Aerospace engineering, an anecdote.

Bismillah.

Last week probably one of the busiest weeks in my schedule this semester. I got almost 3 hours of lectures everyday (usually its only 2 hours per day for me. lol) The reason for this hectic week is because we got an external lecturer who will give us a little peek of what an airworthiness engineer job-scope and how to get there.

I'm pretty sure a lot of people who read this article don't have a tiny clue what airworthiness engineer is. Even me, the one who's taking Aerospace Engineering, only know about the existence of this type of engineer after those sessions. Basically airworthiness engineer is the filter between the airplane company (Airbus, Boeing and etc) and the authority. So in order for a plane to be allowed to fly, they have to get a certification from the authority and airworthiness engineer is the one that is responsible to ensure the airplane gets the certification.

To become an airworthiness engineer is not an easy task to be honest with you. You have to have a complete understanding of an airplane (seems familiar? yeah, I know it a bit similar with being a true Muslim where you have to have a complete understanding of Islam rather than only a part of it). By saying that, it means that you must not only have a good understanding of certain part of aircraft (say aerodynamic, propulsion, avionic and etc) but you must have a good understanding of the each part and let me tell you guys, there are lot of parts in an aircraft. Not only you have to master each field of aircraft, you also have to have a good communication skill and soft skills as well (now it started to feel like it kind of similar with being a dai'e/preacher).

I told you guys that it is not easy to become one and it takes like 10 years of experience to be a airworthiness engineer and I guess that's also the same with being a true muslim. You can't be a true muslim in just one month or even one year. There are lot to learn and experience. But the question is, just how many of us want to learn and experience all the things in Islam?

And some of the Muslims have spent 5-8 years learning about Islam in deep, maybe they graduate from one of the top university like Al-Azhar but they still lack in communication skill and soft skills. By lacking this two important skills really affecting them from being a dai'e. Just look at the reality. Just how many those who call themselves ustaz/ustazah/imam in Malaysia really have the ability to change those people around them?

On the other hand, there are some peoples who specialize in different field from Islam (engineer, doctor, etc) but still manage to learn about other aspects of Islam and not just know how to pray and fasting! And they also have those two important skills to be a dai'e. That my friend, what we call quality!

One difference though between being an airworthiness engineer and being a true Muslim, is that one is by choice and the latter is not really a choice, for a Muslim it is. As an engineer you can always choose to gear up your game and get such a prestige type of job or you can just stick with your job and get well-paid for it. As a Muslim, who believed in existence of heaven and hell, it's not really a choice, in fact it is a must! We have to gear up our game and head to be a true Muslim and a dai'e as well (being a true Muslim and dai'e is not a sequential event. It just like chicken and egg story. We never know which one coming first but both of it exist.).

I'm not trying to be strict or harsh by saying as a Muslim we not have a choice but it is in the Quran afterall;

And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know." (2:30)

The road to glorify Islam in this world is not easy.

The road to glorify Islam inside each person is even harder.

I never said it is easy.

Nobody does.

But believe me,

Being in heaven = worth the hardship.

disclaimer : Im not saying all of ustaz/ustazah/Imam bad at spreading Islam in Malaysia.