Assalaamu'alaikum wbt.
My dear Khaulah Faarisah,
Alhamdulillah, you are two years old now. It felt as if it was just last night that I accompanied your mom in the labour room, holding tight her hand as she was giving birth to you. It felt as if it was just last night that I embraced you in my slightly trembling arms as I walked you outside of the ward, with my frail feet, to meet your grandparents, achiks, the uncles and your Kaka Eli. I can still recall how my shoulder suddenly felt heavy as my veins overflowed with surge of responsibilities.
You know, sometimes I do miss the earlier days that I spent with you, Khaulah. Those moments when I was able to do everything so that your mom can recover well and fast. During those moments, I felt very helpful and accomplished. Those memories were precious to me - the sleepless nights, those moment we spent on deciding your name and doing researches on you (or rather what to do with you), the works needed every time you need your diapers changed, the constant dimness of the room, and so much more. Keeping an eye on you and watching you grow have always been our pleasure.
We are very happy, and especially grateful, that Allah made you as our first child. You have always been the quiet and soft-spoken one, though sometimes very playful and bubbly. You are also well mannered, kind, and tend to cheer everyone with your lightheartedness. Of course there were days that you felt down and grumpy too, and to those we tried as much to understand. We're really sorry if sometimes we don't. I don't know if you can still remember this (by the time you read this letter), but there are also days that you cried because we didn't give you what you want or didn't let things go your way, I'm sure you already understood why.
Seeing you solat with your mom, and how you improved your hafazan, your cheerfullness when reciting du'as or your voluntary zikr, delighted and pleased me the most. That is because among all the things that we want to teach you, knowing Allah and His Messenger, loving Islam and the Ummah, and being kind tops it all. Afterall, you're the one that we can rely on after we're gone. We hope that your closeness to our Creator may help ease our journey returning to Him.
Oookiiee dookiee, thats all what I want to say on your birthday, Khaulah. Oh by the way today is your last day on your current daycare, tomorrow you're going to a new one nearer to our home. May Allah make this decission the best for us all.
Loving you each and every day,
Dad.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Saturday, January 21, 2017
#4. and my 29th
Salaam!
Dear Khaulah,
Last Thursday I received a text from a friend, greeting my birthday in Hijrah. I laughed haha.. Even me myself never knew my birthday in Hijrah calendar! Actually I never bothered to check it, my birthday for me is just another day. But still... I'm already 29 years old eh?
When I was younger, I used to play computer games, Football Manager. In that game, and in fact in real life too, a professional player will be at the peak of their careers when their age is around 28 to 31 years old. That's why professional players usually hang their boots in their early 30's. Sorry if you still can't understand this by the time you first read this letter, but my point is as long as energy and motivation matters, the peak of them should be around this time. Even as a manager, people don't tend to buy players at this age, rather trying to sell them. So that's why, Khaulah, I'm a bit worried because even all this time I still cannot do my best in doing what I do, be it in pleasing Allah, leading the family, amar ma'ruf and nahi munkar and so on. Do you know? Sayyidina Umar al-Khattab was said to embrace Islam when he was 28. By that time he was already almost at his best. His strength, his courage, his influence and his contribution to Islam. I pray that Allah make us strong and steadfast on His path. O Allah, give me the fortitude to be an Umar of my time.
Oh by the way, last Thursday was also a farewell ceremony to my colleague who is retiring soon. In fact he's a friend to my dad. I guess that's the last of them. When I first came to this department more than three years ago, there was quite a number of my dad's friend working for their last few years before retirement. It was strange at first, almost funny. But it sure was pleasant :) They taught me many things, give advises sometimes, tell stories about their time with my dad and so on. And this last one happened to be the Headmaster when I first entered Primary School, which was already demolished a long time ago. Time sure flies fast, Khaulah.
I guess thats it for today :)
Love,
Dad.
P/s: You were fast asleep all the way to daycare this morning, looking forward to seeing you soon!
Dear Khaulah,
Last Thursday I received a text from a friend, greeting my birthday in Hijrah. I laughed haha.. Even me myself never knew my birthday in Hijrah calendar! Actually I never bothered to check it, my birthday for me is just another day. But still... I'm already 29 years old eh?
When I was younger, I used to play computer games, Football Manager. In that game, and in fact in real life too, a professional player will be at the peak of their careers when their age is around 28 to 31 years old. That's why professional players usually hang their boots in their early 30's. Sorry if you still can't understand this by the time you first read this letter, but my point is as long as energy and motivation matters, the peak of them should be around this time. Even as a manager, people don't tend to buy players at this age, rather trying to sell them. So that's why, Khaulah, I'm a bit worried because even all this time I still cannot do my best in doing what I do, be it in pleasing Allah, leading the family, amar ma'ruf and nahi munkar and so on. Do you know? Sayyidina Umar al-Khattab was said to embrace Islam when he was 28. By that time he was already almost at his best. His strength, his courage, his influence and his contribution to Islam. I pray that Allah make us strong and steadfast on His path. O Allah, give me the fortitude to be an Umar of my time.
Oh by the way, last Thursday was also a farewell ceremony to my colleague who is retiring soon. In fact he's a friend to my dad. I guess that's the last of them. When I first came to this department more than three years ago, there was quite a number of my dad's friend working for their last few years before retirement. It was strange at first, almost funny. But it sure was pleasant :) They taught me many things, give advises sometimes, tell stories about their time with my dad and so on. And this last one happened to be the Headmaster when I first entered Primary School, which was already demolished a long time ago. Time sure flies fast, Khaulah.
I guess thats it for today :)
Love,
Dad.
P/s: You were fast asleep all the way to daycare this morning, looking forward to seeing you soon!
Thursday, January 12, 2017
#3. Oranges
Salaam!
Dear Khaulah,
How are you, little girl? Today right now you are at the daycare that you will be leaving by the end of this month. You were very funny this morning, refused to wake up when we say you're following me to school but as soon we're decided that I'll go to work first and your mom will send you later, you suddenly stood up and said 'jom, lets go!'
I always know how you loved food so much, any food! But right now, your fondness of oranges and tangerines are far beyond that haha.. just yesterday you instantly finished an orange while on the way home after school. And the night before you alone swallowed 6-7 tangerines in one go. You could've done it slower, you know, to enjoy the savoriness more.
Oranges and tangerines are in fact one of the symbol of Chinese new year. Maybe its passed through the genes, who knows. My mom is Chinese by the way, just in case I forgot or didn't get the chance to tell you.
I guess that's all. Its just me writing a letter to you so that I can read them again later lest I forget the many milestones that you achieved throughout your life. Your young dad (right now) is ever forgetful you know HAHA
Love,
Dad.
Dear Khaulah,
How are you, little girl? Today right now you are at the daycare that you will be leaving by the end of this month. You were very funny this morning, refused to wake up when we say you're following me to school but as soon we're decided that I'll go to work first and your mom will send you later, you suddenly stood up and said 'jom, lets go!'
I always know how you loved food so much, any food! But right now, your fondness of oranges and tangerines are far beyond that haha.. just yesterday you instantly finished an orange while on the way home after school. And the night before you alone swallowed 6-7 tangerines in one go. You could've done it slower, you know, to enjoy the savoriness more.
Oranges and tangerines are in fact one of the symbol of Chinese new year. Maybe its passed through the genes, who knows. My mom is Chinese by the way, just in case I forgot or didn't get the chance to tell you.
I guess that's all. Its just me writing a letter to you so that I can read them again later lest I forget the many milestones that you achieved throughout your life. Your young dad (right now) is ever forgetful you know HAHA
Love,
Dad.
Thursday, January 5, 2017
#2. Your 2nd Birthday (Hijri)
Assalaamualaikum WBT.
Dear Khaulah,
Your birthday in Hijri was on 8 Rabiulakhir 1436, which is later today. Oh you were born (as documented by the nurse) at 7.10 pm by the way. First and foremost of course we thank Allah for lending you to us for two years and we ask for Allah's forgiveness if somewhere and somehow we were careless in fulfilling our responsibility towards you. And we want to thank you, Khaulah, for being here with us, adding more laughter to our little family and circle of friends. And of course we know that you also helped to brighten some peoples' lives that we came across along the road. Be it at the petrol stations, restaurants, while waiting for the traffic lights turn green, while walking on the malls or running around the spacious pathways and foyers of your favorite masjid. We hope that you will always be the first to give, to spread kindness, be the first to offers comfort, and grow up being a person beloved by Allah and Rasulullah.
By now, your physical growth have slowed down, not as fast as before at least. But your speech have become clearer each and every day. I had a good time talking to you. Its refreshing to hear your nonstop singing and your random countings, ABCs, Alif Ba Ta,s and quran memorisation XD And its especially funny that you use my mother language, Dusun, in some occasions too. Lets just use it when we're at kampong okay? Haha.
By the way, after what happened recently, it really felt as if Allah "got me" this time. I was always reminded before but then became complacent again and again, kept on forgetting my true purpose again and again.. So that's why this time I pray that Allah got me, got us, in every moment of my life, our lives. Lets continue on upgrading our relationship with Allah together, okay?
Love,
Dad.
Dear Khaulah,
Your birthday in Hijri was on 8 Rabiulakhir 1436, which is later today. Oh you were born (as documented by the nurse) at 7.10 pm by the way. First and foremost of course we thank Allah for lending you to us for two years and we ask for Allah's forgiveness if somewhere and somehow we were careless in fulfilling our responsibility towards you. And we want to thank you, Khaulah, for being here with us, adding more laughter to our little family and circle of friends. And of course we know that you also helped to brighten some peoples' lives that we came across along the road. Be it at the petrol stations, restaurants, while waiting for the traffic lights turn green, while walking on the malls or running around the spacious pathways and foyers of your favorite masjid. We hope that you will always be the first to give, to spread kindness, be the first to offers comfort, and grow up being a person beloved by Allah and Rasulullah.
By now, your physical growth have slowed down, not as fast as before at least. But your speech have become clearer each and every day. I had a good time talking to you. Its refreshing to hear your nonstop singing and your random countings, ABCs, Alif Ba Ta,s and quran memorisation XD And its especially funny that you use my mother language, Dusun, in some occasions too. Lets just use it when we're at kampong okay? Haha.
By the way, after what happened recently, it really felt as if Allah "got me" this time. I was always reminded before but then became complacent again and again, kept on forgetting my true purpose again and again.. So that's why this time I pray that Allah got me, got us, in every moment of my life, our lives. Lets continue on upgrading our relationship with Allah together, okay?
Love,
Dad.
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