40th DAY PRAYERS/TAHLIL FOR GREAT GRANDMOTHER AND ALLAHYARHAM(AH) RELATIVES

Me & Cousins.. and a young uncle, Zamir Daud

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un(إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ); We belong to ALLAH swt and to him we shall return.

Recent years have taken some of our senior relatives with the most recent being my great grandmother aka Moyang. Before her, was my father's only sister Hajjah Bidah Abdul Razak whom left us in August 2011 at the aged of 84. 40 days ago we lost my great grandmother at the age of 107 years old and on the 40th day, her only son and living child, Lt Gen (R) Dato Seri Daud Abu Bakar or better known as Tok Su by my generation, organised a tahlil and prayer in conjunction with the 40th Day of her passing. Tok Su whom is now 78 years old is still strong and is able to move around without a third leg (err.. Tongkat) or any assistant. His wife, also known as Tok Su is as hyper as always... but Tok Su said, he do not think he can live as long as his mother exceeding 100 years of age.

That statement was hard for me to swallow. Losing someone close can never be easy although Islam forbids intemperate grieve for the dead and instead should and must always enjoined to say: In-naa lil-laa-hi wa in-naa I-lay-hi raa ji-`oon(We are Allah's and to Him we shall return). These words are a source of unlimited solace and comfort in bereavement. Hence it is forbidden that one should indulge in regular mourning or ostentatious grief... but I think I would just breakdown beyond words and control. I can never be prepared for the lost of any of our family members. Our family and relatives were brought up being very close and even though we are bogged down with our individual errands and career, especially with relatives whom we rarely met but we picked up where we left almost instantly the moment we meet. Such were the strong bond we all have.

Great grandmom has been ill most of her recent living years. While at the hospital, I once blogged about her at HERE. She had frequented hospitals and admitted for various reasons. Her memory, vision and hearing too had aged and impaired. She can hardly remember me during my last visit. Just 2-3 years ago, she would even remember Aaraf! My family had organised the Tahlil and prayer at our mosque in Sungai Penchala on the 7th day of her funeral. It is scary to think and at the thought of who would go out of their way to attend a prayer when we are dead.

The Imam at the mosque reminded us that one day, our names too will be listed in other family members, relatives and friends prayer.. and if we are generous with our prayers and doa during our living years, we will most likely be in other's prayer too.

While waiting for the prayer to start, we chat a little.. Also at the prayer was my dad's brother, my uncle Datuk Nordin Razak, more fondly known as Ayah Chik who is now 70 years old. My dad and mom are both in Langkawi.