The Ustadzah

Dawn

Miya smiled wryly at the words of her friend. Actually he was convinced and mantab will build religious knowledge and draw closer to Allah and Islam in this cottage, seeing from the courtesy and hospitality of Ustadzah Shinta earlier. But his heart hesitated a little when he saw there was a santriwati who was wearing all black clothes. To Miya's knowledge, there was no one in Indonesia who dressed like that, even some Muslim women who wore a veil and long black hooded, the length of the hood did not even touch the ground, what a strange makeup. Plus about the night of one suro told by the village youth, Miya was afraid that this cottage might embrace heresy. But the UstadzahShinta doesn't wear a long black veil, right? Urge logic Miya. Ustadzah Shinta dressed modestly and covered, the veil until the clothes of the proceed is pure white.

After a short silence, Miya finally decided to follow Shinta's Ustadzah to the mosque. Any doubt that was in Miya seemed to be put off first, now it was time for the Fajr Prayer. Perhaps with the prayer, he will gain enlightenment from this decision he wants to make, a decision that is not easy, which he has been waiting for four years. Perhaps with the prayers in this mosque he will also meet with other Ustadzah and other cottage dwellers, and Miya will observe carefully how the residents of the cottage here. That was the plan that was in Miya's head, he steadied his steps towards the mosque.

"Wait in the car!" Shouting Mirna. Miya turned her head and smiled at her friend, then entered the mosque.

Inside the Mosque, Miya follows the Shinta Ustadzah to the ablution. The ablution was very clean and comfortable, without a doubt Miya preceded the Shinta Ustadzah facing a water faucet to take Wudhu. As soon as Miya's hand stalled about to turn the faucet, suddenly Miya's tears flowed profusely. His body trembled, he cried. Even Miya almost sat down, but Ustadzah Shinta to hold her body so that her pants are not wet because of the floor where ablution.

Miya kept crying and hugged Ustadzah Shinta. The beautiful Ustadzah seems to understand what Miya is sad, she then rubbed Miya's blue veil lovingly.

"Ustadzah... Miyah... Miya had forgotten... I forgot how to wudhu... Astagfirullah hah adzim!" Shriek Miya while sobbing.

"Subhanallah Miya... Its alright... Already, don't cry, Ustadzah will teach you again..."

"Miya is no longer holy... Miya is dirty... Miya does not deserve to pray before God... Miya doesn't deserve a Ustadzah..."

"Subhanallah Miya, don't talk like that... O My servants who are transgressors against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Allah forgives all sins. Verily, He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful..."

(Q.L. Az-Zumar [39] 53)

Whether because she felt the sadness of Miya or another reason, Ustadzah Shinta also shed tears. Hearing Shinta's sobbing Ustadzah, Miya stopped her crying. She was embarrassed because to make Ustadzah Shinta cry, Miya-pun took off her embrace on Ustadzah Shinta and stood up straight again.

"Come on... Ustadzah ajar slowly yes" said Ustadzah Shinta while removing the water matannya.

Ustadzah Shinta then faced the water faucet next to Miya and began to exemplify the ablution ordinance from the beginning. Starting from prayer then washing hands, gargling and so on, Miya enthusiastically followed the movements of the Shinta Ustadzah.

After a few minutes, the two beauties were already wet with the water of Wudhu. It was such a calming sight, when Ustadzah Shinta again taught Miya the prayer after Wudhu. Shinta's Ustadzah slowly recited the prayer, so that Miya could follow it well. When finished, the two of them immediately walked to the door of the mosque.

As the morning wind blew, the cold immediately pierced through Miya's bones. Miya coldly shivered for a moment then turned her head towards the origin of the wind. He may be curious, because the wind that blew earlier was strong enough that the hood was almost released. The wind came from the Pondok Pesantren Building, from the middle of the field. There, again Miya saw a woman wearing a long black veil earlier.

Now Miya can see the whole face of the woman. Perhaps it was because Miya's current position was closer than that small field, so she could clearly see the woman's warm smile. His face was full of wrinkles, it seemed like he was very old. But her body is fat like a mother. His body looks not too high, but his legs remain invisible because they are covered with a veil.

Because the old woman's smile was so friendly, Miya's worries eased a little. The people here are friendly huh, he murmured inwardly. Miya then tried to nod small, greeting Ustadzah. The old woman retorted by widening her smile.

Then Miya's gaze was blocked by a crowd of white hooded people who suddenly passed in front of the old woman. The group of santriwati who were ready to perform the Subuh Prayer passed by, turning away Miya's eyes. Miya stared at the dozens of sisters, all of them women wearing pure white Mukenahs like those of Ustadzah Shinta. In front of the group was an old Ustadzah who looked directly at Miya ... Ustadzah.

Ustadzah Imah immediately ran small to meet the group. He immediately approached Miya and hugged her.

"Assalamualaikum! By Allah! Nak Miya has arrived... Alhamdulillah"

Ustadzah Imah is short-statured. Her body is fat, making her like village mothers in general. But his face looks still fresh and slender, although not as white as Ustadzah Shinta. Her smile that was so friendly, made Miya so comfortable.

"Waalaikum salam Ustadzah ... Alhamdulillah, finally arrived, hehe .." Miyah's laughter was a little groggy, because this time the whole group of santriwati who were behind Ustadzah Imah looked at her.

Santriwati-santriwati was certainly surprised, with the presence of foreigners whose clothes are not the same as theirs –Miya wearing a white veil, and have not yet dressed the face. Plus, their Ustadzah immediately hugged him, as if familiar. Although their gazes were still half astonished and shocked, they still smiled and greeted Miya kindly. Miya returned the greetings one by one, until all the groups entered into the place of Wudhu. Seeing that the long queue was blocking the conversation between the two of them, Ustadzah Imah then took Miya a little forward to the mouth of the mosque door.

"Alhamdulillah Ustadzah .. oh yes, Nabila is there?"

"It looks like there was ... Maybe you went inside the mosque, you didn't see?"

"Okay, not Ustadzah. Everyone wears a white mukenah..."

Ustadzah Imah then stick his hand to the forehead "Oh yes, Mukenah white .. later nak Miya use Mukenah white as well yes, we pray together"

"Yes Ustadzah, the Ustadzah Shinta has prepared his Mukenah..."

"Alhamdulillah, do not be surprised yes son, here it is like this order ... God willing, Miya's son will change here. Nak Nabila is also like that .. nak Miya must be surprised to see Nabila nak who is now, much changed"

"If Mukenah is black?"

"Huh? Black magic?"

"I saw a Ustadzah wearing a black face ..."

"WHERE?!"

Suddenly Ustadzah Imah shouted in panic, it suddenly made Miya shocked half to death. The small chatter Miya spoke of was instantly replied with a glaring look of fear. Miya was immediately made clumsy, he then turned his head back and pointed towards the Pesanteren field

"D-There ... Uh!"

Miya was shocked, because the old woman with the long black hood was no longer there. Ustadzah Imah immediately squinted his eyes at the direction appointed by Miya. Miya also looked up, trying to find the old woman earlier. The crowd of santriwati who were lining up Wudhu blocked their view.

"N-nothing... N-No, right?!" tanya Ustadzah Imah half-asserted, asserting that what Miya saw did not exist. It is strange, suddenly Ustadzah Imah became frightened.

"Bg-yes ... There is no Ustadzah, but it is ... "

DUUUK DUUUUUUK

A bedug sound suddenly rang out, making Miya startled in shock. Moreover, Ustadzah Imah who almost fell because of so shocked, even Miya to hold the body of Ustadzah Imah so as not to fall. Miya was so astonished, why Ustadzah Imah was so afraid.

ALLAHUAKBAR ALLAHUAKBAR

Then followed by the Adhan Subuh so loud. The voice of the male Adhan came from a radio played by Ustadzah Shinta. Of course, women don't do the Adhan here.

Ustadzah Imah then sighed deeply trying to dispel his fear.

"Let's go... Come son Miya, let's pray .." he said while half shaking.