“kalau tak sempat jumpa kat dunia, kita jumpa kat jannah eh?”
Silent pause. Then, a concerted, “aameen, insya allah.”
Such were the frequent endings to our long distance conversations, for sometimes being miles apart, it felt almost impossible that we would meet again. Little did we know that it would be for real – much too soon...for most.
11 years ago, we met in a camp that was life changing (ok, not exactly but eye opening enough). More apt to say that it was a camp that would, in God’s own mysterious ways change our life courses. We had our pre-‘converted’ days, our weaknesses. We floated in and out. We travelled together, literally and figuratively speaking, thru life phases. There was a tie that bound us – the tie of ukhuwwah, a beautiful friendship. We’ve had our fall outs, often due to differences in opinions but always, just like our last conversation during ramadhan, “mintak maaf k. sekarang kita 0-0.”
He has touched the lives of many and would continually do so – prolonging his amal daripada ilmu yang dimanfaatkan.
I pray that I will always remember him; his raspy voice, his smile and laughter and the knowledge he has imparted.
Silent pause. Then, a concerted, “aameen, insya allah.”
Such were the frequent endings to our long distance conversations, for sometimes being miles apart, it felt almost impossible that we would meet again. Little did we know that it would be for real – much too soon...for most.
11 years ago, we met in a camp that was life changing (ok, not exactly but eye opening enough). More apt to say that it was a camp that would, in God’s own mysterious ways change our life courses. We had our pre-‘converted’ days, our weaknesses. We floated in and out. We travelled together, literally and figuratively speaking, thru life phases. There was a tie that bound us – the tie of ukhuwwah, a beautiful friendship. We’ve had our fall outs, often due to differences in opinions but always, just like our last conversation during ramadhan, “mintak maaf k. sekarang kita 0-0.”
He has touched the lives of many and would continually do so – prolonging his amal daripada ilmu yang dimanfaatkan.
I pray that I will always remember him; his raspy voice, his smile and laughter and the knowledge he has imparted.
I pray that I will remember his constant longing for SYAHID…
“I rasa I tak tahan nanti kena hisab ah, mar…No other way but SYAHID.”
I pray that I will remember his determination against all odds, everything-also-can attitude, and often to my disgruntled disbelief, “fiq, u biar benar?”
From budak hingusan at ITE to Guntor, from Guntor to Syria (with only as much as to cover his one way flight ticket), from Syria to short stint in London, purely to seek His ‘Ilm…I was impressed.
“I rasa I tak tahan nanti kena hisab ah, mar…No other way but SYAHID.”
I pray that I will remember his determination against all odds, everything-also-can attitude, and often to my disgruntled disbelief, “fiq, u biar benar?”
From budak hingusan at ITE to Guntor, from Guntor to Syria (with only as much as to cover his one way flight ticket), from Syria to short stint in London, purely to seek His ‘Ilm…I was impressed.
" Mar, yang u risau kenapa? Kumpul jek duit untuk flight. Then, tawakkal ilallah. Betulkan niat and just GO…”
And off he went. I should’ve followed for thenafter he would constantly make me jealous by rattling on and on about how happy he was in Syria and how I was missing out on life in seeking pure knowledge – not to mention my horrendous Arabic which he would NEVER laugh at (he would just snigger la) for he remembered how difficult it was to learn arabic from zero.
And off he went. I should’ve followed for thenafter he would constantly make me jealous by rattling on and on about how happy he was in Syria and how I was missing out on life in seeking pure knowledge – not to mention my horrendous Arabic which he would NEVER laugh at (he would just snigger la) for he remembered how difficult it was to learn arabic from zero.
* * * * *
And at times, he would wonder who would turn up at his funeral…
“Yelah, siapa nak tengok I, bacakan I Yaa- Sin…Siapalah I ni…nak cakap lawa, tak lawa, setakat harapkan manis je.” (Yes, he was hilariously funny and able to brighten one’s bad day)
If he had known the throngs of people who turned up at an nur mosque to solat jenazah (the prayer hall was full), people from his past and present who do’akan, who witnessed his burial; he wouldn’t have had to worry.
A few months back, while asking him about his marriage, which he was so looking forward to …
“mar, I tak tau ah but I rasa macam tak sampai.”
After which, I retorted and went on a whole rhetoric about how suicide bombing is haram and how it is not jihad and etc. I was afraid he was influenced by weird ideologies. He assured me he was still sane and firmly grounded.
“Yelah, siapa nak tengok I, bacakan I Yaa- Sin…Siapalah I ni…nak cakap lawa, tak lawa, setakat harapkan manis je.” (Yes, he was hilariously funny and able to brighten one’s bad day)
If he had known the throngs of people who turned up at an nur mosque to solat jenazah (the prayer hall was full), people from his past and present who do’akan, who witnessed his burial; he wouldn’t have had to worry.
A few months back, while asking him about his marriage, which he was so looking forward to …
“mar, I tak tau ah but I rasa macam tak sampai.”
After which, I retorted and went on a whole rhetoric about how suicide bombing is haram and how it is not jihad and etc. I was afraid he was influenced by weird ideologies. He assured me he was still sane and firmly grounded.
Little did we know. Little did I know.
Little did I know, that I would be reciting the Yaasin by his ears in his last hours – reminding him of Allah’s promise to the Believers
Little did I know that I would be reciting the do’a from the book he lent to me for safekeeping while he studies in Syria:
Narrated ‘Auf bin Malik, Allah’s Messenger prayed on a dead body and I memorized from his supplication,
Little did I know, that I would be reciting the Yaasin by his ears in his last hours – reminding him of Allah’s promise to the Believers
Little did I know that I would be reciting the do’a from the book he lent to me for safekeeping while he studies in Syria:
Narrated ‘Auf bin Malik, Allah’s Messenger prayed on a dead body and I memorized from his supplication,
“O Allah, forgive him, show him mercy, grant him security, pardon him, grant him a noble provision and a spacious lodging, wash him with water, snow, and ice and hail, purify him from sins as the white garment is purified from filth, give him a better abode in place of his present one, a better family in place of his present one, and a better spouse in place of his present one, put him in Paradise and save him from the trial in the grave and the punishment of Hell.” – reported by Muslim, from The Book of Funerals, Bulughul Maram-
May my brother be placed amongst the syuhada’ and anbiya’ whom he was so looking forward to meet.
And yes, insya allah, we will meet in Jannah, just like in our constant do’a.
May my brother be placed amongst the syuhada’ and anbiya’ whom he was so looking forward to meet.
And yes, insya allah, we will meet in Jannah, just like in our constant do’a.
* * * * *
Below are just some pictures highlighting the short but full life he led...
playing football in damsyiq!
rafiq in syria - one of the reasons he enjoyed syria was the multifaceted muslim community - highlighting the truely global Islam. the child according to him was of euro descent.
Rafiq in London! his first snow experience kot...
