Women of Choice
Refusing Bribes
"Sir, I ask the cassava leaves, no?" Mala asked the homeowner for permission to pick cassava leaves that grow a lot next to his neighbor's house.
"Yes, it's okay, just take Mala" Bi Marti replied.
Mala cleverly plucked each stalk of young cassava leaves and put it into the crackle that he brought himself from home.
Mala, the young mother must be good at managing finances every day because the money given by the husband is not enough to fill the kitchen that must remain steaming.
The money given by the husband is only enough to buy tempe or tofu and other spices, as well as child snacks. Meanwhile, for vegetables mayur often Mala choose ask for cassava leaves, young papaya leaves or banana heart from neighbors who happen to be kind always mengikhlaskan all that is needed by Mala.
"The love of your son, La, is daily fed by the leaves. It looked like a goat, "lead Yu Sakiyah when she saw Mala was busy picking cassava leaves. Coincidentally, the house of Yu Sakiyah is adjacent to the house of the garden owner.
Mala just looked over for a while and then continued the action. She was embarrassed every time she met and had to listen to the words of Yu Sakiyah who was actually still the brother of her husband or her sister-in-law Mala.
"Employment food. Do not be a perpetual unemployed wife who only relies on gifts from the husband. I already know your husband is difficult, even so usually become a burden," said Yu Sakiyah who was not satisfied with his speech that did not get a response from Mala.
For Mala to answer and deny every talk that came out of Yu Sakiyah's mouth was the same as sowing gasoline into the fire that would only cause a commotion at the ends later.
After feeling enough then Mala thanked Mbak Marti who was drying the laundry in front of the house and said goodbye to go home alone, for the sake of avoiding the words from Yu Sakiyah that would increase in length if he continued to be near her.
***
Mala's heart suddenly worried when he found the bucket where his rice was empty. Only about 2 glasses of star fruit left to cook today.
Mala was startled by the sound of someone knocking on the front door. With a hasty step the skinny woman also approached the source of the voice that said greetings.
Open the door slowly and answer the greetings of the guest. Then he asked to come in and take a seat in a rattan chair that had been weathered.
"Sorry Madam Mala if my arrival is disturbing," said Ms. Darti who became Mala's guest.
"My arrival here in addition to being in touch, I also want to give a message from someone to convey to Mbak Mala," continued Bu Darti while taking something from his bag that he brought.
Mala scrunched her forehead. Trying to digest every sentence that was just said by Ms. Darti.
"What man, huh, ma'am?" asked Mala who was filled with curiosity.
Bu Darti's hand stretched out toward Mala as if to give something. Mala accepted it.
"What is this and from whom?" mala asked for a second time while observing a white envelope that was now in her grasp.
"It was from Mr. Susilo. He's our village head candidate who will contest the election with the other candidates next week." Ms. Darti gave an explanation. At the same time thrusting back a parcel wrapped in a scraping bag in front of Mala. It contained a black veil.
"Because it has been given envelopes and veils, so, try when the election later we choose or contrast the name of Mr. Susilo. All of you invite the husband of Madam Mala also to give her voice support," continued Bu Darti later.
Now Mala began to understand the direction of the neighbor's conversation. His little heart wanted to reject all the gifts from Bu Darti. But, after remembering the rice stock has begun to be filled with feelings Mala again overwhelmed with turmoil.
With doubt the receipt of a gift from Mr. Susilo who was entrusted through Bu Darti just now. After ascertaining the target is willing to accept and promise to provide support, Bu Darti also said goodbye to continue towards the houses of other residents.
***
Mala told about the arrival of Bu Darti to the husband clearly.
"Lumayan, Bang, the contents of the envelope there are fifty thousand can buy rice for the next 4 days," said Mala with sparkling eyes.
"In addition, I also get a free veil to copy so as not to use that one" continued Mala while preparing lunch for her husband.
Romli listened to all his wife's talk with a flat face without giving any response. After finishing his meal, the thirty-eight-year-old man opened his voice.
"Sir, you better return the envelope and veil that Bu Darti had given you" Romli suggested later.
"But, Bang .... "
"No buts," said Romli cut Mala's sentence that had not been completed.
"The law of bribery for both the giving and the receiving is haram and belongs to the great sin, Dek, even though whatever the circumstances we may have, we should not exchange faith for that little rupiah. In a hadith it is explained that means:
From Tsauban he said, “Rasulullah cursed the bribe giver, the bribe receiver, and his intermediary, the one who connected the two. (CHR. Ahmad, no. 22452; Ibn Abi Shaybah, no. 21965.
Likewise in the Quran:
سَمَّٰعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ أَكَّٰلُونَ لِلسُّحْتِ ۚ فَإِن جَآءُوكَ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُمْ أَوْ أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ فَلَن يَضُرُّوكَ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَإِنْ حَكَمْتَ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ
Meaning: They are people who like to hear false news, eat a lot of illegal. If they (the Jews) come to you (to ask for a verdict), then decide (the thing) between them, or turn away from them; if you turn away from them, they will not harm you in the least. And if you decide their cause, then decide (that) among them justly, verily Allah loves the just.(QS.Al-Maidah verse:42).
After hearing a long explanation from the husband. With a steady heart then Mala came to the house of Bu Darti to return everything he had received. Not to forget the woman also gave an explanation of the reason for her rejection in accordance with what she heard from her husband earlier.
***
"Mom, I can take 2 kilos of rice only," Mala said hopefully to the owner of the stall by the road.
"May, what kind of rice is the same as the others?" Bu Salamah answered kindly while offering other needs to Mala.
"Nea don't be afraid to be people. Still alive kereja already not want to accept gifts from others," mocked Bu Darti who had stood up earlier while choosing the onion that will be bought.
Mala pretended not to hear Bu Darti's words that were clearly addressed to her. After receiving a bag of rice from the stall owner and saying thank you Mala rushed home to her house.
Mala just closed the door. There was a voice saying greetings from outside. The woman also reopened it. It was seen that Bu Tini, a neighbor who works as the headmaster of the Elementary School, was standing while carrying a carry bag.
Mala also invited Tini to enter.
"Sorry, Ma'am, here I have a little sustenance for Mbak Mala and family please accept yes." Bu Tini's hand then lifted a bag of rice measuring 5 kg, 6-pack of instant noodles and half-kg eggs. Then tuck the white envelope in the grip of Mala who was still stunned by everything she was experiencing.
Tub in the dream. Some time ago Mala was devastated by the loss of rice and no money saved a dime. Now Allah sends sustenance through the hands of his neighbor who is already famous for his generosity in the village where Mala lives. It has been the umpteenth time Mala received a similar gift from Bu Tini.
Mala's heart was more and more convinced by God's help to every one of her afflicted servants. There is gratitude because he had obeyed yesterday the advice of the husband not to accept any gift that plunged him into the action that He did not desire.
Mala had heard the Prophet's hadith which read, "The bribe and the bribe are his place in hell."
