More updates later.
By the way, a belated Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to everyone, I know it's kinda late but it's the thought that counts right?
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Utusan Malaysia - 4th July 2007 (Page 4)
The funeral went without a hitch. Tearful congregation of his loved ones and former students sent him off with highest respect, very appropriate for a man of his stature.
One of his former students, a prominent religous figure in Penang was asked to say the 'talkin'. Pak Leh said that he can't read the 'talkin' for my grandfather, how can he tell this great man what to do, to remind him how to face God, there's no one worthy to do that for him.
Instead, he asked us all to join him in prayer for the deceased and then he addressed the group reminding us what a great man my grandfather was, the sacrifices he’s made in spreading knowledge in the name of glory of Islam, the ‘ilmu’ he has shared with the thousands lucky enough to be his pupil. He might be gone but his spirit lives on in a lot of us and it shall be passed on to our future generation. His passing is a great loss, but we all have to accept God's will of taking back what that has always been His.
Alhamdullilah, my grandfather at least got one of his final 'amanah', to be buried next to his wife of more than 40 years. The rest? Aahh well, we tried and we fought for him, but we lost. So there must be a very very good 'hikmah' that God didn't allow it.
La illa ha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntum minal zalimin.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
This tiny sleeping lion shall continue his roar.
Shekh Mohd Hussen Bakar Rafie, born in the holy city of Makkah passed away shortly after 6pm on the 2nd of July, 2007 AD@ 16 Jumaada al-Thaany 1428 AH at the grand old age of 107.
He was the major strength behind AlMashoor Islamic School, counting many political & religous leaders as his students. Among them were Dr. Burhanuddin Al-Helmi, Datuk Dr. Hassan Din, a number of Muftis of many states plus numerous other well-known figures whose name just slipped my mind at the moment.
Tunku Abdul Rahman used to call him 'The Tiger of Malaya' for his fiery preaching during the fight for independence more than 50 years ago and they remained good friends until Tunku's demise many years later.
He lived such a full life, loved, respected and sometimes even 'feared' by those whose life he's touched. In those days, his signature confirms enterance to Al-Azhar University, there are a few very well known 'ulama' who got to where they are through this method - of course they were tested by him first, his standard's very high!
His wife Zaynab Salleh Azzahari who passed away in 1979 bore him 10 children, 7 boys and 3 girls plus an adopted daughter, the late Aunt Hayati who died on Mother's Day. He was also blessed with 28 grandchildren and 32 (I'm not exactly sure of this, could be more) greatgrandchildren, his namesake Hussen Allayth being the youngest.
He was my grandfather and I know he is in a better place now but nothing can describe how numb I feel at this moment. I pray for strength to face the funeral arrangement tomorrow. I have to try my best - for him, for my dad & mom and for all my love ones.
From God we came, to Him we shall return.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Look at what the stork brought in...
I'm an aunt!
Welcome to the world to tiny baby Hussen Allayth, who arrived via C-section at nine twenty seven pm, Sunday, June the third in the year two thousand and seven.
He weights 2.5kg @ 5.5lb. and is the spitting image of his mom when she was born.
He's named after my 107 year old grandfather.
More update soon.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Just Once More
When my granpa was was very ill early this year, my Aunt Hayati who is my granpa's adopted daughter whom he later married off to one of his sons came to take care for him. What makes the incident important enough to blog was that she's been away for the last 6 years. Everytime we called her to inform that my granpa has gotten ill, she'll say that she'll try to come. And everytime she didn't.
I don't know why, I don't know how, but she finally came over in february when it was touch and go for my grandpa. Everyone was surprised, but everyone was glad. Since granpa got sick a couple of years back, he kept asking for "Hayati, Hayati, Hayati". To comfort ourselves we kept sayaing that he's just asking for the people he loves - Hayati means my life in arabic (grandpa is an arab from the holy city of Makkah). Deep inside we know that he's asking for her. But there's nothing we can do, she in Kuantan, nobody knows her address. And nobody can force her to come.
Well she came and she stayed for a whole month. She cared for my granpa 24/7. When we offered to take over the duty, she insisted on staying in the hospital with us. When granpa was brought home, she was there to feed him with the feeding machine. It was like she was trying to make up for the years she's been away.
During this time, my mom & Mak Ti spend a lot of time having heart to heart talk. She too was having health problem, heart conditon, diabetis & seems that her kidneys are failing.
While on hospital duty, she saw my mom making smocked dresses for little girl, and since she likes it so much, mom offered to make her new-born granddaughter one. She chose a plain blue fabric & it was to be a bishop dress.
Mom got sick before completing the dress, and by the time my mom was well enough, Mak Ti had to leave for her home in Kuantan. It was like our path keep missing each other. My mom promised to send her the dress when it's ready, she asked the dress to be send to her and not her son who's residing in KL.
The dress was ready on Wednesday. Mom called her Thursday evening, her daughter answered saying she is resting/sleeping. My mom found it strange that she was sleeping during Maghrib, something she's never done before, ever! That's when Faezah told her that Mak Ti was in the hospital because of hypotension. We send her our love, and told her to get well soon.
My dad received a phone call yesterday morning. Mak Ti is in the ICU. She's having internal bleeding & nobody knows what's wrong with her. My parents and Khalati Farida took the one & only daily bus to Kuatan at 10pm last nite to be with her.
Her condition isn't good. In fact the doctor said to prepare for the worse. She all swollen and still bleeding profusely. They are planning a scope on monday if she strong enough for it. The doctor also said it's all up to her now, she has to keep on fighting. My mom keep asking her to fight, so that they can both care for their grandchildren, Amran's daughter & my sister S, yet-to-be-born baby. She nodded like she understood.
A short while ago, we were informed that Mak Ti has been put on the ventilator. She's beginning to bleed from the nose. I'm leaving now for Kuantan. Hope I'll be there in time. To tell her once again I love her and I understand now.
* I started this post this afternoon before the phone call, hoping to finish this tonight. Ater getting the phone call,I had to rush this because I want to post it before I leave. So please bear with all the gaps in the story & all the typos.
I don't know why, I don't know how, but she finally came over in february when it was touch and go for my grandpa. Everyone was surprised, but everyone was glad. Since granpa got sick a couple of years back, he kept asking for "Hayati, Hayati, Hayati". To comfort ourselves we kept sayaing that he's just asking for the people he loves - Hayati means my life in arabic (grandpa is an arab from the holy city of Makkah). Deep inside we know that he's asking for her. But there's nothing we can do, she in Kuantan, nobody knows her address. And nobody can force her to come.
Well she came and she stayed for a whole month. She cared for my granpa 24/7. When we offered to take over the duty, she insisted on staying in the hospital with us. When granpa was brought home, she was there to feed him with the feeding machine. It was like she was trying to make up for the years she's been away.
During this time, my mom & Mak Ti spend a lot of time having heart to heart talk. She too was having health problem, heart conditon, diabetis & seems that her kidneys are failing.
While on hospital duty, she saw my mom making smocked dresses for little girl, and since she likes it so much, mom offered to make her new-born granddaughter one. She chose a plain blue fabric & it was to be a bishop dress.
Mom got sick before completing the dress, and by the time my mom was well enough, Mak Ti had to leave for her home in Kuantan. It was like our path keep missing each other. My mom promised to send her the dress when it's ready, she asked the dress to be send to her and not her son who's residing in KL.
The dress was ready on Wednesday. Mom called her Thursday evening, her daughter answered saying she is resting/sleeping. My mom found it strange that she was sleeping during Maghrib, something she's never done before, ever! That's when Faezah told her that Mak Ti was in the hospital because of hypotension. We send her our love, and told her to get well soon.
My dad received a phone call yesterday morning. Mak Ti is in the ICU. She's having internal bleeding & nobody knows what's wrong with her. My parents and Khalati Farida took the one & only daily bus to Kuatan at 10pm last nite to be with her.
Her condition isn't good. In fact the doctor said to prepare for the worse. She all swollen and still bleeding profusely. They are planning a scope on monday if she strong enough for it. The doctor also said it's all up to her now, she has to keep on fighting. My mom keep asking her to fight, so that they can both care for their grandchildren, Amran's daughter & my sister S, yet-to-be-born baby. She nodded like she understood.
A short while ago, we were informed that Mak Ti has been put on the ventilator. She's beginning to bleed from the nose. I'm leaving now for Kuantan. Hope I'll be there in time. To tell her once again I love her and I understand now.
* I started this post this afternoon before the phone call, hoping to finish this tonight. Ater getting the phone call,I had to rush this because I want to post it before I leave. So please bear with all the gaps in the story & all the typos.
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