credit: Saeed Owairan
Today, I experienced something new and unique! We distributed pamphlets to Koreans! Not just any pamphlets but pamphlets about Islam! (I think spelling the word pamphlet is a pain but whatever)
So I just wanted to share some funny and weird stories while distributing and explaining roughly about Islam to Koreans.
We gathered at the Seoul Central Mosque at around 1:30PM and I was assigned to distribute at Hanyang University with a couple of people. We were split into groups. I went to Hanyang and there were 3 more university targets which was Korea University, Ehwa University (they spell it as Ewha but I spell it as Ehwa because technically it's 이화 not 이우하) and Hongik University.
Then at 2.00PM we moved to our decided destinations. I was particularly excited because this was my first time. I mean, what could be so hard? It is just distributing a couple of leaflets and tissues and maybe explaining a thing or two about Islam since they have either little to none correct information about Islam. I mean, koreans ask me all the time about Islam. But this was different. The moment I exited the subway and into the main area of Hanyang University, I was hesitating.
It was so scary. To think that they'll reject us, or even worse, scold or get angry at us was terrifying. One of our group mates, Syahidah who also happens to be my junior, she braced herself, and went straight to the first person she saw. It was more than overwhelming, I wasn't even sure I was ready yet.
Then we approached a couple of guys sitting on a cafe table. We started talking very awkwardly, all my korean flew out the window and then I started babbling. That was very bad. Then we picked up the pace and started talking to a couple of ahjumma (read: 아줌마 or makciks) and all of a sudden, one of the ahjumma said "It's alright you don't have to explain, I already know about Islam) and thus, she sent us away.
I am known for my fearlessness, and I am rarely a shy person, but that was embarrassing. Syahidah kept saying that her face is already 10 inches, but mine was still not even one inch. Nevertheless I kept smiling, even though it was overwhelming.
Next we talked to some other guys, and it's silly of me but during the whole thing, guys were the ones that gave the most positive response. Is it because we're girls? Is it because men are naturally attracted to girls? I laughed at the prospect but it seemed that way.
We didn't get much of a response from the Koreans, most of them took the leaflets but didn't want to be bothered, so we improvised and came up with a plan. We pretended that we were recording to do a research on what Koreans think of Islam, and how much do they know about Islam, and it sort of worked. We interviewed this lovely Korean girl and she gave such good cooperation even though she doesn't know a single thing about Islam. So we explained a little to her. Just the basic stuff, nothing heavy.
Then we went around the university, and most of the reaction was either ignored or shooed away. It was so depressing. Others said they had no interest in religion which also meant that they did not want to be bothered. Not so surprisingly, these people don't know almost a single thing about Islam. They've heard it, but never questioned anything about it.
Then we met a couple of guys, and there was this one guy who showed a lot of interest. (not to mention he was pretty handsome but that has got nothing to do with it XD). He asked a lot of things, especially about Salam, and about prayers and we mostly told them that Islam is about peace and love and happiness. So we had a long talk with him.
Then after all the pamphlets and wet tissues were given, we went back to the mosque for post mortem. The funny thing (and ironic thing) about it was that there was one guy, who said that if he has a girlfriend, he wants to take his girlfriend out and see the mosque.
I laughed, we all laughed. He said that that was his dream. Surprisingly, a lot of Korean couples come to the mosque as a dating venue. They come and take pictures with their significant other and it's so ironic I don't know whether to laugh or sob. haha.
When I was not so little, I used to think that why can't people just go and do dakwah? Why not? WHY NOT?! I used to think that if someone told me to dakwah, I could easily do it. Boy was I wrong. I was excited but when I got to Hanyang, it was so scary and I just wanted to run back. It's the same as when I thought, how come the government can't send our army to Syria or Palestine? Wouldn't they want syahid? But no, it's not as easy as that. It takes great iman to be able to get up and fight for our Deen, it takes great strength both mental and physical to actually get up and tell someone about Islam. I'm not saying that I have a great iman or anything, but Allah picked me to do this, I have to feel proud about that.
So it's not easy, no wonder why when I asked the same question to my ustaz, he said we can't send anyone to fight for our Deen yet. Because the only way we can do that is that we send people who have a great iman, because people without a great iman will run away at the last moment. I felt like running away, and I wasn't even in a battlefield, I was just calmly telling Koreans about Islam, and not very much either.
"Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not." [Al-Baqarah: 216]
It was so sad that some of us saw Koreans throw the pamphlets that we gave them. They even threw the wet tissues as well, maybe because they were scared. We were disappointed but it's not our job to give them the hidayah, that's Allah job. All we could do was tell them at least trigger some curiosity, may Allah guide their hearts towards the right path.
But like Allah said to Rasulullah SAW,
"Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided." [Al-Qasas:56]
MasyaAllah, how he steers us away from disappointment. So, don't be disappointed! Do what you can to at least tell about Islam, it's not our responsibility whether they read the pamphlets or they throw it away or whether they don't want to hear it. At least we've tried, right? And Allah cares about our efforts, not the results! So do your best! Tell about Islam to all Koreans if you can! May Allah give us the strength to spread Islam!
I dream, of a nation, where Islam is practiced and loved by the people of that nation, and one day, that Islam would be as natural as breathing, as important for sustainability as water, as desired for as food, because truly, Islam is the way of life.
I dream also, that one day I might be able to live and breathe Islam as if I would die without it, as if I would choke without it, as if I would suffocate without practicing Islam. May Allah give me and you the hidayah we need.
Because I love Islam, and I love Korea! Hehe, I love Malaysia too. :)
credit: Shafiq Aziz
Wallahualam.
Assalamualaikum.
May Allah Bless! ^_^
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