To Geylang Serai or not to Geylang Serai….that is the question.

Assalamualaikum wrb.

It has been 8 days since Ramadhan started and this is my first post. I have been keeping myself busy with translating Ayat Ayat Cinta into English and I have been making some progress. I intend to use it as a da’wah tool for English speakers about love and relationships in Islam as well as gender roles from an Islamic perspective. Pray for me that I succeed in my endeavour.

Ramadhan has thus far been a good experience for me and I feel that I am able to further appreciate the significance of the month with the guidance of some of my colleagues at Madrasah Al-Irsyad. I have absolutely no regrets teaching there. The school has been good to me.

I went to Geylang Serai to accompany my wife to the baking supply shop there. Next stop was the bazaar to get some goodies to munch on later. I do love going to Geylang Serai, just to soak up the atmosphere. However, while soaking up the atmosphere, my iman is really tested. The myriad of food and drinks being one. Witnessing people eating, drinking and smoking openly is another. Not looking at the opposite sex, many inappropriately dressed, is also a challenge. Wanting to preserve the sanctity of my fast, I walk with my head down most of the times and almost causing accidents on some occasions.

I suppose I will still go  to Geylang  Serai , but just for a specific purpose. I can still smell the fragrant smell of “dendeng”. This year it costs $4 per 100gm, up from $3 last year. I think I will go again today.