Adult Zone
30. Ballad Of The Ustaz And Old Man
...BALLAD THE USTADZ AND THE OLD MAN...
...Author : David Khanz ...
One time an Ustadz looked confused, walking back and forth in front of his house. Sometimes looking far to the end of the road, like waiting for someone? Seeing that, his wife came while carrying a plate containing her favorite food and asked, “What is it, Abi? From earlier Umi saw, Abi was like being hit by a storm.”
“I'm waiting for someone, Umi,” replied the ustadz briefly.
“Who is that someone Abi means? So important is he in your eyes, until he did not have time to look at Umi when answering questions?” The wife began to sulk.
“Oh, forgive Abi yes, Umi. The one Abi meant was a half-old man who once a month came to our house. Umi still remembers, right?” This time the ustadz replied while looking at his wife with love.
“Umi is not so jealous of Abi, except when Abi is being blessed with God, with a great love, so great,” said wife ustadz while putting the plate she brought earlier on the table. “Of course Umi still remembers the person Abi meant. Then, what makes Abi so hopeful that he comes back to our house?”
The ustadz took a deep breath. “Have been a few full moon, he never came to see Abi. Don't know why? Abi worried she was sick.”
“Maybe he is busy with his job, Abi,” thought ustadz's wife while sitting in a chair.
“Maybe. Could be …. ”
After ustadz came to sit not far from his place, then the wife of ustadz again asked, “Actually what has Abi often talked to the person so far? Umi saw it seemed like she was getting into trouble that time.”
Ustadz ate first the food his wife had served, then immediately replied, “Ya, he is facing financial problems. When he first came, he complained about the condition of his family which was hit by economic difficulties, then Abi suggested that he was more active in carrying out obligations, making a living for his family.”
The Ustadz still remembered very well, when the half-old man came to see him in a shabby condition of clothing, spreading the pungent smell of sweat. Maybe just came home from the garden or rice fields, and had not had time to clean his body.
* * * * * * * *
“I only ask God to give ease, to provide the provision of religious knowledge for my son, Ustadz. Do not let his fate later, as I experience today, poor in knowledge and also poor in wealth. I want to enter it into a religious school, as well as studying at the boarding school. Suffice his older sister who had to quit school, due to our fakery as a parent who could not finance school.” That sentence started his complaints in front of the ustadz.
“Seek more diligently than usual, work harder, and do not forget..approach yourself to the Most Possessing of this life,” said ustadz gave his condolences.
“How to, Ustadz?”
“Use your duty as a servant of Allah and complete your worship of sunnah.”
“Example?”
“Kerjakan qiyamullail, fill a quarter of your sleep time to pay a degree to Him, then connect the morning before leaving for work with sunnah Dhuha.”
“Is it that simple, Ustadz?”
“Yes, quite simple and easy, but the implementation is difficult. Because throughout the journey of this religious ritual, our path will always be crowded filled with various tests. The key is patience. Therein usually lies the weakness of a human being, who likes to want everything quickly and instantly.”
The old half-man thanked the wobble that the Ustadz had delivered, then immediately went home with a slightly cheerful face.
A month after the first meeting, he came back with a disheveled and lethargic face. “All the chastises from Ustadz I have done without being left behind once, but God has not given me what I want.”
“Not not, but not yet, Brother. Allah is the Giver. When not asked, God gives it away for free. It's just that, we often forget to be grateful.”
“But during this month I have not felt any change, Ustadz.”
“From the beginning, right, I told you, be patient …. ”
“Then what else according to Ustadz should I do?”
After that, the half-old man left, but one month later he returned with a face that was still moping.
“Add your approach to God by increasing other worship. Fasting Monday and Thursday, as the Prophet often did,” replied ustadz, after the man complained about the same thing as the previous moments.
With a shunt he went home. As usual, two months later it came back, still with a similar sound of complaint. “Sholat mandatory and sunnah, dhikr, read the Qur’an and fasting Monday-Thursday until my body is thin like this, but God still does not want to touch my life. Less especially try? All of His commandments I have done, His prohibition has left, but what is the meaning of a 'Power' that we often add at the end of the mention of His name?!”
“Astaghfirullah, I do not forget the sincere and sincere words. It should also be planted in your heart when worshiping, Mr.”
“I've tried, Ustadz. Everyone!”
“Patience, always be solemn to Allah, because the main bastion of faith for a Muslim in distress is. Reassure your heart that God is making fun of your life in His way. His style is unpredictable, but the results obtained often end with unparalleled satisfaction. Far too beautiful with Indian romantic films that are often happy ending ... ” ustadz entertains the man with his candlestick.
Such was the last encounter of ustadz with a half-old man who had never known his name. For more than half a year Hijri, he never came back, at least telling him that he was alive and willing to bow down to Him.
* * * * * * * *
“That's what we do often, Umi. Abi has no idea who he is or where he lives. Abi was too engrossed in the advice Abi still remembered, from the late Ayahanda and Abi's teacher first ... ” The talk of ustadz and his wife came to a halt, when suddenly the sound of vehicles entering the courtyard of the house sounded. The two of them immediately hunted forward.
Looks like a luxury vehicle and still shiny, parked with the trunk there. Followed by several human figures who came out of the four corners of the door in neat and polite clothes. One of their figures became the focal point of the ustadz's eyes, so reluctant to blink.
“The half-old man ... ” muttered the Ustadz involuntarily with his mouth wide open.
Yes, it was a half-old man who used to come home often with his complaints. It used to often appear on the doorstep of the front house with shabby clothes mixed with the smell of pungent sweat, accompanied by a lethargic look. Now he reappears in a different condition, clean white clothes. From his body there was the aroma of perfume typical of the Arabian soil, plus a radiant face and always spread a happy smile, as soon as he saw the figure of ustadz standing glued to the earth. The man was accompanied by two men and two women. Everything was uniform with clean white clothes dazzling the eyes, when the reflection of sunlight hit the sheen.
“This ...my wife who used to be a victim of my frustration, when the house no longer smokes the kitchen smoke, because I came home empty-handed. That was my daughter who had been cut off from studying because there was no cost, along with her husband, a child from a famous ustadz who owned the famous boarding school. Lastly, my son who has now been able to get religious education freely and free, as well as santri from his own sister's husband,” said the half-old man, so, after they gathered in the house. Of course, there was a warm hug like two old friends who had just met.
“The son of the owner of the famous pesantren cottage? What is your father's name, young Ustadz?” ustadz asked the man who was sitting next to the half-old boy in amazement, seeing the drastic changes experienced by the figure who had been often awaited.
“My name is Muhammad Farzan Al Khalifi Daud, my father's first son named Kyai Haji Muhammad Mubaraq Al Khalifi Daud, from his third wife ..”
“Kyai Haji Mubaraq? He was my friend when mondok in pesantren in Java. Masya Allah .. ” exclaimed the ustadz surprised amazing. “Then how is the story you all can meet and collect in one family?”
“This is all arranged by God, of course.” The middle-aged man started to tell stories. “At that time I was determined to enroll my son to that famous boarding school. Not bad ... from the sale of a gold necklace wife can to equip the cost of mondok. Accompanied by my daughter, we finally came to the boarding school, but accidentally met the young ustadz who became my daughter-in-law today. Furthermore, Mr. Ustadz can definitely deduce it himself, right? Hehehe.”
Then, the conversation after the conversation went on long and long. Until then all must end, when the guests leave behind a nuance of friendship that still leaves the seeds of longing, as well as a small point of curiosity in the heart of the ustadz.
“Mubaraq .. Mubaraq .. Unexpectedly, it turns out to be true your ambition to have more than one wife. Now he has come and become reality. I thought he was just kidding. Why is she capable while I'm not?” murmured the ustadz in a slow voice after looking around, to make sure the wife was not nearby.
Slowly ustadz take the phone out of his pocket. Check if there is an incoming message about spiritual consultation from her former lover who is now widowed. Apparently there has been no notification.
“Umi, what time is it?” asked the Ustadz as soon as he saw his wife was cleaning up the remnants of their guest banquet earlier.
“New ten o'clock more, Abi. What was? Abi want to come out?” ask the wife back.
“Ah, no. Just make sure that now there is still time to pray Dhuha,” replied ustadz while opening the status of the Whatsapp contact list, hoping the ex posted his latest status. “Oh, yes, later at midnight please wake up Abi for Qiyamul Lail yes, Umi. Continue tomorrow, ready to make sahurnya.”
“Abi want to fast?”
“Ya, Umi, dawamin fast Monday-Thursday ... ” Reply ustadz smile sweetly once.
The wife shaking her head accompanied by a greeting, “Tumben .. ”
...~ FINISHED ~...