What about you?

If my life can be divided into parts, then this is the part where irritating questions are flung at me.

Just the other day, I was out having lunch with my boss and a male pupil whom I should just identify as 'X'. Boss suddenly got into a gossipy mood (perhaps it's a way to kill time because the service was unbearably slow) and started to ask me questions about a certain colleague's love life. I only informed him of facts which I knew were already open secrets and X then told us about his own personal life. X went on and on and on about his girlfriend and that was when it came, unexpectedly.

"What about you, Raja?"

Wow. The question was short but strong enough to make me feel as if I've been punched right in the stomach (or at least, the pain as I can imagine it).

Boss was also taken aback at the very direct approach which X may have unwittingly used. For me, it was a pretty uncomfortable moment because I do not like being put under the microscopic lens without notice. Another factor was because I view the answer to the question posed as one of a personal nature. It's not the kind of things which I would answer in the presence of others apart from my family and close friends. And to answer such questions in front of my Boss during lunch break before we resume with trial is not exactly appealing.

In the end, I sputtered on my Coke and gave some sort of dismissive response. I managed to get X to promise that he'll provide my car with 'detailing' (seriously, I do not know what that entails or how much does it cost) as a way for him to atone for his grave sin. But I'm not that evil. Because I made sure I told him that while he's not the first to ask me that question, he would not be the last.

I'm beginning to see that that question seems to be very popular nowadays. Everyone, from my parents' friends I met at wedding dinners to friends I hang out for yumcha sessions as well as younger cousins must have something in common. I think they do have a check list of questions which they felt was their responsibility to ask me. And the first question must be -

"What about you?" or

"When is it your turn?".

I've a wedding dinner to attend tomorrow night. One of my Form Six friend's reception. I can just foresee the Question being posed again and again. I wonder whether I have the patience to muster a secretive smile (which may cause people to jump to the wrong conclusions) or just retort remarks which may burn a few friendships!

I think I must put something on my forehead that says "Thanks for your concern. I only ask for one thing from you. Don't ask. My life is more than providing you with an answer".

Eid Adha

As I was driving back from office yesterday, I had to pass by this mosque in SS3, Kelana Jaya. On a normal day, I've to admit that there would be nothing to look at while being stuck in those dreaded traffic congestions. Yesterday, however, was slightly different. Given that it was also the day before Eid Adha, the nearby trees which lined the roads now had company. There was a cow tied to every tree in preparation for the Qurban today.

Being a Muslim, I was taught that the Qurban was in honour of our Prophet Ibrahim's (or Abraham in the Western world) act of sacrifice. If my memory serves me right (based on my religious lessons) and my sincerest apologies if my facts are wrong or distorted, Prophet Ibrahim had badly wanted a son and asked God to be blessed with one. I believed when Prophet Ismail (or Ishmael) was finally born into the world, Prophet Ibrahim had spent years waiting for his son. Then God tested Prophet Ibrahim's devotion to Him by asking Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice Prophet Ismail. God wanted to see whether Prophet Ibrahim's love for his son could be outdone by the Prophet's belief in carrying out God's words and faith. Being a true servant of the faith, Prophet Ibrahim agreed to sacrifice Prophet Ismail. The Prophet had already prepared to kill his son and that was when God sent the angel Jibrail (or Gabriel) to commend the Prophet for his display of true devotion. Jibrail relayed God's message to Prophet Ibrahim, namely not to kill Prophet Ismail and instead, slaughter an animal in his son's place.

So that was how the Qurban (sacrifice) or Eid Adha is celebrated by Muslims every year since. Eid Adha is also commonly referred by many Muslims as Raya Haji as it is intended to celebrate those pilgrims who had successfully performed their Haj. As a Muslim, we are to ensure that we carry out the 5 pillars of faith (which is akin toMoses' 10 Commandments) in our lifetime, the last one being the performance of Haj. Haj is, based on my understanding, the complete submission to God by carrying out a series of religious requirements in the holy lands of Mecca and Medina. Once a Muslim has performed the Haj, he or she is expected to be free from worldly desires and become a devoted Muslim in preparing for the afterlife.

Although I laud the remarkable act of faith by Prophet Ibrahim (how many would have the courage to do what he almost did) and enjoy the Eid Adha celebrations, my heart does go out to those cows. Before you call me a hypocrite and start to remind me of the many beef patties I have consumed over the years, let me explain. Cows, like chickens and lambs, will most probably end up on our plates in various forms, sizes and dishes. That is a fact no one should deny.

Notwithstanding the above, I do however feel that there should be a better (or humane) way for animals to die. Like those cows that I saw yesterday (which by now, would have been nothing but plastic bags of meat distributed to houses), I hate to put myself in their 'shoes'. Imagine you being tied at tree no. 13 and together with you are cows tied to trees no. 1 to 12. From where you are roped, you would be able to see how a group of male humans would start to slaughter cow no. 1. Then, they would move on to cow no. 2 and the next and the next. You could see them inching closer to you with every cow slaughtered and yet, you're unable to escape. You know you will suffer the same fate but by the time it's your turn, you would have 'died' repeated deaths.

Perhaps it's just me but I think animals have feelings too. They may not have the brains to think about world policies but they're able to grasp the concept of mortality. Even if we're to slaughter a cow in the name of Qurban, a religious act should not be an excuse for us not to be humane. Would it be so wrong for the cows to be slaughtered in a closed tent far from the eyes of other cows? Why must it be done in the open and cause massive heart attacks to the cows which are still living?

Religion is also about compassion and I believe in that, strongly. We're taught to be compassionate not only to fellow mortals but to all beings. After all, every single thing on this Earth whether living or non-living, is a creation of God. I don't believe God wants us to be cruel in carrying out His commands. But somewhere along the line, we must have erred. In our bid to perform an act of faith, we closed our eyes and hardened our hearts. That, I must say, is a pity.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha to my fellow Muslim brethren.