In My Mind

Al-Fatihah

My Father 

At 9:35am on May 05, 2005 I received a phone call from my brother informing me my father had difficulties breathing. I was in a meeting at the time. I had two scheduled meetings on the day and I was planning to go back to my hometown to visit my sick father on Saturday May 07, 2005.

At 4:00pm the same day, I received another call, informing me that my father has passed away. He passed away at 3:30pm on 05/05/05. At that time I was attending a technical talk at my office and I immediately left the office for home. The impact of the passing of my father only hit me about half-an-hour after receiving the news. During my journey home, I could not contain my emotion that I cried alone in my car along the way from my office to my house. My sadness was compounded when I received another call informing me that his relative planned to bury him after Isya' prayer on the same day. My siblings and I definitely could not make it in time for the burial service. I always have this idea that, we, the five sons (I am his third son) will together carry our father's remains to the grave. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be.

During my juorney home, I encountered many unexpected event (which I considered as God's test) where my car broke down along the way and had to stay overnight in Gua Musang.

My father was 84 year-old when he passed away and he has been sick for the last 3 weeks. I got to visit him when he was sick and I was planning to visit him every week thereafter. It was not meant to be. At least I knew God loved him and not make him suffer for long. I pray to God so that he will be placed among the good Muslims in Heaven. Amen.

posted by InMine @ 12:25 PM