Assalamualaikum w.b.t to all my beloved friends, brothers and sisters in Islam. I believe this is my first time to write my blog entry in English. Usually I wrote down my blog entry in Bahasa Malaysia prior to my self-reflection. However, as we keep moving forward in our life, it is times for me to train myself to be able to write my blog in English as International medium of language as well as spreading my sharing in global perspective.
By referring to the title " Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) 2012 Episode 1: Spiritual Review " it is actually based on my experience as Muslim and also Malaysian Participating Youth (MaPY) in 39th SSEAYP. SSEAYP is among the biggest International Youth Exchange Program per year and in year 2012 it was conducted as 39th times by Japanese Government with collaboration of 10 ASEAN countries. Each of ASEAN countries sent 28 Participating Youth (PY) along with 1 other authorized personal acting as National Leader (NL). All ASEAN PYs and NL together with 44 Japanese PYs and NL, captains, engineers, cabin crews, administrators and facilitators set sailed with 8 floors Cruise named Fujimaru starting from Yokohama, Japan to 5 ASEAN countries and returned back to Japan.
As in our Malaysian contingent, I have been assigned as Religion Exco. As usual, conducting Do'a, Azan, Imam, any religious need and cautious like Halal food and so on. Thankfully because of my background as my father is a Muslim Religion Teacher (Ustaz) and I also involving with many kind of Muslim religious activities, so I familiar with the duty that has been given to me.
It was my new and interesting experience to me, even when I was at Korea, I never feel that obligation as enjoyable as during the SSEAYP. When we came back to Tokyo after home stays session, we celebrated Eid Adha by gathering all the Muslim in SSEAYP and I was reciting Do'a for the event. As for your information, for Malaysian contingent we have 16 Muslims, Indonesia 24, Brunei all 29 participants are Muslims, Singapore 4, Thailand 1, Philippine 3 and 1 from Cambodia. The feeling of solidarity of Muslim was really significant for me and I really enjoyed being a Muslim in this program.
We blessed to have Indonesia NL and Brunei NL who strongly support Muslim activities beside Malaysia NL. We have been provided with 2 rooms as Surau, 1 for Man and 1 for Woman as well as all the food served in Dining Hall are halal and got the Halal certificate except non-halal which been mention by label and been put at different place.
I also blessed to have Apri from Indonesia and Rudy from Brunei who are very religious from my point of view. Usually we performing Solat Subuh together everyday on board the ship along with Mr Habiruddin Said who we called Ayahanda Habir (Indonesia NL), Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia Youth Leader (YL) as well. Prince Noroddin from Philippine, Arifin from Cambodia and many more. Continuing with Subuh prayer, we recite Al-Mathurat and sometimes Hadith Reviews. We also performing Jumaat prayer during Friday with 33 Muslim Men on board. Beside that, Malaysian contingent also conducting Maal Hijrah Marching, Azan and Do'a each times we departure from ports, Solat Jemaah Maghrib and Isya' after departure together Men and Women at Sky Lounge and more.
As for myself, I experienced being called an "Ustaz" (Muslim participants on board the ship start calling me Ustaz after Tokyo, somehow I feel appreciated and grateful even tough I am not really an Ustaz xD ). I was also being a Muazzin during every departures, Imam during Jumaat prayer and other prayers, Khatib for Khutbah Jumaat, reference person when people asking about Islam on board, Yasin reciting organizer during the time some of the participants got Jin interference on board and even Histeria Reliever when we came back to Puchong and we got someone been Histeria xD. All are very new and significant experience to me and to be able to conduct all the things are not easy for engineer as me. It was really special cross-experience and I really cherished it deep in my heart.
Some of the persons on board are also very amusing from my point of view. As for example, Hanis from Brunei PY, she already received Bachelor of Medical and graduate Master of Neuroscience from Birmingham University and started her job after SSEAYP, but she never arrogant and always keep her tudung whenever she goes. I also meet Bibi from Brunei and Apri from Indonesia who shared the Islamic view like Usrah, Al-Mathurat and Dakwah bil Hal. My special Homestay mates, Prince from Philippine Muslim who is Royal-blood but really humble person, Yuta from Japan and Zeo from Vietnam who is interesting with Islam and asking me questions about Islam and Muslim.
to be continued....
*Anticipating* I really appreciate this,thank you very much Mr Afif...
