Our experience of the hospitality at Bangkok's Banoo Mosque, the city's oldest, last Ramadan has got to be one of the most refreshing and pleasing in our lifetime. Stumbling upon the secluded mosque an hour after breakfast time, a smiling Mr Harun, the mosque's chef, invited to us to a meal in the mosque's kitchen in the midst of his busy preparations for the after-tarawih prayers' meals.

He first had to unpack dates and cut fruits to offer them to us. Then, he cheerfully served us syrup drinks followed by a delicious concoction of milk, sugar, yogurt and cheese, which he pronounced as "suci" as well as tiny Indian vadai with gravy. His well-mannered kitchen aides explained in jest that Mr Harun had the Midas touch and anything he cooked would turn out exquisite.

While waiting for the curry to simmer for another 30 minutes, Mr Harun and his friendly kitchen aides enquired about our presence in Bangkok and appeared oblivious that one of us did not have a scarf on. No one stared at us nor did they offer a scarf to cover up. What happened next was totally unexpected.

Suddenly, the imam himself appeared and announced that the curry would take sometime to cook and graciously enquired about the comfort of his guests. We were in awe of his refined manners and deeply touched by his genuine concern. When the delicious mutton curry was cooked finally, the imam personally handed over the plate to our youngest friend.

This gesture has left an indellible mark on her and us as we discover the presence of gentle and polite Islam in this old Bangkok mosque. Perhaps, the Islam is Thailand is not the militant Islam as it is often portrayed in the southern part of that country and that there are couple of finer points that ordinary Thai Muslims can teach Malaysian Muslims on the art of dakwah and graciousness especially in mosques.