But i remembered we had an exchange student in our school. She was from amayrikah. She had blonde hair. So many girls came up to her and ask her for a strand of hair. This of course happen before we knew that we can get somewhat similar effect by bleaching our hair. We asked her many things and she in return. But when the teacher made a question-answer session in class, and asked us to ask her questions. None of us did.
Anyway, we were approached by a couple of iranian youth - but they are not couple according to her. She wanted to interview me and the guy will be recording our "session". I found out from her that she is an english teacher and also quran teacher. I reckon, speaking to someone who can speak english can help them improve their english.However, out of habit, I might have spoken a bit too fast. I hope the recording helps though.
Anyway I just want to point out this. The standard greeting in Persia is "Salam". Literally saying the word salam. Greeting Assalammualaikum is quite rare. Sometimes even when we say Assalammu alaikum, we rarely get an answer back. Maybe it is the way we say it.
But this is a habit I am trying to cultivate, giving Islamic greeting to people first. Even in the society who knows this greeting, I am already mentally ready to only be responded with a blank stare, Insya Allah. And I would tell those who are trying to live this sunnah to not be frustrated when people do not reply. It starts with you first.
And in Iran if you say salam, you can be sure of a good respond and a smile.
6 comments:
except here, i've gotten emails telling me that we should either use the full salam or shorten it to "as salam". but not "salam" since it's equated with shalom and the like.
adeh..
berani ek derang cakap ngan total strangers.
takde salahnya cakap salam aje. just a matter of grammatical difference aje with as-salam.
and btw, apa salahnya cakap shalom. it's the same meaning but in hebrew. shalom eleke is what they say.
lawak la email2 yg duk circulate skrg nih
joe - i never did get the email. err what story? anyway i think Umm aiman one of the ladies who took care of prophet muhammad saw. she couldnt say assalamualaikum properly, the prophet told her to just say "salam". It is sufficient insya Allah.
aliya - i must say they are. Tapi somehow i think they have this idea that most people think badly of their country. that everyone thinks they are terrorists. so always they would ask what do you know about our country before you came here. Do you think we are bad people and all that.
Many years ago, a group of young Iranian students approached a group of Malaysian tourist visiting Iran and inadvertantly became their tour guides. One of them, a medical student, became friends with one of the young girls in the group. They kept in touch after, fell in love and eventually got married, masyaAllah. They've been married more then 10 years already and are expecting their 2 child. A lot can happen on a trip, :-).
Glad you had a good time on your trip.
Faz
Faz - Masya Allah! This actually happen in real life? May Allah bless their family. But I am glad nothing of the sort happen to us. LOL!
We had great time in Iran. people are very warm and we often get invited to people's house except that we cant because of timing. :(
who knows, suddenly you would be a star in Iran :)
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