LOVE THE EXPATRIATE

28. The Philosophy of a Farmer

Edward visited the Pesantren Al-Waqilah bada ashar accompanied by Adrian.

This morning his assistant met him and apologized for the debate yesterday. With his airy chest Edward forgave him but by applying one condition to Adrian. He had to take her to the pesantren.

Pesantren under the leadership of Ustadj Zakaria was in Pluit, a coastal area north of Jakarta . It is located right on the edge of Kali Angke, which is not so far from the fish port of Muara Angke. From the air of this pesantren is easy to find because of the high minaret of the mosque towering among densely populated settlements.

It was founded by Kyai Haji Ahmad Alwi in 1976. Ustadj Zakaria, who is also the husband of the grandson of the charismatic cleric, is the leader of the third generation Al-Wakilah. He succeeded his father-in-law Haji Mansur Sadeli, who died in 2005.

They are both escorted in by guards and are welcome to sit down. While the guard went inside to tell Ustadj Zakaria that there was a guest for him. Edward and Adrian sat cross-legged on the floor of a bridge. The floor was made of white marble with a green tinge of toscha. It seems that the place is indeed intended to receive every guest who comes to this boarding school. Across the bridge stands the magnificent Masjid Al-Waqilah whose tower was already visible to Edward from a distance.

Before long a man in his fifties came up the bridge. The bearded man who is full of authority is wearing a robe and turban, and copying meluk. Everything she wears is white.

“Assallamaicum. Ahlan wasahlan.” said he approached them.

“Waallaikumsallam, Ustadj.” said Adrian stood up to greet the man. Edward stood up and greeted.

“Subhanallah. Please, please!” he said to let his guests sit back.

“What if these brothers arrive at our boarding school?” ask him after the three of them sit down.

“Sorry Ustadj. Introduce, this is my friend, Adrian.” said Edward turned a glance to Adrian.

“While I am Muhammad Salman Alfarisy. I came here on the recommendation of Ustadj Faruk from Medan.”, Edward told Ustadj Zakaria.

Adrian turned to the man beside him while frowning. Since when did the English Man change his name? thought. But he finally realized that Edward got his new name after he became a Muslim.

“Ouh yes, yes! So this brother is Nak Salman who just converted it?” said the man with a raised smile.

“Ustadj Faruk has indeed contacted me that there will be a convert who comes here to see me. Subhanallah. It turns out this brother is the person in question.”

“Iya ustadj.”

“Alhamdulialh's. God has opened the door of guidance for Salman's brother."

“I ordered him to meet Ustadj to study Islam here.”

Ustadj Zakaria. The man gave Edward the view that as a Muslim, he must understand the science of Islam which is divided into three parts of science, namely fikih, tawhid, and tasauf.

The man explained that in jurisprudence, Edward would learn about sharia in Islam. About sanctifying oneself, about the laws of Islam, about how to worship Allah, to prohibitions that should not be violated in Islam.

“In this area later brother Salman will also learn Arabic in order to perfect prayer and know the content of Qu’ran.”

"Salman's brother in his present age visited Indonesia and converted to Islam, it was written long before you were in the womb."

Edward's stunned.

"While tasauf it is the science of how you will keep yourself and your heart remain holy from the nature of worldliness so that your worship is maintained."

“In worship, a Muslim is likened to a farmer. To be a true farmer, we must have fields to work on and tools to work on them."

"That's a fikih.”

“A Muslim will not be able to worship if he does not know about this science.”

“After the farmer has a field that has seed sown, the seed must be cared for. Watered, fertilized, removed weeds that bother him and pests that attack him, so that the plant grows healthy. The seeds will be harvested later. It is our practice in the world that will be reckoned with in the Hereafter."

"That is tawhid, Brother Salman."

"Finally, after the seeds are sown in the field, then we need a fence to protect our seeds and fields from all interference".

"That's tasauf."

“But for the beginning we will learn first fikih and tawhid.” said the old man.

Edward's heart trembled at Ustadj Zakaria's explanation of the three Islamic sciences that had a very deep philosophy. According to his understanding, it turns out that the science of jurisprudence, tawhid, and tasauf are interrelated and complementary.

A field will not work if it is not sown, but the seeds will not be sown if the farmer does not have a field. So also the farmer can not make a fence if he does not have a field.

Edward recalled the two books Sarah had given him two days ago. It turns out that the book entitled Complete Prayer Guide is part of the science of jurisprudence, while Asmaul Husna : Knowing the 99 Nature of God is part of the science of monotheism.

Did not feel their conversation was quite time-consuming until magrib's time arrived. The voice of Azaan has been proclaimed from Al-Waqilah Mosque, followed by the students who flock to the mosque. When Adrian and Edward were about to leave, Ustadj Zakaria invited them to pray for the congregational magrib at the mosque. They both were a bit hesitant about the invitation. Understandably, Edward did not know how to pray.

Adrian, although he was a Muslim, but the man also never prostrated on the prayer mat. Like Edward who once ignored his God. Edward understood many people who had drowned with his Jakarta euphoria such as Adrian, as well as Mikaila and Anjani. They have forgotten their Lord because they are more busy with the glitter of the world.

“What if Brother Salman doesn't know his reading yet. Admired for having just converted. Just follow the movement so that later get used to.” he said while standing and smiling to Edward and Adrian.

Let me guide how to berwudhu.” he said again stepped towards the mosque followed by the two of them.

When they finished praying, they paid their respects. It was agreed that three times in a week Edward would come to the place. Ustadj Zakaria also advised Adrian to participate in order to deepen his religious knowledge.