Mak's Gift of Love To Her Four Daughters

16 October 2009, Friday (27 Syawal)

Last Sunday (11 October), when my eldest sister, Kak Pah handed me Mak's coin bracelet which Mak had bequeathed to her four girls, I had held it tenderly. I had gazed at it lovingly as it was passed from my sister's hand to mine. I've not seen it for quite sometime.

After Mak passed away in 2000, we decided not to split the coins so that we could "contain" Mak's image and memories. We had thought that by splitting, we would be dismantling our memories of Mak.

And during the first couple of years after Mak's demise, the girls took turn to keep the bracelet for a year each. But soon after, everyone forgot all about the bracelet with the many things that had happened in our own respective lives. Nevertheless, that did not mean that we had forgotten about Mak.  Not one day had I not thought about Mak. Mak will always be dear and close to my heart.

And today, when I looked at the bracelet again, it had reminded me of Mak's consummate love for her eight children. In our lifetime, we each had been given many gifts by Mak.  But this coin bracelet is truly special as it had held exceptional memories of Mak.

Mak had been a remarkable woman. She was a woman of substance. Despite being poor, Mak had saved enough money to buy these these coins in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 1968. And when she came back, my grandmother and auntie (Ayah's sister) had helped her to send the gold coins to the goldsmith to turn it into a beautiful bracelet.

After a lapse of 9 years, the 4 girls have finally decided that the best way to handle the bracelet was to distribute it equally among the four girls.

And last Sunday, after my sister had handed over the bracelet to me, and with a very heavy heart, I had taken it to the goldsmith to have the coins split. Nonetheless, my aching heart was appeased when I think that this time, Mak's Gift of Love will be really dear to us. The coin pendant will sit very close to our heart.  Mak will be with her four girls every day of our lives.

Mak, thank you so very much for your Gift of Love. We will always love you. Mak, I've reserved the biggest compartment of my heart for you.  May Allah bless your soul. Al-Fatihah.

Mak's "New Home" at Sungai Serai Cemetery

7 October 2009, Wednesday 2009 (18 Syawal)

To Allah (Almighty God) we belong, and to Him is our return." (Holy Qur'an 2:156)

Last Sunday, 4 October 2009, we visited Mak at Sungai Serai Cemetery in Ulu Langat. Mak passed away on 18 September 2009, 2 days before Muslims celebrated Hari Raya.

Earlier, my husband, my eldest son and my second son had had lunch at Bangi, and we later dropped by my sister-in-law's house (also in Bangi).

After viewing Mak's room again since her passing away, I had this strong urge to visit her and had suggested to my husband to visit her new home.

So from Bangi, we drove all the way to Sungai Serai in Ulu Langat.  Being Sunday, the road leading to the cemetery was crawling with cars as that is the only route for people who ply the road to go to the rivers and resorts for picnics.

Upon reaching the cemetery, my husband had alighted from the car to open the gate as the gate was closed.  Thank God it was not padlocked.

So upon entering the cemetery, all four of us slowly made our way to Mak's new home, the spot where mak was finally laid to rest.

 

 

 

Amir, my husband, and my two boys reciting the Fatihah for Mak

 

My husband, Amir, trying very hard to hold back his tears as he sat next to Mak's resting place

A close-up of Mak's newly dug resting place. 

The gravestones are yet to be erected 

 

 

As I sat down next to Mak's resting place and recited the Fatihah, I prayed to Allah to bless her soul and place her amongst the believers.

As Mak was buried close to Tini's (Amir's sister) mother-in-law, Amir and us took the opportunity to recite the fatihah for her too.

And before we left, we took a last look at Mak's home and the area surrounding it, a place where many of God's creations lay buried. God had taken back what He had created, what he had loaned to us.

 

 

 

With profound sadness and a deep sense of penitence on how great Allah is, we left the cemetery ground.  We realised that we are mere mortals on this earth.

Hence, it is of utmost importance that man should hold death dear and consider it an opportunity of meeting with his Almighty, and not hate it and consider it as evil, but should take lessons from it.

He should ask forgiveness from Almighty for his sins and tame the rebellious self (Nafs). When the call of his Lord comes, he should welcome it with open arms accepting it to be a blessing from Almighty.

He should be contented with the decree (Qadr) of Almighty. He should also rejoice that shortly he would be taken to the presence of Ahlul Bait [Household of Prophet] (pbut) and meet his deceased companions and other believer brothers.

He should also not be disheartened by the delay in death but should consider it as an opportunity afforded by Almighty to him to repent. This delay would give him a chance to gather provisions useful for his journey to the other world, for the journey is tiresome and full of dangerous valleys and difficult paths.

In fact a believer always remembers death, since his or her main goal is to reach the Almighty God. Therefore true believers, those who are sincerely devoted to the Almighty God, anticipate death since to them it signifies the long-awaited meeting with their creator.

Before a believer approaches the final moment of his/her life and death overtakes him, it is necessary that he wakes up from the state of negligence and prepares for the final everlasting place. This way he will be able to avoid bewilderment and the fear of the so-called untimely death.

At the time of leaving this world, as attested to by the Holy Qur'an, a person will be in one of two states - either he will be of the Companions of the Right, or the Companions of the Left (Refer Holy Qur'an 56:7-56). If he is counted amongst the Companions of the Right, he will be in a good, final state, but if he is one of the Companions of the Left, he will be of those who have suffered a great loss.

"To Allah (Almighty God) we belong, and to Him is our return." (Holy Qur'an 2:156)

Tini, Your House Seemed Different After Mak's Demise

4 October 2009, Sunday (15 Syawal)

Today we went to visit my sister-in-law, Tini and her family at her house in Bangi after we had lunch at Village View restaurant, also in Bangi.

It's the first time we are seeing her again after we dropped off my father-in-law at her house during Raya, and after Mak passed away 2 days before Raya.

So it was kind of emotional when my husband and Tini embraced each other. I could see tears brimming both their eyes after that emotional embrace.

And her house seemed kind of different this time around. It was eerily quiet and empty despite everyone being at home.

Normally, the house would be quite noisy, with Mak's chatters. Even though her chatters seemed to be quite unintelligible the last few months before her demise, it really had livened up the house when she was alive. And despite suffering from dementia, she was a hilarious woman. She had always been a jovial and fun person.

And today, there was no such chatters.  There was no laughter from us.  There was no hilarious antics from Mak. Mak, we miss you.

And a short while later, I walked to Mak's room.  Tini had kept the room intact.  Mak's clothes, Mak's bed, Mak's small TV, Mak's wheelchair and Mak's personal belongings were still kept as though Mak was still alive.

 

 

 

It brought tears to my eyes as I surveyed the room. Mak, I could feel your presence in the room. It's hard to believe that you had left us 17 days ago. I quickly walked out of the room as by then I was too overcame with emotion.

And, before we left, I had requested for Mak's Baju Kedah.  And Tini had been kind enough to give me not only Mak's Baju Kedah but also one of her sarongs.

I wanted to keep these as momento, to remind me of my short time with Mak, to remind me that Mak was just on loan to us.  And that Allah had taken her back to where she rightly belonged.

May Allah bless you, Mak.  Al-Fatihah.

Mak, Allah Loves You More

18 September 2009

Mak, at around 12:50 p.m. Amir's phone (your son) rang as he was driving, so I picked it up.  And the minute I said "Hello", I heard Tini's (your daughter) distraught voice and wrecking sob "Wan, I think Mak is gone. Mak is gone". And I could hear her anguished sobs in the background before the phone went dead.  My heart went out to her.  And I had blurted to Amir, "Sayang, Mak has passed away. Mak is gone. Mak is gone," I kept repeating to him. And with it, came my tears, which flowed down my cheeks and onto my lap.

Mak, through my tears, I remembered seeing Amir gripping the steering wheel right after I broke that grim news to him.  I knew how much he loved you and how much he would miss you.  I salute him for being so strong as he was able to contain his emotion. I was the one who was sobbing throughout the journey from Ampang to Hospital Serdang.  I had felt that the distance was the longest journey I had taken.

Mak, as we had slept late the night before having spent almost the entire day at Serdang Hospital the day before, keeping vigil at your bedside, we had gone to sleep again after sahur and subuh prayer. 

But as soon as we woke up, I had urged Amir to call Tini as I was worried about your deteriorating condition.  In fact I  had difficulty falling asleep as my mind kept going back to the image of you gasping for breath and how your face contorted in pain each time you tried to breathe.

Mak, Tini had told Amir that your condition had remained unchanged after we left the hospital soon after iftar (break fast) although during the night your vital statistics had been rather erratic.

As we reckoned your condition would not change much, both Amir and I decided to go to Ampang on Friday morning as we had to do a couple of errands.

Mak, whilst we were at Ampang Point, Amir received a call from Tini to say that your respiratory rate was gradually dropping.  As soon as we heard that, we decided to forego some of the things we wanted to do in Ampang.  We got into the car and just after we left Ampang, the phone rang again with the sad news about your passing away.

Mak, I had called your grand kids (some of whom were still sleeping) to break the sad news that their only surviving grandmother had left to be with Allah. I told them to meet us at the hospital.

Upon reaching the hospital, Amir had walked to Tini and enveloped her in a tight hug as they both cried.  They both cried for you, the mum they had just lost, the mum who had tended to them when they were babies, the mum who had nursed them when they were sick, the mum who had taken care of them in sickness and in health, the mum who had kissed them tenderly with love, the mum who had prepared and cooked delicious meals for their kids and grand kids everything we were back in Penang for holidays, and the mum who had raised them well to be what they are today.

Mak, as I walked to Tini, she cried again as I hugged and embraced her.  I too cried for you, mak, my mother in law, a mum whose love I pined for with the loss of my own mum nine years ago.

Mak, I sat next to your bed and started reciting the Yassin which was interspersed with tears.

And your grand children had sat next to your body with crestfallen faces, and silently grieving your death.

 

Mak, as I looked at your cold and lifeless body which was shrouded in white on the hospital bed, my mind flashed back to the day I was invited by your son, my then boyfriend, (now my husband) to your house at Jalan Gajah, Penang.

After a couple of months of whirlwind courtship, apparently Amir had told you and bapak about me and they had wanted to meet me (supposedly your prospective daughter in law) in person.

I vividly remembered that day.

Upon reaching your house, I recalled having butterflies and grasshoppers in my tummy as I had never before been taken back to any of my male friends' houses to meet their parents.  But I distinctly recalled being warmly welcomed by both you and bapak.  And as I walked, I could feel both your eyes and bapak's training on me, particularly bapak's, scrutinising me from head to toe whilst ascertaining whether I was really a suitable candidate as your daughter-in-law.

If truth be told, it was one of the most nerve wrecking moment of my life. Needless to say, I must have passed with flying colours.Hmmmmmm........

Mak, when I had first met you, I was taken in by not only your beauty, but also your soft demeanour, your regal stature and also how soft spoken you were.  And I would always remember how you had painstakingly cooked "Shrimp Rice" as Amir must have told you that my favourite food was prawns.  Although the food was delicious and tantalising, I was too nervous and apprehensive to have savoured and enjoyed the food. Needless to say, I left the house feeling quite hungry.

Right after lunch, I was brought to the living room and bapak had a little te-te-te with me, without the presence of you, mak.  You could imagine how nervous, edgy and panicky I was.  But bapak had allayed my fears and nervousness by talking to me softly and chatting me up so that he could know me better.  And I remembered him reminding me to wear the sarung after I am married (hmmmmmm....) and I recalled nodding my head quietly in acquiscence. I was too nervous to reply or say anything.

Mak, Hmmm.... psssssstttt...... let me share with you this little secret....... after 26 years of marriage, that was something which I had failed to adhere to in my marriage.  I'm not really passionate about sarung as I prefer the pants as I find sarung very cumbersome. Sorry, bapak.  I failed to listen to your advice. Till today, I had never donned the sarung.

And the rest is history.  We got married after 7 months of courtship and was blessed with 4 bundles of joy. I also recalled how excited you were with the birth of your first grandchild, Khairul (my eldest son). And later, all the other grand kids who came along, 4 from Amir and I, 8 from Tini and Din, and 2 from Hanafi and Azillah.  Mak, I would always remember how you had doted and fussed on all your grandkids and how they loved you.

"Sayang, let's go!" I was jolted out of my reverie, when I realised that my mind had drifted to the past.  I was now transported back to 18 September 2009, today, on this fateful day, where your lifeless cold body lay on that bed.  And Amir had called me to say that your body was now ready to be brought down to the mortuary room on the ground floor for final release before the hearse from UPM arrived.  Zul (Amir's colleague from UPM) had kindly arranged for the hearse.  Thanks Zul.

Tini, Ina, Kak Long (Tini's sister in law) and Kak Long's daughter and I kept you company in the mortuary room.

And Kak Long had stood up and read the Yassin by your bedside while waiting or the hearse to arrive.

Mak, Amir and Tini stood outside to comfort each other and had reminisced about their time with you, when you were still alive, when you had enveloped us with your love.

And Amir's office colleagues had kept Amir company until the hearse arrived.  They were so supportive of him in his time of loss and deep sadness.

Soon the hearse arrived.

 

 

 

 

As soon as your body was placed in the the hearse, Amir, Tini and I accompanied you for your journey from Serdang Hospital to Surau AnNur in Bangi where your final rites would take place. Meanwhile, Khairil had left the hospital to fetch bapak from my house.

We arrived at the surau just before the Asar prayers. Soon after the Asar prayers, together with Tini and all your female grand kids, we had helped the Ustazah (sorry, couldn't recall her name) to bathe you. I was happy to have been able to do that for you mum as I did not get a chance to do that for my own mum due to unforseen circumstances.

I was really glad for the opportunity as now, at least, I know what it is like to perform the bath for someone who has passed away. And it was good that all your grand daughters were there to help out.

Right after the bath, your body was laid down on the surau floor to be swathed in cotton and white cloth. I tried very hard to hold back my tears (and I'm sure the others too) as we helped the ustazah. And finally, just before your face is finally covered and tied with the white cloth, I heard the Ustazah's voice rang out, "Whoever wants to kiss her for the final time, please do so, especially her kids and grand kids."

And one by one, we started kissing you. I bent down to kiss your forehead and then both your cheeks whilst trying very hard to contain my tears at that time. I had gone to hold your sister's hands (Chik) to enable her to kiss you.  The minute she reached your cold body, she had burst out crying. Poor Chik.

And once everyone of your loved ones had kissed you for the final time, your body was transferred to the coffin and covered before the congregation performed the prayers. Soon after that, your body was carried to the van for your final journey to the Ulu Langat cemetery.

Just before they placed your body in the van, Amir had sought for everyone's forgiveness on your behalf and had thanked everyone for their kind presence.

Once again, Tini and I had accompanied your body in the hearse. Amir had gone with Khairul.  And I sat next to your body, I had shed more tears. The tears had streamed down my face freely. And those tears, coupled with the rainy weather outside had made the journey even more poignant.  Even the weather had wept your passing away. It was raining cats and dogs throughout the journey.

For what was supposed to be a not so long journey, it took ages for us to reach the cemetery in Ulu Langat.  By the time the hearse arrived in Ulu Langat, it was maghrib and time for us to buka puasa. And due to the weather factor, it was an uphill task to dig the grave, so the burial had to be delayed till the grave digger was successful. So the family had decided to perform the Isyak prayers as well as the Tarawahih prayers before your body was taken to the cemetery.

It was multiple bonus for you mak.  Not only had you died in Ramadan and on a Friday, the congregation were able to perform a second prayer for you at the surau in Ulu Langat, besides the first one done at the surau in Bangi. Syukur Alhamdullilah.

By the time they had performed the prayers, you were finally laid to rest around midnight.

Mak, I will miss you. Today, you breathed your last breath.  Today, you left all of us to be back with Allah, the Creator. Today, we had to bid goodbye to you.  Today, God had taken back what he had loaned to us. Today, you ceased to be with all your loved ones.

A little poem just for you mak:
Mak, can you hear my cry for you
Can you feel the need I hold, the desperate need to talk to you.
I know you had to go, for it must have been better for you there than here.
I just don’t know how to live without you here.
My life is not the life it was when you were in it.
I can’t get it to be the same. I need you and miss you so.
I don’t know what to do or which way to go.
Is there any thing I can do so I could just talk to you,
To see that you’re all right, I know the place you’ve gone is good
for only good can go.
I’m so afraid that I have not been as good to go and I may not be given the day I look forward to, to just be with you again.
Mak, I miss you and will always love you!