I always grimace when I listen to Pak Warsa recite the Qur’an. First, he chants the verses of God. Then, he reads aloud the Al using his sound system. So his voice is heard very loud—a dumb who recite Al-Quran with his speaker. Imagine by yourself!
Don’t argue about tajwid, tartil, or true-false about letters coming out of Pak Warsa’s mouth. Course, he was defeated by a lot of “normal” people out there. But for me, Pak Warsa was not just reading and reciting Al Quran by text. He is studying and reciting life by singing his heart and feelings with a hoarse and unclear voice.
When I heard that voice, I silently imagined, what was the dumb feeling when reading the scriptures of God? Sadness? Bitterness? Miserable? I wonder, is he also fed up with his limitations? Does he want to protest everything? Or maybe is it the opposite? He feels grateful for what happened, embraces its limitations, and feels sorry for “normal” people who talk too much? I have no idea.
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One night, after tarawih. My mother had said quietly, “Pak Warsa is very smart, le”. I just smiled and agreed on it. So many times, deep down. My thoughts still creeping here and there.
“Buk, maybe between recesses of the Al-Quran, Pak Warsa also smile to imagining and thanking God, who gave him silence… “I whispered myself.
