Tuesday 21 September 2010

A very special Eid

1. Customary it is in my big family in Bentong, Pahang that on the 1st day of Shawwal, after the Eid prayers, that everyone will gather at the main living room in the house. It is the time where Eid wishes are extended and everyone warmly embracing each other, seeking for forgiveness from any wrongdoings that one may have committed against another. For the young ones, it is also a time each of them would look forward most as they receive their 'duit raya'.

2. It had been 6 years since I was last involved in such a session, thus I definitely found the occasion this time around slightly more profound than usual. But the one very emotional moment that will forever remain ingrained in my memories was definitely the time when I shook my mom's hand and we hugged each other.

3. To me personally, the hug felt like a hug of sheer relief and gratitude. And I think my mom probably shared the same thoughts too. We just remained silent in our embrace, taking all our emotions in, letting the tears run down our eyes, sobbing heavily. It was sheer relief that after everything that has happened in the last 2 years with me being tested with the big C, I am finally reunited with my mom and dearest family for an Eid celebration. It was also a hug of gratitude, that despite the circumstance of my disease, Allah has allowed me to cherish yet another Eid with the ones I love most.





4. Celebrating Eid this year was like tasting a very sweet victory, having battled my way through the month of Ramadhan beforehand. Fasting during the recent Ramadhan was quite a battle for me, given my health. Although some suggested that I don't push it if fasting was affecting my health, I just couldn't tell myself to concede to defeat. What more having missed more than half of my Ramadhan last year as a result of chemotherapy treatments. That certainly spurred me a lot, and alhamdulillah, I succeeded in my so-called battle. Thus the celebration of shukr when Eid eventually came.

5. Insha Allah in the coming entries, I plan to share my personal experience of fasting despite my health circumstance, which I found was almost like a 'jihad' in its whole experience. I would also like to apologize for not posting any entries for quite a long while, which was down to commitments during Ramadhan as well as health circumstance. Nevertheless, I thank those who kindly dropped by with a message or email to check on my well-being, may Allah reward you for the actions. I seek everyone's support and du'a, may Allah provide us with the strength and istiqamah to remain as obedient servants of Rabbul Jalil.

6. May the momentum we have built during the blessed month of Ramadhan will be carried on not only in this Shawwal but also the upcoming months. May Allah accept our deeds and grant us His forgiveness, for only Him can save us from the torments of Hellfire, naudzubillah. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone Eid Mubarak and Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.



Happy Eid everyone!


p/s: Pictures courtesy of my dearest brother, Mas Jaffri Masarudin.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

akhirnya ada entry baru~ rindu pada penulisanmu

MSI said...

Eid Mubarak boss besar =)
Sory lama x mai sana....

miya said...

alhamdulillah. akhirnyaa. dah lama menanti.

Mieza Everdeen said...

alhamdulillah, i've been waiting so long for your post. congratulations for the ramadhan fasting, proud to hear that you're strong enough. keep it up, we all are always praying for you, insyaAllah.

Mudd said...

salam and salam aidilfitri,am your silent reader and looking forward to read your next entry on your 'jihad'

Anonymous said...

Salam,

Dalam gambar, yang mana satu Mas?

Ya puasa dalam sakit seakan suatu jihad, bila terduga saya mengigati bagaimana pahlawan Islam berperang Badar dan Tabuk di bulan Ramadan dan menang.

Akhirnya kepayahan tersebut menjadi kemanisan dan diteruskan di bulan Syawal yang mulia ini.

Kak Dr. Has.

aRoL said...

boleh saya tau nama kampung Mas di Bentong?. Saya juga ada saudara mara di Bentong..

Mas Afzal Masarudin said...

Kak Dr Has, kalau rujuk gambar pertama tu, saya yang ditengah antara 3 jejaka tu. Nampak paling tua sekali, padahal saya lah paling muda antara kami bertiga tu. =)

Arol, nama kampung saya Kg.Baru, Bentong. Rumah betul-betul depan JKR. Tahu ke?

yatibahar said...

Glad to hear from you Afzal. Guess what, I did check your previous entry to see if there is any commment from your mum about you. Alhamdulillah, we have survived another Ramadhan, semuga amalan kita disepanjang Ramadhan diterima Allah...

Regards,
K Yati

Mudd said...

Salam, bila ckp pasal bentong, just to inform you that D.O bentong tu my uncle... rgds.

Anonymous said...

Assalamualaikum,

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of u who have loyally stuck with Afzal's blog,A Very Blessed Hari Raya Aidlilfitri.
This is the best Eid ever because all my 5 children are around and especially so because Afzal finally gets to celebrate it in Malaysia.

I've enjoyed Ramadhan with Afzal. He didn't falter throughout the fasting month...never complaining of anything...enduring all just like u n me. I'm so proud of my baby Afzal.....Mama

p/s: Welcome to our humble abode n we can celebrate the remaining Eid with Afzal.

aRoL said...

Kg Baru, saya ingat, dlu saya pernah kerja dekat Bentong Height hampir 3 tahun. Saya lahir pun di Janda Baik sebenarnya tapi membesar di Trengganu. Harap Mas terus kuat untuk menempuh perjalanan yang sementara ini dan terus berkongsi cerita.

arsaili said...

salam bro...selalu check for ur update, alhamdulilah happy to hear that you enjoy ur eid with ur family...may ALLAH bless you

Anonymous said...

Salam Afzal
Akhirnya jengoi juga. Selamat Hari Raya buat Afzal
Makcik Bida

Anonymous said...

Salam ziarah,

Sesungguhnya ALLAH, hanya pada sisiNYA sahajalah pengetahuan tentang hari Kiamat; dan Dialah yang menurunkan hujan dan mengetahui apa yang ada di dalam rahim. Dan tiada siapa pun yang dapat mengetahui (dengan pasti) apa yang akan diusahakannya esok. Dan tiada siapapun yang dapat mengetahui di bumi mana dia akan mati. Sesungguhnya ALLAH Maha Mengetahui lagi Maha Mengenal.

Anonymous said...

Terjemahan daripada
Surah Luqman ayat 34

Anonymous said...

Assalamualaikum,

Happy Birthday Afzal! May Allah watch over you and shower you with blessings. This is the first year after 6 years that your family gets to greet you Happy Birthday in person...Love you always - Mama

nurul afifah said...

Ya Allah..mas memang orang bentong ke?..sama la kita.. :) terkejut sekejap dengan kebetulan ni..

Anonymous said...

I am deeply moved by your openness and showing us your love for Asfar and Allah
Bernhard FeriƩ from Germany