The Rafflesia story

It was about a week ago when my course leader called me up and asked if I would like go to to Ulu Geroh, nearby Gopeng to see the Rafflesia plant. We actually went there before but only to find the flower to be destroyed maybe by animals. The last time we went we can only see the rafflesia buds.
Just to see the parasitic plant, we need to climb about an hour uphill through trails made by the local Semai people here. I nearly died climbing. And the route is full of insects and leeches.

So I agreed to follow him, on the way we met a man. His face looks clean and his hair is white. He looks like a foreigner but actually he is a Malay. He was alone and wanted to see the plant as well so the three of us went up the hill togather and Alhamdullilah, this time we are lucky to see one blooming. It takes about 9 months for the rafflesia buds to bloom. And when it does, it will wilt within a week.

MasyaAllah, SubhanaAllah, it was so beautiful.

While resting, we found out that the guy we met is actually a pilot. We talked about life, money and religion.

What are you doing now?

I am a pilot.

Wow! No wonder you are so fit. U are 20+ older than me and you have the stamina more than I do. What's your secret?

Just walk. I play golf so I walked a lot. Never use the caddy car. So each game I walked about 7km. Allah S.W.T. gave us this body so we have to take care of it. It is our responsibility to our self.

That time, I was thinking of myself. I felt ashamed because lately I am getting fatter. I did not take care of my body as much as I used to. It is our responsibility as muslims to take care of our body so that it is healthy. Clean our body etc.

Anyway, what both of you do?

We are teachers in UIA matriculation. I think this is the first time that I had a real conversation with a pilot. What is the work like? How does it feel?

Well, I am just a pilot. I carry people from point A to point B. Our jobs is similar but rather than carrying people from places you carry them through their life.

I was shocked to hear this from a pilot. Alhamdullilah, he reminded me how heavy the work of a teacher is. If he makes mistakes while flying, he will endanger others life. However if we teachers makes mistakes in educating and teaching a student, we might destroy his future, our student might end up taking other peoples life and even worse might become a treat to our religion.

I pray to Allah so that He will give us the strength to educate the students so that they will follow His Way. InsyaAllah I will try my very best. And I pray to Allah so that this pilot will be protected from danger, have a healthy longer life.

When he knew that I was a revert, he told us the story about a deaf girl who are interested to revert to Islam. He said that she hesitate because she do not want to change her name. Her name was given by her parents.

The pilot later explained that, the Malay muslims in the Jabatan Agama wants her to change name. He said that is 'bullshit', we are making our religion harder for the new reverts and the people who wanted to revert. She should just kept her name as it was. Infortunately, this only happens in Malaysia.....

I totally agreed, we only have to change name if it carries bad meanings. I respect this man in front of me. He is a pilot, yet modest and the best of all he knew his religion well.

We parted after having lunch. I felt so thankful I met this man. I always think that it is arranged by Allah. Alhamdullilah. I took his contacts. InsyaAllah I will contact him again.