si*dang bu*rung was a theatric (i don’t think you can find this term in the dict) performance, an attempt to adapt for Fariduddin Attar’s Conference of the Birds. in malay, directed by sa-ni hus-sin and playwright by is-a kam-ari.

everytime i went to the library, i will come across a version of Attar’s translated Conference of the birds but i have never took the effort to even read it and now i wish i had! because only then would i know where the flaws would be. not that i’m coming to a theatre to rant out comments. but then i would be more critical and not blindly accepting the whole performance….

…because even a person like me, amateur to the arts line, could sense that the actors and actresses of the play might not even understand what they are reciting~ but i’m sure they have done their research. and kesidang burungan, being an originally a sufistic literature, is spiritualistic and mystic, i believe it’s a poem of love to the Lord.
and Attar, being a sufi, must have gone through many stages to obtain even an idea, a slight image of Him. and i’m afraid the actors and actresses don’t really get that. they’re just, well, acting. there’s only one actor whom i think understand the spiritualistic process of Attar’s.

kesidang burungan quite briefly:
a hoopoe bird aka hudhud desires to search for the king of kings known as Simurgh all the way from across the lands, seas and mountains. and he urged other kinds of birds, like the merak, the parrot, merbuk, even a duck and rooster, bat and a rajawali, and many others, i suppose to follow him on this quest. but all these birds had their own reasons but it turned out they all followed him through highs and lows.

now they have reached the gates of a Qaf mountain, believed to be the abode of Simurgh. out of millions who have followed them all the way, many have failed and left only thirty of the birds who have strived on. the gatekeeper of the abode welcomed them. the birds asked to see Simurgh. however, the answer given by the gatekeeper was simurgh refers to themselves. for simurgh means 30 in persian. and they are only searching for themselves.

well you know what? i’m going to look for Attar’s Conference of the Birds and read!

anyway, i hate the costumes worn by the actors/resses. i don’t think the expressions given by them suits the lines. and i almost thought a Hindu song was played! but it turned out to be a Persian song named Simurgh. (that’s only because i ASKED THE DIRECTOR, read: sa-ni hus-sin)

however, i think kesidang burungan is a huge step in the Malay arts. a performance which wanted to bring meaning. i’m sure the play didn’t start out to be portrayed as Islamic. and people might get confused. but i guess it will somehow open up people’s minds, especially the mainstream people, the play is not too difficult to understand if you do away with the details and the original work of Attar. the physical movement, the little humours, the brief songs and musics, it will be stamped to the mainstream’s minds, and tell them: Look! there is this sufistic islamic artwork known as the Conference of the birds, full of meaning and wise teachings, which you can apply to your life, read it and realise it. your love is for God.

well, i can say, i enjoyed ke-sidang burung-an and it has opened up my mind and create a critical channel in my thinking system. we definitely should have more of this genre in the arts scene.

Note: an article written by self which came out in aL.I.V.E. E-News http://alive.sg/alive-news.html

Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Masud: We used to say the greeting, name and greet each other in the prayer. Allah’s Apostle heard it and said:–

“Say, ‘At-tahiyyatu lil-lahi was-salawatu wat-taiyibatu . Assalamu ‘Alaika aiyuha-n-Nabiyu wa-rahmatu-l-lahi wa-barakatuhu. _ Assalamu alaina wa-‘ala ‘ibadi-l-lahi as-salihin.. Ashhadu an la ilaha illa-l-lah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abdu hu wa Rasuluh.

(All the compliments are for Allah and all the prayers and all the good things (are for Allah). Peace be on you, O Prophet, and Allah’s mercy and blessings (are on you). And peace be on us and on the good (pious) worshipers of Allah. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Apostle.) So, when you have said this, then you have surely sent the greetings to every good (pious) worship per of Allah, whether he be in the Heaven or on the Earth”. (Sahih Bukhari, Book #22, Hadith #294)

The beautiful unique greeting Muslims have, regardless of their race or language, saying the salam is an instant identity, the first greeting which, with immediate effect, will connect Muslims around the globe. Don’t you agree? It is also an expression of love, and care towards our fellow Muslims, praying for peace for one another. However, is saying salam becoming a ‘forced’ habit, something we say out of obligation? Do we greet one another with a real sense of love towards our fellow Muslims?

Good habits start from home they say, thus, the habit of giving salam can be internalized right from home sweet home.

In Kids aL.I.V.E., one of the first good habits introduced to them is the habit of giving salam. Apart from it as a social greeting, what is more interesting is, the children are taught to say their salam as a form of expression for love!

How many times have we given salam among the members of the family? Other than giving the salam while entering the house, are there occurrences in the house when parents and children give their salam?

Hmm… “Good morning, dear!” “Good night Mom, Good night Dad!” “Hello bro, what are you doing?”
Sound familiar? These are greetings we seem to have adopted in our daily life. Let’s substitute them by them the salam.

“Assalamualaikum, dear!”
“Good night Mom, Dad, Assalamualaikum!”
“Assalamualaikum little brother, what are you doing?”

Saying peace to one another, as an expression of love tightens the family bond. A small gesture can change the world.

Parents and children, let’s once in awhile, give salam to one another, better still, make it a family habit! Believe me, home will be a very sweet home, full of love and care….and prayers for peace everyday!
Masya Allah!