Riri sighed. "Since we were little, we've been taught not to ask too many questions about religion. The reason? So we don't end up like the Bani Israel, who asked too many questions and ended up making things harder for themselves. In the Quran, specifically in Surah Al-Baqarah, there's the story of the Bani Israel, who kept asking Prophet Musa (AS) about Allah's command to slaughter a cow. Their tendency to ask too many questions and complicate things ended up making their lives harder."
Marlon nodded. "Yeah, they say that asking too many questions just leads to doubt. So, it's better to just obey, they say."
Riri took a small spoon and stirred her coffee slowly. "But I just read in a book earlier that Islam doesn't forbid us from asking, especially about faith. In fact, we're encouraged to ask to understand better. What we need to follow without many questions are the laws, not the faith."
Marlon raised an eyebrow. "Wait, wait. So, we shouldn't ask too many questions about laws, but when it comes to faith, we should ask a lot? This is the first time I've heard of this."
Riri smiled. "Yes. For example, in faith, we have to be sure that Allah exists, is One, and that Islam is true. It's not enough to just follow what our parents or society say. There must be a personal conviction that comes from understanding, which is why we need to ask a lot. Even in the Quran, Allah often tells people to think and ask."
Marlon nodded. "So, when it comes to belief, we can be critical, right? Is there an example in the Quran?"
Riri opened her notebook. "Many! One example is in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 260, the story of Prophet Ibrahim asking Allah how He brings the dead back to life."
Marlon was surprised. "Prophet Ibrahim? Isn't he already a believer?"
Riri smiled. "Yes, he was already a believer, but he wanted to strengthen his faith by seeing for himself how Allah brings the dead back to life. The verse goes like this:
'And (remember) when Ibrahim said, "My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead." Allah said, "Do you not believe?" Ibrahim said, "Yes, but I ask this so that my heart may be at rest."' (Surah Al-Baqarah: 260)"
Marlon thought for a moment. "So, asking questions in Islam is normal, even for a prophet?"
Riri nodded. "Exactly! But when it comes to the laws, we shouldn't question. For example, in Surah Al-Maidah, verse 101, Allah says:
'O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, may make things difficult for you...' (Surah Al-Ma'idah: 101)"
Marlon took a sip of his coffee. "So, the laws in Islam are like technical rules we just have to accept without much protest?"
Riri nodded. "Yes. For example, the five daily prayers, fasting during Ramadan, zakat, and hajj. These are all direct commands from Allah, and we just follow them."
Marlon chuckled. "So, if someone asks, 'Why are there two rak'ahs for Fajr but three for Maghrib?' that would be a forbidden question?"
Riri laughed. "Exactly! That's an example of a question that doesn't need to be debated. Those are rules Allah has set, and they're not something we should doubt. That's why for matters of belief, we're encouraged to ask, but for matters of the law, we should just obey."
Marlon smiled. "I like the way Islam thinks. So it's not really Islam that forbids questions, but we've misunderstood."
Riri sipped her coffee. "Exactly! Asking is part of seeking the truth. What's wrong is blindly following without understanding the basis of our beliefs."
The evening was starting to fall when Riri and Marlon stood at the sidewalk, waiting for the online taxi they had ordered. The day had been tiring after spending all day at the city library, browsing through books about the Seven Deadly Sins and Seven Heavenly Virtues.
"It's taking a while, huh?" Riri muttered as she checked her phone. "It was supposed to be here in a minute."
"Maybe they're looking for parking," Marlon replied casually. "Or maybe they forgot how to get here."
Not long after, a car stopped in front of them. Riri glanced at the screen of her phone to confirm the license plate and car model. As soon as the car window rolled down, they were both surprised.
"Huh? You two again?" said the elderly man behind the wheel with a friendly tone.
"Pak... Pak Herman?" Riri stared in disbelief. "You're an online taxi driver too?"
Pak Herman chuckled lightly as he unlocked the car door. "Well, that's life, kid. You've got to be flexible. If a business fails, you find another way to keep going. Come on, get in. Don't stand there like a statue."
Marlon and Riri chuckled before getting into the car.
"Such a coincidence running into you again," Marlon said as he fastened his seatbelt. "We just came from the library, reading up on sin and virtue."
Pak Herman glanced at them through the rearview mirror with a smile. "Oh? So you're really serious about that topic? That's cool. So, what kind of enlightenment did you get?"
Riri sighed deeply. "A lot. But the more I read, the more questions I have. Like... why is greed considered a sin, when if you think about it, greedy people are often the ones who succeed?"
Pak Herman nodded slowly, then answered jokingly, "Well, there you go! I was greedy, I succeeded. But when I tried to live simply, I went bankrupt. So, what does that tell you?"
Marlon and Riri exchanged glances and then laughed.
"So, does that mean it's better to be greedy?" Marlon joked.
"Not exactly!" Pak Herman laughed heartily. "That's why things like this can't be viewed in black and white. Sometimes what seems bad actually serves a purpose, and what seems good can lead to disaster."
Riri nodded. "I agree, Pak. That's also what makes us curious. We want to talk more about this."
Marlon looked at Pak Herman seriously. "But Pak, why is it that since we were kids, we've been kind of forced to think that the world is just black and white? Why does it seem like the grey area is hidden? It feels like there's some power or interest trying to keep us thinking this way. Why does the status quo seem to be fought for so desperately?"
Pak Herman glanced at Marlon through the rearview mirror and gave a small smile. "Hmm... good question, kid. The answer is long and not simple. But if you want to talk about that, it can't just be in the car."
Pak Herman rubbed his chin as if thinking. "How about this? Tomorrow afternoon I have some free time. Let's meet at the coffee shop near the city park. I'll treat you to some hot tea. We can chat casually while discussing your grey world. What do you think?"
Marlon and Riri immediately nodded eagerly. "Deal, Pak!" they both exclaimed.
Pak Herman smiled in satisfaction. "Alright. Tomorrow we'll have a long chat. For now, sit back, I'll take you home. Don't forget to give me five stars!"
The car drove down the road at night, carrying three people whose minds were increasingly full of interesting questions about a world that wasn't just black and white.