Small house, big house

Today I visited a kampung in Gombak where a group of young boys and girls live , memorise and study the quran and other religious books as well as learn english, mathematics and living skills. It's a simple double storey main dormitory with pebbled front compound and bushes and fruit trees at the side.


The tranquility of the village and the early morning air gave a calming effect to those of us who had just used the MRR2 and braved city roads to reach the place. The houses around the area are not the typical wooden ones we see in water-colour paintings or when we drive along the Trengganu coastal roads. These houses are half-brick and half wooden and are definitely grounded. They are also not really picturesque. But the occupants make do with what they have and are probably not unhappy with their simple abodes. Who knows?


The sekolah tahfiz is managed by the principal and his wife with 2 or 3 other teachers. The ustadz who is in his 30's has 5 beautiful children. Oldest being 10 and youngest 47 days young! They live in the same building on the ground floor. The children were active and happy. The wife looked happy and chirpy although recovering from chikungya (is this right?). And of course, the husband was calm and watchful, prompting tactful advice although very patient with everyone. Practising what he preached in his classes!


Unfortunately for us the students were on holiday and had either gone home or were with foster parents. So we didn't get to meet them. Most of them are non-paying since they are either orphans or from very poor families.


There are many such orphans or poor students studying the quran around Malaysia. Many don't have state funding and survived on charities/sponsorships or on the hard work of the founding principal / owner of the school.


It's so heartening to see the sheer commitment and optimism of this principal and the wife to impart knowledge especially that which has been inscribed in the quran and by the hadith to the young minds. It did not appear to be a sacrifice at all but rather a passion and goal for this life and an investment for thereafter. We doa that they are successful in their endeavour and that the children will also be model ummah.


Recalling those simple houses, I wonder if the occupants of many of the big, enormous houses we see around the Klang Valley are just as enriched or has a purpose in their lives? Are they happy, are they contented, are their lives fulfilling? The process of building a bungalow with beautiful landscape must be interesting and stimulating and gives a sense of achievement when it's completed. Then what? Sit around in the house and gape at all the beautiful walls, corners and deco feeling fulfilled from overcoming all the challenges and the right choices? Then what? Start another renovation process to stimulate another challenge?