As I flipped through the Al-Quran last night, and accidentally turned to Page 50, I stopped for a while upon seeing a piece of treasure. Having looked at the handwriting, I instantly recognised it - My late Grandfather's.
It is a 2-sided note, given by him to Mama on her 44th Birthday. Arwah Atok was well-known for his "artistic" value. He loved to cut and paste. He was his own artist, a brainy artist, for his collages mainly revolve around national and international news (apart from Siti Nurhaliza's photos in between).
He was also a meticulous man when it comes to dates. He got this dates written on the note he gave Mama. Hari Lahir 6.4.1962 | Bertunang 15.2.1983 | Kahwin 10.9.1983 | Menyalang 17.9.1983. This was in 2006. Two years before he permanently left us to meet his True Love =')
At the bottom was written a birthday message for Mama.
"Selamat Menyambut H/Lahir ke 44. Didoakan panjang umur murah rezeki bertambah IMAN, BERIKHTIAR dan BERDOA, InsyaAllah maju jaya."
He always had something to say & advise. And he always put it in writing of what he would like to say, on one's birthday for example. He would write his message anywhere he could, even on the back of sampul duit raya. And he loved to give birthday present in form of money, according to one's age :)
I was smiling as I was reading the front part. But as I flipped the note, it got me all teary. Just what I needed, as if he knows. I don't know why I cried so badly last night, perhaps it was more to missing him than this note itself.
I learnt that, through mediocre art can we find cryptic messages of what our soul need. He reminds me that life is not unending. One day I will go to where he's gone. 7 foot down the Earth, buried, leaving behind 3 things which He has mentioned in the Al-Quran. I've learnt as well, that you don't need to be someone fancy in this life. Arwah was a simple man. Very simple, clean, and neat. Just like what the religion require. He must knew well (and believed) that truly, Allah does not look at one's appearance but rather at one's heart.
I pray that Allah grants you Jannatul Firdaus, Atok. Insha Allah :) You were a living example on how a husband/father/grandfather/great grandfather should be. Poor those who failed to study your good traits and apply it in their lives. Poor me too. But I will try, Insha Allah.
Al-Fatihah.
2 comments:
Hi there. Stumble upon your blog and read this post. The way your late granddad wrote the dates and everything reminds me of my late tok ayah. al-fatihah.
Hello there.
Al-Fatihah to your late Tok Ayah. May they are all blessed by Him :)
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