prayers in Arabic, some
verses of the Quran in Arabic, etc. I started to wonder whether I would approach
the Imam after the prayers and ask him 'How many people in the audience do you
actually believe understood anything of what you were saying?' True, there were
some Arabs, but no more than 5% of the congregation. Having plucked the courage
to confirm to myself that I will approach him after the prayer, it just hit me
in the face. He didn't switch to Korean (trust me, seeing Korean Muslims outside
greeting one another with 'salam alaikum' anything was possible). He switched to
English!
The imam decided to recount the story of how the call to prayer came about. How
a discussion was held by the Prophet and companions as to how to call the people
to prayer, whether to use a bell like the Christians or a horn like the Jews,
etc. In summary, the following day one of the companions came to the Prophet and
said that he saw in his dream that people were called to prayer with a voice.
The Prophet concured with that dream, summoned Bilal, who climbed the kaba and
made the call to prayer with the words they saw in the dream. As the first call
to prayer was being made, one by one, the companions came to the mosque, and
they all said that they had the same dream. That was, that the Angel Gabriel
came to them and showed them how to make the call to prayer. (Bukhari)
Imagine that, to go to bed wondering how to call people to prayer, and then not
one, but a large group of the companions all having the same dream about how to
make the call to prayer!
Now the imam was an Arab and so his accent was typical of a man trying to speak
English but in an Arabic way. Actually it was quite pleasant, as even though he
struggled, he spoke with such passion, that there was a certain elegance to his
fumbling, which made it so much more enjoyable to listen to.
He continued then to refer to an indicent where the Prophet Muhammad was walking
with Angel Gabriel in paradise, and he heard a man walking ahead of him. He
quickly followed behind him and he asked Gabriel, who is that man walking ahead
of me, to which Gabriel replied, it is Bilal. Now Prophet Muhammad was struck,
he wondered, what did Bilal do in his life which gave him such an esteemed
position in the hereafter? The following day he went to see Bilal and asked him
whether he did anything special. The only thing which Bilal could think of was
that everytime he lost broke his wudu (ritual ablution), he redid it, so that he
was always in a state of wudu.
Now I have read this specific hadith many times, but it was only here, with the
words of an imam whose command of English was weak that it actually had a real
impact on me. And from that moment it seemed that almost everytime I thought of
something, the imam would actually answer my question before I could voice it.
He continued the sermon to refer to the position given to those who make the
call to prayer, cting the hadiths where it is said that on the day of judgment
the muezzin (one who calls to prayer: be it male in a mixed congregation or
female in a female only congregation) will be raised to a high position.
Explaining the meaning of these hadith he observed the reason for this is that a
muezzin has a very close, unique relationship with God.
To demonstrate this point he asked us a few questions. Would any of us ask a
stranger to invite someone to our homes? Would any of us go into the street stop
someone and say 'Excuse me, can you invite some people to my home for a meal?'.
No. Of course we wouldnt do that. But look at the muezzin, he is calling some
people who he knows, but most people who he doesnt know, he is inviting them,
calling them to prayer. He is calling them to the house of God (i.e. the mosque)
to attend prayers. He is inviting them to find and achieve prosperity. What an
inspiring sermon!
The sermon continued, and as questions were raised in my mind, he answered them.
As with tradition there was a brief break, he continued with the second sermon,
and began the prayers. After the prayers something truely amazing happened. The
imam said 'Before you begin your sunnah prayers, does anyone have any
questions?'
Hearing this sermon, the explanation, the beauty, its simplicity, its clarity,
and then him asking us if we had any questions, it is then that I realised that
this imam rocks! He spoke about the true values of Islam, peace, justice,
fairness; and his approach puts him in that small club of decent imams, the like
of which we nee dmore of in this world. And all Praise be to God who blessed the
Muslims of Seoul with such friendly imam.
As I began listening to the sermon I wondered whether this would be a typical
sermon at a typical mosque, with the half the congregation not understanding
what is being said, and the other half who can understand not being interested
because the subject and method of delivery is so depressingly boring. How glad
was I realise that this imam was not calling upon deaf ears.
May God Almighty have mercy and guide us all, ameen.
fi amanillah, assalam alaikum, f
From: "brother_farrukh" <farrukh@ntlworld.com>
Subject: Blue roses, still in season
Assalam alaikum,
Prophet Muhammad said that the person who visits a sick person, is in fact like
the person who visits a garden of fruit in paradise as long as he is there
(Muslim).
Both Mecca and Medina, the two flagship cities of early Islam were located in a
desert. There are many reports of people engaged in farming, including some of
the female companions who had plots of land away from the center of the
city. These irrigated lands however do not compare to the type of irrigation we
have today.
The meaning and implication of the hadith above therefore is much more vivid, it
is as if the value, the reward for a person visiting a sick person, may be
likened to them visiting a garden of fruit in paradise.
In a desert, with heat so hot that standing on the sand can burn, and with
nights so cold, with temperatures falling sub zero, the visualisation of a fruit
garden is a comforting, healthy medium.
There is a weekend flower market here in Taipei which I first visited nearly two
years ago. I remember then, as we were walking through, we came across some blue
roses, the memory of which have stayed strong within my mind. Yesterday, I
returned to the market hoping to again find some blue roses.
The flower market, along with its neighbouring jade market are actually
underneath a flyover road, so the length of both are quite long. There you can
find some amazing plants and flowers with some unique fruits/ vegetables,
including 'north potato'. It looks like a potato, but tastes like a hard pear;
the diversity of God's creation doesn't always amazes me.
The blue roses were so memorable that I remembered exactly where the stall which
sold them was. I rushed to that section of the market, passing by many equally
unique flowers, but still focused on the blue roses. Arriving there immediately
I recognised the lady who was selling them and I found some red, white, pink and
even orange roses, but no blue. Saddened, I thought, maybe as its winter they
arent in season? I slowed my pace and decided that I may as well walk through
the market, perhaps I will find something else equally attractive.
As I made my way to the end of the market in the corner I spotted something
glistening. They were daisies sprayed with glitter, could this be it? My
consolation prize? But as I walked up to the stall I noticed just to their side
some blue roses! That happiness, that joy, that to me is the closest I could
posibly get to being in a garden in paradise - in this life at least, and God
knows best. Imagining then, the reward of visiting a sick person has the same if
not grater value, then that value I felt when I found those blue roses!
It is really easy for us to read a verse of the Quran or a hadith but not to
appreciate its meaning or giving it the correct value that it deserves. Next
time you learn that someone you know is sick, why not visit them, even if only
for a few minutes? We may not really appreciate the full value/ reward for doing
so, but how lucky will the person be who finds such a thing in their record on
the day of judgment. What I do appreciate is that blue roses are still in season
:)
May God Almighty have mercy, and guide us all, ameen.
fi amanillah, assalam alaikum, f
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