There were three interesting experiences when I went to Madrid.. the funny thing, it has a relationship with a place for pray and Kiblat direction.. maybe it just a coincident with a Ramadhan month..
First..
We met Mohammad.. a 35 years old man from Turkey.. he is our handyman in the Exhibition.
I asked,
“Mohammad, do you know the direction of Kiblat is?” With his curious face, he return me with another question,
“What do you mean of Kiblat?”
I said, “Kiblat.. umm.. A Makkah.. a place and also the direction of Moslem when they pray.. do you know which direction is? From here, Madrid?”
“Oh.. I don’t know..”
It surprised me though..
“So.. which direction do you usualy pray?”
“Anywhere.. I believe God knows better.” He smile while his pinter finger pointed to the sky.
“Owh.. ok.. I believe God knows too..”
To be honest, I don’t know what to say.. Doh!
Then he walked and continue his work..
Suddenly I remember about how to pointing a North direction by using an analog watch.. I asked my friend, Pandu to come with me outside the building.. and.. by using a sun and an analog watch, finally we found where kiblat is..”
Second..
I was with my mother’s friend, Ibu Datie. She is an artist.. a great artist who made very unique handycraft such as a handbag, traditional cloth and so on..
She asked me pray as imam and want me to accompanying her to the rest room to take a wudhlu.. It is located near by our stand and on the side of the building. It is also an exit alley at the side of the building. When we arrived at the wash room, right in front of devided wash room – gents and women, she asked me to see the outside.. just wondering how the otherside was..
Then, we saw a man (Pakistan or Indian) prayed on the grass under the shadow of a tree.. he used only a newspaper as a sajadah..
I couldn’t described you my feeling at the time unless.. “WOW” word..
Third..
At Plaza de Cibeles..
Me and Pandu has trying to reach Puerta del Sol and we have no idea where we were.. our map covered by advertisements.. a bad map.. hehehe.. it is!
Finally we found a giant map at the intersection as a tourist guide (for the lost tourist like us I guess.. ^_^) so Pandu and I has a discussion when suddenly an old man comes from behind us and asked,
“Hola, where do you come from?”
“We come from Indonesia, Sir..”
“Oh.. Indonesia.. apa kabar?”
Waaa.. he speaks Indonesian..
He had been stayed in Jakarta about three years.. so long ago.. and he is Turkey. He helped us by giving a direction to the Puerta del Sol. When we asked whether he was in the same direction to Puerta del Sol, he said,
“No.. I want to find a place for pray.”
I asked,”Do you know where a mosque is, Sir?”
“I don’t know.. I just need to find a grass or garden to pray.. its enough.”
Another “WOW” and two thumbs up for him..
After a short conversation and he also know that we are moslem too, we shaking hands and saying goodbye.. then we continue to Puerta del Sol. While we crossing the road, Pandu said,
”Help comes in a misterious way..” (Bantuan mah datang na ti mana weeee.. – in Sundanese) ^_^
Yes, we found it.. Puerta del Sol.. the Center of Madrid. That’s what people said.
insiteMyhead 