“Ano ba ang Eid al-Adha?” Tanong ko kay Heather.
Iyan kasi ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit kami naka-out of town ngayong dalawa; To spend the long holidays. Nagkataon kasing magkakasunod ang petsa ng Ninoy Aquino Day, Eid al-Adha, weekends at National Heroes Day.
Mula sa bintana ng eroplano ay lumipat ang tingin niya sa'kin. “Eid al-Adha means Feast of The Sacrifice.” Sagot niya. “Are you familiar with the story of Abraham in the bible?”
“Yung t'in'est ni God na i-sacrifice ang anak niya?”
Tumango siya. “Base do'n yung seni-celebrate ng Muslims. And in case you don't know, in Islam, Abraham is called Ibrahim. He is recognize as a prophet.”
“So, pa'no nila kino-commemorate ang ginawa ni...Ibrahim?” Tanong ko, kasi alam kong muslim siya pero never ko pa siya nakitang nagdasal or gumawa ng kahit anong islamic practice or rituals.
“Netflix and chill.”
Napairap ako sa hangin. “Puro ka kalokohan.”
“Kasi naman hindi pare-pareho lahat ng Muslims, okay?” Napapangiting sabi niya pero biglang umayos nang mapansing hindi ako nakikipagbiruan. “Mn, usually during Eid al-Adha, they celebrate by starting the day going to the mosque to pray. Tapos, family and friends gather together for a feast.” Paliwanag niya saka sumandal sa kinauupuan. “Some muslims sacrifice a goat or a cow, tapos ibibigay yung karne sa mga less fortunate. Pero may mga muslims na di kumakatay kaya bumibili na lang sila no'ng meat na ibibigay. Yan yung alam kong various ways to honor the story of Ibrahim and remember his loyalty and devotion to Allah. Parang sa Christmas, dapat magbigayan at magmahalan daw kasi pasko - araw ng kapanganakan ni Jesus? But if you ask me, di naman kailangan hintayin pa ang kung anong date or holidays para gawin yung mga simple act of kindness. We should normalize the concept of ‘pagbibigayan’ and ‘pagmamahalan’. And please don't believe me, wala talaga akong alam.” Natatawang bawi niya sa huli.
“Anak ka lang talaga ng Muslim.”
“Hmn.” Napakibit-balikat siya at nagpadausdos sa kinasasandalang upuan na para bang tinatamad. “I don’t follow the rituals that are associated with being a Muslim because I never really included my self being a part of the nation of Islam. However, I follow the aspect of it that focuses on just me and the God they named Allah.”
“So, naniniwala kang there is a God?”
“We can find God in the face of a stranger. The one being kind without expecting something in return, or the one reaching out a hand when we don't wanna try anymore. He or She or maybe even It; God is always with us.” Wala siyang direktang sagot sa tanong ko.
“Sabi mo diba Pantheist ka?” Naalala ko no'ng nabanggit niya 'yon kela Jade.
“Not really. Sinabi ko lang yun para di na sila mag-focus sa pagiging Muslim ko.”
“E bakit nga kasi parang di ka okay sa pagiging muslim mo?”
Nagkibit-balikat ulit siya. “People could be judgmental...sometimes. Kapag nakita nilang naka-abaya at hijab ako, iisipin nilang I'm an oppressed woman. That I belong to a religion that promotes violence and terrorism. Kapag di naman ako naka-hijab at nalaman nilang muslim ako, magtataka naman sila at pag nagtaka sila syempre magtatanong sila kung bakit. Mas mahirap mag-explain kung bakit kesa magsabi ng something obvious pero di pa rin nila maintindihan like the word ‘Pantheist’ - It's so obvious pero wala pa rin silang idea kung ano yun? 'Pan' means 'All'. 'Theist' means 'Belief in God'.” Napabuntong-hininga siya. “Sometimes, their lack of common sense amuses me.”
* * *
Pagkalapag ng eroplano ay bumyahe ulit kami by land gamit ang color black Mazda na minaho ni Heather papunta sa Vigan City. Hindi ko alam kung bakit may kotse kaming gamit ngayon kasi ang akala ko mag-co-commute pa kami papunta sa destinasyon pero ang paliwanag ni Heather, rented car lang daw. So, technically, pag-co-commute pa rin yun.
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Haraam (GxG)
General Fiction"Love one another" -A phrase that's both written on their holy books. But how could they love each other if it's considered haraam?
