Abah @ Ayah @ Papa @ Abi @ Walid

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

Yesterday was Father's Day. It should not be only during Father's Day that we show our appreciation to our father. It should be...everyday. As Islam encourage and ask us to pray for both of our parents, as a sign of appreciation and gratitude:

"Rabbighfir lii wa liwaalidayya wa lilmu"miniina yauma yaquumul'hisaab, Rabbirhamhumaa kamaa rabbayaanii shaghiiraa."

O Lord, forgive me, my parents and Muslims in the Hereafter. O Lord, show mercy on them as they have nourished me when I was young.

But I would like to make some special dedications to some special men in my life =).

1. Syed Mustafar Syed Ahmad al- Juffrey (Tok Walid).

I never had the chance to meet my grandfather on my mother's side, Tok Walid as he passed away when mum was about 10 years old. He was a soldier and was killed in a landmine explosion. I guess this is where I get a bit of my 'garang-ness'...sometimes (bak kata anak-anak kat sekolah). He was the last child in his family (1- Syed Hassan, 2- Syed Ibrahim). He was a loving husband and father. Nenek showed us the letters that he wrote to her while he was in service.

My aunties and uncle. Amazed by nenek's strength and courage, until today.
Back row from left: Sharifah Muhaiziah, Syed Muzni, Sharifah Muzlia.
Bottom from left: Sharifah Muznirah (mum), Badariah (nenek), Sharifah Muznizah.

2- Ahmed bin Sulaiman ( Tok Mat).

Ahmed bin Sulaiman is my grandfather on my father's side. He passed away in 2007, just a month before Ramadhan that year. Tok Mat was a farmer, took care of his palm oil plantation and looks after few cows. Tok Mat is a good carpenter and builder. The old house in Kampung Bintang, Batu Pahat was made all alone by himself. He was also a good storyteller and know how to cheer his grandchildren up.Tok Mat, your cicit are now already 4 (+ another 3 coming up) =). Now, we are happy and would visit tok Salmah if we had the chance to balik kampung. The memories with Tok Mat would always be treasured, in our hearts.

Tok Salmah & my cousin, Alia. Adib kata gambar ni, legend sebab susah nak tengok mak tok senyum depan kamera.

3- Ismail bin Ahmed (Abah).

Abah during the visit to his alma mater, MCKK, Kuala Kangsar.

Ismail bin Ahmed...my beloved father. Born in April 1961 and grew up in Batu Pahat Johor. Abah is quiet strict but full of jokes. Like to tease me and adik...I think his niece and nephews too. Thanks abah for giving advices, words of advices. Minta maaf sebab kadang akak nakal dan tak dengar cakap. Thanks a million, again dad.

4- Father to my kids, in the future la...

Hati ingin mencari bukan setakat suami, tetapi, juga bapa kepada anak-anak. Sebelum itu, diri ini haruslah diperbaiki terlebih dahulu, Insya Allah.

*****

To all abah, ayah, papa, daddy, walid, thank you for the courage and strength in giving the best to your children.

Saya tahu, kadang, bila kami minta sesuatu yang kami sangat-sangat kehendaki, abah angguk, kata YA. Abah pening. Tapi abah cuba juga nak turut hasrat anak-anak tersayang. Kami ambil barangan tersebut. Suka. Tetapi, kami lupa nak ucap terima kasih. Abah tak kisah. Sebab pada abah, abah nak anak-anak abah bahagia. Abah tak mahu kami menangis.

Kadangkala, pabila hendak keluar dengan kawan-kawan, abah tanya macam-macam. Abah bukan tak mahu izinkan. Tetapi, abah sayangkan anak-anak.

Bila tiba musim peperiksaan, kami relaks. Seperti tiada apa yang akan berlaku. Tetapi, abah...abah berusaha menunaikan solat hajat, berdoa agar anak-anak-anak abah berjaya dan lulus dalam peperiksaan.

Abah selalu mengimbas/ cerita pengalaman kami masa kecil-kecil dahulu. Walaupun umur kami sudah menginjak dewasa, sudah tamat pengajian, abah masih menyayangi kami seperti anak kecil. Masih menatang kami seperti minyak yang penuh. Kami sedar, tanggungjawab seorang bapa masih ada sehingga anak daranya menikah.

Allah Knows Best.