Recap: Return Home

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

continue...

On 27th I guess my pocket is going to be broke if I stay longer. I had activated the account but my account would be insufficient while I have no one in the city. So, I decided to withdraw some 3000 bhat (RM300) at Thai CIMB and decided to board a flight to return home as it is more fast. Since I didn't stay for another booked night at the room. The receptionist lady had returned me some 25% of my money. Good, I could try some food out there if I am fortunate to find some halal stalls.

First I walked along Silom road first and finding some breakfast. I could see two Muslim stalls in the morning. So, I approached them and bought a round bread with butter spread and sugar sprinkled in it baked on a charcoal stove for 10 bhat (RM 1). And then I get some cold coffee from a stall ran by two Muslim girls for 18 bhat (RM 1.80). 

I could see some Buddhist ladies offering necessities for the monks who stand along the road and ladies listening to prayers in Bali after made their offerings. I just put some donation at the beggars along the road and also buying a pack of rice from stalls to be given to the monks. I do not offer it as a believer anymore, but as a sign that Allah mercy is boundless. His mercy does not bound only to Muslim but to all of His creatures. His unworthy slaves and servants must also propagate mercy, peace and love amongst fellow slaves.

Chong Nonsi BTS Station in day light. 

Morning activity in Silom road.

Stalls along Silom road.

Near Chong Nonsi area.

To Airport Rail Link heading for airport, haha.

An Asura replica in Suvarnabhumi airport.

Vishnu Kurmavatara churning milk sea which is an incarnation of Vishnu in the 10 incarnations from Thai Brahmanical narration depicted just after the customs check.

Going to the departure to board the flight for Penang.

Gate where I board the flight.

I took BTS line at Chong Nonsi but before that I thought that I wanted to take the train from Rajathamri but I was lost after crossing Henry Dunant. So, I walked again some kilometers back to Chong Nonsi line and from there straight to Airport Rail Link to Suvarnabhumi airport. 

After arriving at Suvarnabhumi I bought a ticket at Thai Airasia counter after a short waiting and instantly paying around RM375. Just can't wait longer in the city or I have to beg beside the road to return. It would be different if I work or live there.

Then at 15:15, I board the flight and around an hour and 45 minutes arrived at Penang International Airport. Thank You Allah for this safe journey. I arrived at my hostel around 19:00 after an hour in the bus because there was so many cars on the road. Then I prayed at Sungai Dua USM mosque and thanking Allah again.

Thank You Allah through this short travel, I had learned a lot. Although I didn't get to cover many places, many mosques, or any interesting area but just wandering around Silom road but I had learned new things. I learned on how Thais feeling confident with themselves and they do not shy although they don't speak English. They keep talking in their national language and forcing foreigners to learn their isolated language. I was forced to speak in a language that I had left unspoken for about 10 years while in the city.

I saw many different cuisines although most of them are non-halal as the cooks are non-Muslims. I had tried public transportation in Thailand. Those rail lines are quite a headache for me even when I am in KL, but very interesting. I also get a new spirit after such a boring time at home and at hostel. At least I had done something meaningful for myself and I engrave this memory in this site to be revised again by myself if I have other opportunities to visit the city again, insya'Allah :)

Fin....

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa ahlihi wa sahbihi ajma'in. Our Lord please be in contact with prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family and his companions and everyone. Sealed with prayers for peace, love, and mercy on everyone, amin!   

Recap: Surveying Areas

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

continue...

Still in the same day, 26th of July 2011. I loaded the stuffs in my room after checking in and trying to survey as much areas as I can.

A monument, I don't know what monument is this. I thought that it is Democracy Monument. Lazy to cross the road with lots of cars.

Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University.

Faculty of Medicine Office, Chulalongkorn University.

A hostel for medicine students in Chulalongkorn Faculty of Medicine campus.

Phaya Thai Road.

Rajathamri Sukhumvit Line Station. From here I went to area closer to Khaosan Road.

Along the road at Rajathamri Sukhimvit Line (BTS) Station.

I guess that I had covered quite a huge area for a person who walk and using public transportation in few hours before Maghrib... 

At night I just walked around Silom road and Chong Nonsi Station area buying some water from 7E and return to my room checking the maps again before sleeping early.

to be continued...

Recap: Bound at Silom Road

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

On 26th the day I arrived and wandering around, I bound for Silom by taking MRT. Checked the time, it was around 15:32. Then, walking quite distances here and there to see where to safely load my stuffs and get a place to sleep. Rugi je, kat Bangrak ada Masjid Ban Uu where we may stay for a day or two there after informing mosque administration. 

Just a bit walk from Saladaeng Metro Station.

I walked in Silom Road and branches of the road. Than I sat for a moment in front of a shopping center there and snapping some shoot to avoid forgetting the area that I had came across. After that, I had seen a signboard showing that there is a hostel down the road which is called as Bangkok Downtown Hostel. 

So I quickly go there to check for the price and it's quite cheap although I was disappointed since I could stay in more cheaper room in Khaosan Road while the problem, I wasn't clear about the roads in Bangkok. The room costs me about Bhat 457 per night and I lodged in for two nights because I just want to be safe so terbanglah dalam 914 bhat (RM91.40). Next time maybe we could take a shared room with other travelers as it costs only 30 bhat (RM30) per night. The owner of the hostel is a Thai Chinese and the receptionist is a Thai lady who is quite friendly and speaks little English. 

Along Silom Road with stalls selling food such as fresh sticky rice, moo yang (grilled pork), fruits, cheap clothes, and others.

Signboards that I had stumbled and I decided to get accommodation details from Bangkok Downtown Hostel.

Stairs to fifth floor for budget single room which is slightly pricy to budget shared room.

This is how the room looks like, quite simple and with fan. No aircond. The size of the roam is approximately the size of my room at home but it's longer than mine, lol.

Scenery from above Bangkok Downtown Hostel, the rail is connected to Chong Nonsi station.

Bangkok Downtown Hostel at the row, it's in the middle of a Chinese tea shop which looks like a temple and a drug store.

Thao Thep Brahma or Sanggar Datuk Dewa Brahma at the end of Silom Road where there is a junction for Surasak-Naradhiwast Road. Quite weird because Brahma cult is not really popular in India, but it's shrine can be seen in some places in Thailand. It has four face which representing directions while the other face above representing central part of the direction. I had learned about this deity before.

What I had observed in this road, it seems like it is a commercial center with farangs (caucasians) and others working in the banks and offices there. There are also locals selling food and they are cheap but we can't eat those nice looking and nice smell food without asking them what are they, hehehehe. 

Moo yang (skewer pork) is quite cheap only 8 bhat (80 cents) for a skewer and 5 bhat for a bag of khao niao (sticky rice). There are also random restaurants and stalls serving food but we have to be extra careful with what we consume there.  I can't eat like before anymore because I had made promise and repent to Him.

I didn't stumble at any mosque yet at that time. I had bought a wrapped phadprik fish rice from 7E and I can't remember how much it costs me. And the rice is put together with pork phadprik rice, hope Allah forgives me :'( 

I was like almost passed out and I walked like non-stop due to that I can't stop by at any stall there in the beginning. Still surveying the place at that time. I had the rice beside a cobbler and of course reciting prayers for birkah (blessings) and asking forgiveness before eating the food because I had no choice, wishing that my flesh won't be burned in fire for violation of the promise and covenant. I had also have my meals at several random stalls after that but trying to minimize meat by telling them that I am a follower of ahimsa (non-violence) movement, hahaha.   

to be continued...

Recap: In the Way to Hualampong Station

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

continue...

I personally think that it is always good to follow sunnah (but betel leaves is not mentioned anywhere in hadiths nor Quran at least till what I am reading right now). However we must also trying to adapt with the situation. We are out of our boundary so it is better to be careful in our attitude and it's worth to comply within local customs or being polite. The samseng Thai attendant (not uncle Sumant) had asked the ticket again from the Tabligh guy and the Tabligh showing it with sign language that his ticket had already been checked. 

Then the attendant asked me what was that guy saying. I just said, I don't know him and I don't understand what he is saying. He's not my country man. That guy then asked the Tabligh guy to give 100 bhat (RM10) to him or he would report him to the police. Then the guy refused and showed him the ticket. The samseng attendant showed his wai (sembah) and left to another coach. I guess, he might be teasing the Tabligh guy. Maybe dia menyampah ke tengok orang tu macam berlagak, jeling-jeling orang. I felt annoyed too with that Bangladeshi guy's sharp glance.

Around 20:15 Thai time, we arrived at Hadyaai Junction and the Tabligh guy went down at this point. At 20:27, uncle Sumant wearing his white uniform began to help passengers opening up the bed. My bed was the lower bed beside Thai old lady.

I decided to sleep earlier because nothing to see in the dark. I had informed mum about the trip when we stopped at Perlis but she didn't believe me, hehehee. However, when she heard that I am telling her in serious tone only she believes me. Just want to get her blessing and want her to know where I am so it would be easy for them to track me if I have problem in Thailand. 

I just heard a news about a guy who was a Malaysian student in Japan found dead in Pattaya after stopping for a while in Bangkok. I checked the news at Suvarnabhumi airport free internet facility and suddenly I felt creepy because that guy was found dead a week before I went up to Bangkok. Pattaya is not a good place, avoid the area if possible and don't show that we are not local when we are in Thailand. 

Spaniard girl, Celia who was my classmate went there for Pattaya to see pingpong played by ladies' private part. Malu nak sebut benda ni lah but that is among the ways on how they attract tourists to the area. We would spontaneously call it as lo'laq (indecent) if we hear this. Many foreigners were found dead there too before our compatriot who was the student in a Japan university was found dead there.

Thailand have many other decent places to visit so just visit good areas there. Always establish good relation with people around and don't take taxis or bus when you are alone. I prefer to walk in a crowded area when I am alone. I would like to express my condolence to his family and friends, and prayer for the soul of the victim, Mr. Muhammad Syafiq Abu Rani who was found dead in Pattaya. He is just the same age like me. May Allah bless his soul, and clears his matter in the world and hereafter.

Back to the train, around 4:00 in the morning of 26th, I woke up and performed Fajr prayer on my bed. Just performing in seating posture and they have curtain so nobody can see my ritual, quite a relieve. Then I saw sun rises from the window, and we another few hours to reach Bangkok. 

It would be so boring if we don't talk with anyone so I decided to walk around the coach with other passengers. I talked with a couple from Mauritius but the husband is a French. They also thought that I am a Thai and asking me to translate something to a lady selling the food in the train because they had some misunderstanding regarding food ordering. Then, they gave me some tips to access Laos, but I am not intending to go further North East yet. Maybe after I visit Bangkok and Southern Thai provinces several times that I would try to visit other neighboring Indo-Chinese countries. 

I carefully ate some breads and canned drink which cost me RM5!!! Bought them at Padang Besar passport control center. The guy who sold the stuffs is a local Perlisian. Very 'expensive' for breads that we always buy in groceries. I guess that, it is not even an airport! Sampai hati noh angpa kapak orang sniri!!! Roti nam kupang ja jadi seringgit, apa punya meniaga la nih dok kapak pala orang??????!!!!  

to be continued...

Recap: Backache and Boredom in Train

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

continue...

In the beginning I thought that we would right away have a bed, but I was wrong. We have to sit first because the train schedule is crossing the schedule of domestic passengers who travel from Bukit Mertajam, Kuala Muda, and Arau stations to Hadyaai Junction. I sat at the seat number 36 in coach no.10, just beside a Thai national auntie.

Didn't talk much with her due to differences in our dialects. I can understand her but she is having hard time to understand our regional Thai because each region and area have their own words and differ greatly to each other. 

We have Malay words and sometimes Persian words mixed in our Thai while their Thai is standard Thai according to their national system. I would look like a five years old Thai kid trying to talk to adults when trying to talk with the auntie, haha. Few long hours sitting in the train I began to feel bored and my back ache. I need to walk sometimes and stand to release the tense at certain parts.

 This is my bed, prepared by uncle Sumant who was the train attendant. Quite dark and the train is moving, can't properly snap it.

At Bukit Mertajam, the train stopped for a moment for other domestic passengers. A girl with tudung labuh and maroon baju kurung sat in front of me. Later she talked at the phone, I guess she talked with her brother who lived in Kuala Lumpur. Her face looks like a Tabligh brother in our Tekun hostel who's known as Naufal and coincidentally she is heading to Arau station in Perlis, no kidding mannn!!!! 

That Tabligh kid is also from Perlis, particularly from Beseri. I could still remember when I asked that guy in the car just after we returned from Tabligh activity in their mosque in Georgetown. Jangan-jangan adik dia tak or might be related to that guy? Perlis bukan besar sangat. Just lazy to talk with anyone. Further, what I have to do with those Tabligh guys??? They are not here anymore, hahaha. 

I just take a look at the window relaxing my mind, trying to make myself happy. The train stopped again at Kuala Muda station in Sungai Petani. It's my hometown where I was born anyway. Then at Arau, most of domestic passengers went down. And the train proceed to Padang Besar for passport control center for crossing border passengers.  

 Passengers preparing to sleep, and it's quite shaky in the train so we can see that it's blurry ahahaha.

Oh yeah, there was also a Tabligh guy who is heading for Haadyai. Perhaps to their center for their activities, but he seems quite pompous, looking at me and the Buddhist auntie in front of me like trash. I didn't wear anything that shows my religion or faith and I speak in Thai while in train with attendants because they don't speak neither English nor Malay so perhaps he thought that I am a non-Muslim too. And he is so out of attitude chewing sirih (betel leaves), messing the floor with his chewed betel leaves. 

He didn't show any respect to the auntie in front of him too with his feet showing to the elder because I know how Thai Buddhists are. Most of them are very polite although differently to Muslim Malays. Pointing our feet or fore finger to elders and person upper to our level is considered as biadab (barbaric). I was like so surprised to see this because I was told differently about Tabligh and manners though I am not the member of the movement. Perhaps, with my background as south east asian whom are familiar with polite customs compared to those from south asian, i might not be suitable to mingle around with them.

 Hualampong Station, they had a book fair there and all books are written in Thai.

After we stopped by at Arau Station, the train further moves to Padang Besar. I can see Arau Mosque, al-Madrasah al-'Alawiyyah ad-Diniyyah which was my school when I was 13. I saw boys playing soccer at the field and green paddy fields. Houses of village folks. It reminds me of my naughty times and later my mum had to transfer me to Selangor when she heard something 'weird' happened to me, hahaha. My maternal grandparents lived in Arau and now we already lost them :'(

Quite modern station, well it is a capital train station just like KL Central in our Kuala Lumpur but might not be the same like KL Central. They have King's picture up there and ticket counters for domestic and international trips. Most are written in Thai so if you are not sure, just ask the information counter. They can help us with some English but be prepared if they can't differentiate Thais and non-Thais because South East Asians in average just look the same, hahaha.

Then the train stopped for maintenance before it reaches Padang Besar. I heard the call of prayer for maghrib and my heart feels so guilty because I can't properly pray in the train. No musalla or space for prayer in Thai coach. I just took the ablution, sat at my seat, closed my eyes and prayed while sitting. The Tabligh guy saw my mouth chanting holy verses in whispering voice. 

Perhaps he can recognize now that I am a Muslim. So, he tried to talk to me but I just kept my silence after the prayer because I was mentally reciting ma'athurat invoking Allah 'Azza wa Jalla protection for everyone in the coaches safety no matter Muslim or non-Muslim.  

The Thai immigration officer in Padang Besar passport control were quite firm compared to those in Sadao at Kwan Mai Dam (Bukit Kayu Hitam). No need to slip RM1 into our passport and we have to fill the embarkation form on our own. The Bangladeshi Tabligh guy approached me and introducing himself as a Tabligh member. Urrrr, I already noticed that since he was at his seat chewing betel leaves at Bukit Mertajam. Bangladeshi attire, with white Indian skull cap, betel leaves in the vessel made of shining metal, and bushy beard. He can't speak in Thai, Malay, nor English. Well, it's ok but he keeps approaching me. I am afraid that he might causing me trouble with his image and his destination is Southern Thai. A samseng Thai attendant with amulet at his neck in the train had already marked him up and that Tabligh guy seems quite insolent too.  

I just helped him to fill up his form as a Muslim brother but it does not mean I agree with his attitude toward the old Thai lady in front of him and his sharp glance to me, tengok orang atas bawah. Maybe he thought that the lady is a non-Muslim so why must he be respectful to non-Muslim but this kind of attitude had made me gone astray when I was a 13 years old kid. I guess the readers who stumbled here could understand what I am trying to say.

to be continued...

Recap: Leaving for Bangkok

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

Just took the bus earlier at 10:00 in the morning on 25th of July for the jetty. Then I had some breakfast, rice with sausage and fishball, which costs me about RM3.00. Quite expensive because I just took a kind of lauk which was the mixed sausage and fishball. And had a milked tea. It's not a nice meal anyway but I had wrongly chosen the meal. 

The stall just located near the flying over to cross to the bus station near jetty in a food court. Beside it is a Chinese restaurant serving beef noodle. The makcik is not friendly too. Maybe just my perception.

I arrived at Butterworth Train Station around 11:00 after a relaxing ferry sailing from the island to the mainland for the train station. I wait there for few hours because the train leaving from the station around 14:20 Malaysian time. Didn't take any breakfast but only drinking some water because I was quite afraid to begin the journey alone, buat gila masuk berseorangan ke negara orang, haha. 

Train was not yet there

 Train arrived to take passengers to Bangkok

I regret that I didn't bring any food supply from hostel and I didn't bought any cause I thought that I am on tight expenditure. I changed some more money to Thai Bhat, just in case. It's quite scary because I heard many negative things about Bangkok and Thailand as a whole but if I don't do this, I would only rely on rumors and story above story. It is only close to my state but we don't know anything about their capital.

to be continued...

Departing for Bangkok

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

We would be departing from Butterworth for Bangkok at 14:00 on the 25th of August 2011, Tuesday. Make sure to be at the train station an hour earlier because we have to get ready to board the train 20 minutes before departing time. For everyone's information, especially loners like me, we may choose first class or other two later classes when boarding the train for Bangkok.

The ticket costs me about RM112 because I choose the first class coach with a bed, and it is lower bed. Upper bed is a bit cheaper, which is about RM104. It would take us about a day to reach Bangkok and is expected to reach Hualamphong Station at 12:00, Wednesday. I am still not sure about the transportation to return home and also accommodation while being there because I never think any further what to do when I was so bored. It will just happen. I am still deciding whether I would hop on an express bus for Nakhorn Sri Thammarat and later for Songkhla. And then might be taking a van for the charge of RM30 right away from Hadyaai to USM in Penang.

I'm also still thinking on how to store my cash because I think that it's not good to bring a lot of cash along while traveling. Bitter experience in Kuala Lumpur at Central Market really gives me bad feeling with cash although those thieves didn't hurt me nor taking my money as I only had RM2 in my wallet while other bank notes being kept all over my clothes. I had already activated the overseas usage for CIMB but other cards are not activated yet. Maybe I need to go for Pulau Tikus Maybank to ask them or simply call the bank to get the detail whether they have branches in Thailand and providing overseas with charges or else. And then maybe I need to call for al-Rajhi for debit card and charges if I use it abroad. Regret that I never ask that before I made the card at Kajang branch last time.

I had also got some tips from those who had been to Bangkok and Southern Thailand provinces. Also checked the website about accommodation and transportation fares in Bangkok. It is a big city and never look down at the city although it is in a country less developed than Malaysia. Miss Montawadee from women's development center and Azren helped me a lot too with contacts and details about university and mosques in Bangkok. I highly appreciate their assistance, tips and advices in this matter.

What else? I have to change Riyal into Thai Bhat because it would be lower in rate if changed in Bangkok. Some people said better change it at the bank there or at the money changer at huge hotels. I love the pic of Baitullah printed at the Riyal note. Goodbye bank notes, I'll miss your picture (Kaaba). 

The Riyal was given by my third sister who married her husband in South Thai as a present. It's not the present for me to company her for the koboi marriage due to that I still insist her to do it again in Malaysia, but as a present because I helped her with her assignments while she was very busy with her job back there in Riyadh.

The rest, would be in Lord's wisdom. I wish that I would have a safe journey, new experience, new knowledge about society, new contacts, developing amity among brethren in faith and humanity and learning about other country. Everything depends on Allah and His protection. I'm quite afraid too but I have to be a loner since I am a university student, away from parents and without any friend and companion. So, whatever that I have in my head must also be done without any discussion. I had also kept this in my mind so my focus would never change. 

I think that I'm growing familiar being a loner like this. I don't even care about friends any more since I had always believe that my dearly Friend is always with me, talking to me although my physical ears can't hear Him, my physical eyes can't see Him, nor my physical touch could feel Him. And He is protecting me wherever I am from evil. I will release my tense through this trip with His Protection and Mercy. Also wish that everything goes fine and we have updated view about this life... aminn!

Sealed with prayers for peace, love, and mercy for brothers and sisters in faith, amin!!!

May Allah forgive us...

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

I had received a call from my third sister. In the beginning I thought that she only wants me to help her with her assignments and I agree to help her. But then, she told me she wants to get marry in Thailand. I am so shocked and it is so sudden and scary!!!!!!! I always thought that this only happens in Malay dramas. But this is the reality that I had to face in this Friday morning and I am trying to grasp this situation right. Azren said that life is a drama, He is the director and the only One who understands what happened in the Universe. It sounds like typical Hindi movies dialogue too.

I know that she already has someone that she loves and the person also cares about her. She did talked with parents but somehow our parents do not agree with her choice. She is already a 30 years old lady. I don't think that she has the problem to conduct her own life and she told me that she doesn't want to roam around dating the person without any legal relationship and that would also be a sin for me and for my dad because she is under our protection.  She has the points right.

She can't proceed with her marriage here because of the disagreement between her and our parents due to that the person is not our family acquaintance and mum don't like him. Later, she talks about women's matter with me regarding jealousy and others and why nobody cares about her feeling? But when it comes to other sisters marriage or groom, everyone cares and likes. I understand that. I live my 24 years of life in the middle of sisters. I feel headache myself with them.

It is very difficult to explain when it comes to females' stuffs or it might be depending to individuals. All of my sisters would eventually find me to complain or asking favor when they face problem and I would just giving some advise through the remnant of religious knowledge that I have regarding relationship between non-related females and males or advising them to consult syari'ie (legal) officers if the matters are complicated. I just hope that they would listen to the teachings for their own benefit but human could also forget.    

 Songkhla Province Islamic Council and Religious Department

 The balcony of the Islamic Council

Hong Phrahni Phrahnom Kho Pheephath means the Chamber to Compromise for Disputes. It is a chamber for legal officers to settle disputes for Muslims in Songkhla Province.

Third sister and her groom had already prepared everything for nikah (marriage contract). We went to Bukit Kayu Hitam and the car was parked at the tax-free complex. We entered the border control to Sadao. At the border control, we have to prepare RM3. It is for the immigration procedures at the control. We have to pay RM2 for the people who help us with the embarkation card. And then we have to slip another RM1 in our passport for immigration stamp because that is how they deal at the control. When we want to return to Malaysia, we also have to slip RM1 for the Thai immigration. This is for land route.

I had asked third sister whether she thinks hundreds of times for her to come to this decision and she said that she had considered everything. So, I would say nothing more except that she and her groom must also respect our local customs and trying to avoid slanders before their marriage being registered in our local state religious council.  She is no more a girl but a woman, even older than me.

  

 Sadao Police Station

 Thai old immigration and border control in Sadao

The Songkhla Province Islamic Council is located in Khlong Hae district. About 70 km from Sadao. It is a very tiring journey and we have a driver who is an agent. He is a Malay called Pakcik Salleh. His dialect sounds like Perlis Malay dialect, pekat lah jugak but he lives in Songkhla and a Thai citizen. He talks a lot and telling various stories from the beginning of our travel to Hadyaai and to the end of the travel. He keeps talking, but I love to listen to him as he told many stories that we don't even know, giving tips and advise about marriage though I don't even have any plan for marriage but that is a good knowledge. He also turned on Malay songs from local radio station. Some of the songs are in Hindi but the singers are local Thai and some are traditional Perlis music songs. We arrived at the center after Juma'at congregational prayer service and I have to skip my prayer service for my sister's marriage. 

 Some shop lots in Sadao

I pray for Allah mercy to forgive our sins for skipping jum'at congregational prayer and for doing this but I don't know what to do or couldn't even properly think when this thing comes out of sudden. I personally do not agree with what had happened regarding the nikah without parents consent. She said that she had already told parents many times that she is ready to get marry and she have to return to Saudi Arabia before the end of this month.  She also had made prayers in Haram ash-Shareef (the holiest of the holiest house of the God) regarding the matter.

 A souvenir from the Songkhla Islamic Council and Religious Department

She doesn't want to delay her marriage anymore because she do not wants vice. This is also the problem with some of the parents today. They complicate matters regarding this sunnah and refuse to discuss with their children. Our parents refuse to talk to third sister's now-husband and they don't want to talk about the matter when third sister discuss it with them. So, how could they know the person and judging the person rightly? I could only chant salawats to prophet s.a.w when I meet the person whom third sister wants to marry hoping that Allah would turns every negativity to positive. 

A board for local politicians to promote themselves. They have many banners like this, I don't know if they had already conducted their local election or not.

I get to learn about nikah in this ceremony when I accompany my third sister as her muhrim (related brother). The jurunikah (marriage registrar) name is Mr. Saman Duramae, and he is a hafiz. Hafiz is an Arabic word which means a person who memorizes the glorious Quran by heart and soul. Mr. Saman is an appointed religious officer by the religious council from Nathawee Madrasah near Pattani province. He recites few verses of Quran about marriages and responsibility of husband and wife. I wish that my sister and her husband open up the glorious Quran tafseer (exegesis) for them to get to know about their responsibilities when the officer recites those verses but we have to rush out as I don't want to stuck in the problem since third sister doesn't inform our parents about the nikah. 

Then the nikah process proceed just like what we see in Malaysia with the 'aqad (contract binding) of ijab (propose) and qabul (acceptance). And it is conducted in Malay as the officers are Malays. The conditional mahar (dowry) RM100 is given as a proof to the bride. And then they sign the nikah (marriage contract) with two other religious officers as the witnesses according to matrimonial rites. The nikah process took place without any problem. The agent will help with the documents and nikah certificates issued by the Songkhla Islamic Council to be sent through Malaysian consulate and attorney for certification and identification. 

I can't tell our parents right now in order to avoid problem. Dad was affected by stroke and he could not think properly. He has a blood clot at his brain. While mum doesn't agree with sister's choice since she wants sister to marry local Saudis. Third sister had actually first known a Saudi colleague of her but she had refused him to avoid problem with the guy's family. It is not as easy as mum thinks regarding the native Saudis. However, I strongly urge my sister and her husband to politely explain everything to our parents and later doing it according to local customs and rites here in Malaysia for their own good and to preserve the dignity of both sides! 

Third from left, an unknown officer because I didn't get to know him due to time constraint, the middle one with turban is Mr. Saman Duramae, and the most right with head cap is one of the witness of the marriage. Another one is off to the counter in front of this room. I've got to call the Islamic Council again to check their name for my sister sake because she is still under me and my dad's patronage until they register their marriage in Malaysian States' Religious Council. I hope she still taking me and dad in her consideration due to that we will be dumped into hell fire if she don't listen to me :'(   

For now they still have to be in according to norms and always bringing their sulat nikah (marriage contract) before they formally register their marriage here and getting the nikah card as a testimonial for marriage.  She supposedly having no problem with her marriage but just slowly discussing the matter with parents instead of marrying off like a refugee.

I think that this is the craziest thing that I had ever done and I don't know whether it is right or not. I don't like to do all of these, i.e accompanying my sister doing this because I want my sister to find better solution but she stressed that she has no time for better solution considering she lives abroad in a foreign country and she had already known her husband now for about five years. It is just mum who doesn't agree, but everyone of us are just normal human-being. We have flaws and mistakes. We have to always apologize to each other for our sins over the other. I just hope that everyone is happy and co-exist in peace with each other. 

Allah our Lord, please be in contact with prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family as You had been in contact with our father Ibrahim a.s and his family. Allah our Lord, please bless our prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family as You had blessed our father Ibrahim a.s and his family. In the Universe You are the only One worth the praise and glory! May Allah bless the marriages of His slaves with sakinah (tranquility). May Allah bless all the parents, forgive their sins, and please bless the parents everywhere. Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy and love, amin!