Kids' conversation

S was smiling when I arrived to pick her up today from COSI Summer Camp. Evidently, she had fun, and even attained a 'friend'.

While we were having dinner, she said,

"A girl asked me why I wear tudung."

"She said tudung?" asked N, giggling.

"No."

"So what did you say?" I asked. The conversation was starting to get interesting.

"I said I didn't know how to explain it," she said.

"Then what did she say?"

I began to notice that I always have to prod my family members to tell me the chronological occurences of whatever they're telling me. That would either indicate that I'm nosy or they're just not skilled in telling a story. I prefer the latter. I suppose I do ask a lot of questions. I'd make a good psychiatrist, albeit an annoying one.

"Another girl asked if I didn't like my hair."

I recoiled inside.

"Then the girl who asked me asked if I have a problem."

I began to think, haven't these kids met any Muslims?

"Were they nice?" Hubby asked.

S answered in the affirmative.

"You ALWAYS ask that," said H, suddenly breaking into a guffaw.

It is true. There was once when H came home and told us that a boy called him 'Chinese Boy' at the playground. Immediately we pounced on him like hungry investigators, especially me, asking the details of the conversation. Hubby's following question was, "Was he mean to you?"

Supposingly, if someone is being mean, the kids are supposed to do what? I think being defensive is not such a good idea, because it turns us into 'attacking Muslims'. So I don't really know why hubby asked the question. What I can figure out is maybe it's so the kids can distinguish between a sincere question and a taunting one. Now, THAT makes sense.

"If a Muslim asks you, what would you say?" I asked S, curious as to what she might answer.

"Don't you know?" she replied, referring to the questioning 'Muslim'.

"No, well some Muslims might not know. What would you say?" I asked again.

"Because Allah told us to," she said.

"OK, so if a non Muslim asks, what would you say?"

"I don't know, I can't explain it," she said.

"Just say the same thing," I said, deeply joyous of her chosen answer, which goes straight to the heart of the matter, rather than wind down the road of a sign of respect, all women should wear it, it protects us from bad men and etcetera.

"But they don't know Allah,"

Her brows knitted with confusion and despair.

"Well, then if they ask you, you tell them about Allah."

Her brows began to straighten out. A look on slight enlightenment crossed her face.

"That's a perfect chance to tell them about Allah. They will be the ones asking you, so it's your chance. When you tell somebody about Islam, always start with Allah. Don't start with the fact that we cannot eat pigs, we cannot do this, we cannot do that. Start with Allah."

I hoped they all understood, because there were no questions.

"So now if someone asks you, you know what to say?" I asked.

"If you don't know, just tell them that when you find out you'll get back to them, and in your heart say Insyaallah," I added.

She nodded.

Because Allah told us to. How sweet is that? Back to tauheed. A child's simple yet concise answer.