Monday, November 23, 2009

How I Became a Mullah

Looked at myself in the mirror today and still couldn't find the resemblance.

Seriously. Didn't I get mistaken for a porn-obsessed sexual perv just a month back? When did I suddenly turn into a turbanned and mustachioed religious cleric?


Then again it was dark, I'd grown a beard and I was eating kosher food.

Mullah : Excuse me, good sir. Would you like to try this CD?
Paul : That's a nasyid CD.
Mullah : Really great. Sung by a band of god-fearing brothers. It will strengthen your inner spirituality.
Paul : Mother of God.
Mullah : Peace be upon you too, my brother.

This close to replying in kind - except I was too tongue-tied to come up with an answer. Despite his shoving the religious items at me, my religious inclinations weren't in the least bit swayed. Didn't feel any urge to toss my Bible out the window. Even my crucifix remains intact, albeit in a lil box by my nightstand. After all if your religious beliefs are apt to waver significantly after a persuasive spiel, they weren't all that strong in the first place.

Obviously not everyone thinks the same.

Thanked the peddler politely but shook my head to say no. Now isn't it fortunate how wonderfully tolerant I am? If the roles were reversed - say a naive bible-toting preacher innocently selling traditional hymns to a Muslim - I can already imagine the crazed jihad-like uproar that would ensue. Torches and pitchforks I swear.

Latter days
Maybe if they looked as good as Mormon boys, I might reconsider!

But I guess it's interesting that I actually got mistaken as the aspiring mullah with four submissive wives and twenty hopeful children.

Talk about diversity! Interracial mixed marriages have become so common here that it's almost impossible to peg someone's racial heritage just from one look. Even the stereotypically fair Chinese here have turned permatanned like the mocha-skinned natives. Which is wonderful. Perhaps that's the road our country should be heading towards rather than headlining race and religion on our identification cards to further divide us. Just a thought.

May we all be mistaken as mullahs one day.

And vice versa.

12 comments:

Bradley Hyunckel said...

As-Salāmu `Alaykum

Chris said...

Long time didn;t come n visit u. How r u? Doing great?

Unknown said...

I am loss for words after reading your post, dont know why ....

have a great week ahead bro

Kayess said...

lol wonderful social observation :)

Janvier said...

Oooh Latter Days.

You didn't bring the good man to the DVD shop in return? :P

sharman said...

well like u said, "we" may be more tolerant. can't say the same for others...

Tyler said...

i seen adam on the show last night i dont get him. latter days god movie.

Anonymous said...

its normal lah, even i myself (100% chinese look) have been mistaken as malay by CHINESE :P
yeah hopefully one day, we will b enjoying that kinda tolerance :)

raulito said...

Diversity is a wonderful thing. We should celebrate it not like they do in this country I live in where everyone strives to act the same, look the same and think the same. If you but deviate a little bit, discrimination is to follow.

Unknown said...

Paul, are you sure it is call MULLAH??? Do you not mean MUA ALLAF? Meaning Muslim Convert?Just to share.You see I am a Chinese Muaallaf (officially) although I do not practice.Thanks for sharing your story. I have tons of stories too...lol.

savante said...

And peace be with you too, bradley.

Doing fine, chris! Drop by when you're in Miri!

A loss for words? But why, eugene!

At least we do have something to work towards, kayess.

Good idea. Maybe next time, janvier.

Will put it up on the side one day, ron :)

If only we were all as tolerant, sharman.

Should really watch it again, ty.

Good to know that we will all be racially mixed one day, happy.

Hope they continue celebrating diversity, raulito.

Mullah :) It's the more commonly used word for what we called ustaz and all, shakira.

P

Unknown said...

WOW...I am learning new words everyday! Thanks for the enlightment,Savante!