'Selamat Hari Raya' from Space
13th September 07 – 1st Shawwal 1428, the 50th Raya after Merdeka. Truly 'Tis Raya is different from other Raya for most of us, Malaysian.
The months of Ramadhan & Shawwal significant to all Malaysian Muslims as well as our Muslim Brothers world over. Ramadhan: a month of soul searching and ‘guts testing’ for the less religious, and a very holy month for the devout Muslims. So the sighting of the first lunar of Shawwal signifies a month of rejoice and renewal of Muslim Brotherhood. Hence the yearly exodus of “Balik Kampung” by most Malaysian to to celebrate the auspicious occasion with their parents and family members. Together they offer prayers and submission to the Almighty Allah.
So like their Muslim brothers world over the beginning of Shawwal starts with a mass Prayer at Mosques and Suraus. “Allahu Akbar…Allahu Akbar..Wallillahilham….”
The celebration of triumph and joy, also signifies as one's personal accomplishment, a ‘tower of strength, soul searching to the Right Path, fulfilling the Five Pillars of Islam.
And an accolade for all Malaysia and the Muslim World over - the achievement of Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor our very own astronaut orbiting in space right at this very moment. Last night he boarded the International Space Station, signaling Malaysia’s membership in the space community. As was reported Soyuz TMA-11 carrying Dr Muszaphar and 2 others (an American Peggy Whitson and a Russian Malechencko) docked on schedule with ISS at 6.52pm Moscow Time (10.52pm Malaysian Time). The spacecraft Soyuz TMA11 was launched from the Balkonurcosmodium in Kazakhstan on Wednesday 28th Ramadhan at 9.21pm commandeered by an American astronaut Peggy Whitson. “Selamat Hari Raya to all Malaysian on this historic occasion,’ greeted Dr Sheikh Muszaphar from space. He also greeted his proud parents. He is schedule to return to earth on October 21st. “A Standing Ovation’ to those responsible make it happens. World count he is the 8th Muslim astronaut travelling in space. The “Malaysia Boleh” spirit has taken us this far. A quantum leap for a nation with a mere 25 millions populations. I am proud it happen during my life time.
A Nostalgic Feelings:
Come Eid Fitri, I find it difficult to dismiss my nostalgic feeling on how we fare during those hard times. Till tis very day, some of my past years Raya feelings still vivid on my mind. Some 50 years ago in 1957 for example, my Raya was a bleak occasion at my rustic Kampong Tanjung Bayan with my family and kampong folks. We were hardcore poor then. I was 16 years old sitting for my Lower School Certificate Examination. My father’s illness has degraded from bad to worse. We don’t really know what he was suffering from, because he never had a proper medical examination. What we know of was that he was suffering from a terminal illness. His frequent coughs, vomit lots of blood. Some said he was suffering from Tuberculoses while others agreed that he was suffering from Cancer. However, the local Bomoh had a different opinion. He firmly believed that my father’s illness was the work of Witchcraft by a very close relative.
We grief in pain on our family misfortune. My father was the sole breadwinner. With his regular confinment on his sickbed, life was depressing for most of us. Earlier that year, it was decided that I drop from school as my family has no means to support me. (Those days we need to pay monthly School Fees to be in English School). My family has runout of 'means' to fund me. Later (after his short meeting with the Headmaster) my father changed his mind and fledged to support me through school. He was adamant. At time he would force himself fishing in Sungai Bernam for an extra Ringgit to support my schooling. Most of the time me or my mother accompanied him.
Come Raya, as most of his children were grown up, we dismiss the notion of having new dress like any other kids for the auspicious celebration. Discreetly I engaged myself on some odd labour job, moving loads of sand into barges at Hutan Melintang dockyard or cutting grass at Jandarata Estate. My father was devastated and scolded me for my effort. I was baffled by my father sudden outburst. I told him that I merely wanted to help. He did not talk to me for some days after that. Only later I came to know that someone visiting him on his sickbed, told him in jest that “his son an English School dropout now working as odd labourer moving loads of sand into barges at Hutan Melintang dockyard, an employment that need no proper Education.”
He died ( 2 years later ) a few months after my Cambridge School Certificate Examination result in 1960. Our family Raya after that was never the same, as we were brought up by a single parent – our mother.
13th September 07 – 1st Shawwal 1428, the 50th Raya after Merdeka. Truly 'Tis Raya is different from other Raya for most of us, Malaysian.
The months of Ramadhan & Shawwal significant to all Malaysian Muslims as well as our Muslim Brothers world over. Ramadhan: a month of soul searching and ‘guts testing’ for the less religious, and a very holy month for the devout Muslims. So the sighting of the first lunar of Shawwal signifies a month of rejoice and renewal of Muslim Brotherhood. Hence the yearly exodus of “Balik Kampung” by most Malaysian to to celebrate the auspicious occasion with their parents and family members. Together they offer prayers and submission to the Almighty Allah.
So like their Muslim brothers world over the beginning of Shawwal starts with a mass Prayer at Mosques and Suraus. “Allahu Akbar…Allahu Akbar..Wallillahilham….”
The celebration of triumph and joy, also signifies as one's personal accomplishment, a ‘tower of strength, soul searching to the Right Path, fulfilling the Five Pillars of Islam.
And an accolade for all Malaysia and the Muslim World over - the achievement of Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor our very own astronaut orbiting in space right at this very moment. Last night he boarded the International Space Station, signaling Malaysia’s membership in the space community. As was reported Soyuz TMA-11 carrying Dr Muszaphar and 2 others (an American Peggy Whitson and a Russian Malechencko) docked on schedule with ISS at 6.52pm Moscow Time (10.52pm Malaysian Time). The spacecraft Soyuz TMA11 was launched from the Balkonurcosmodium in Kazakhstan on Wednesday 28th Ramadhan at 9.21pm commandeered by an American astronaut Peggy Whitson. “Selamat Hari Raya to all Malaysian on this historic occasion,’ greeted Dr Sheikh Muszaphar from space. He also greeted his proud parents. He is schedule to return to earth on October 21st. “A Standing Ovation’ to those responsible make it happens. World count he is the 8th Muslim astronaut travelling in space. The “Malaysia Boleh” spirit has taken us this far. A quantum leap for a nation with a mere 25 millions populations. I am proud it happen during my life time.
A Nostalgic Feelings:
Come Eid Fitri, I find it difficult to dismiss my nostalgic feeling on how we fare during those hard times. Till tis very day, some of my past years Raya feelings still vivid on my mind. Some 50 years ago in 1957 for example, my Raya was a bleak occasion at my rustic Kampong Tanjung Bayan with my family and kampong folks. We were hardcore poor then. I was 16 years old sitting for my Lower School Certificate Examination. My father’s illness has degraded from bad to worse. We don’t really know what he was suffering from, because he never had a proper medical examination. What we know of was that he was suffering from a terminal illness. His frequent coughs, vomit lots of blood. Some said he was suffering from Tuberculoses while others agreed that he was suffering from Cancer. However, the local Bomoh had a different opinion. He firmly believed that my father’s illness was the work of Witchcraft by a very close relative.
We grief in pain on our family misfortune. My father was the sole breadwinner. With his regular confinment on his sickbed, life was depressing for most of us. Earlier that year, it was decided that I drop from school as my family has no means to support me. (Those days we need to pay monthly School Fees to be in English School). My family has runout of 'means' to fund me. Later (after his short meeting with the Headmaster) my father changed his mind and fledged to support me through school. He was adamant. At time he would force himself fishing in Sungai Bernam for an extra Ringgit to support my schooling. Most of the time me or my mother accompanied him.
Come Raya, as most of his children were grown up, we dismiss the notion of having new dress like any other kids for the auspicious celebration. Discreetly I engaged myself on some odd labour job, moving loads of sand into barges at Hutan Melintang dockyard or cutting grass at Jandarata Estate. My father was devastated and scolded me for my effort. I was baffled by my father sudden outburst. I told him that I merely wanted to help. He did not talk to me for some days after that. Only later I came to know that someone visiting him on his sickbed, told him in jest that “his son an English School dropout now working as odd labourer moving loads of sand into barges at Hutan Melintang dockyard, an employment that need no proper Education.”
He died ( 2 years later ) a few months after my Cambridge School Certificate Examination result in 1960. Our family Raya after that was never the same, as we were brought up by a single parent – our mother.
And A True Sense Of FullfilmentCome ‘tis Raya Alhamdullillah I am blessed with a healthy family. The first day of Raya was celebrated in Kelana Jaya with my siblings, friends and neighbours. A big turnout. Lots of food on the table. And “Duit Raya" for all children accompanying their parents, also for some single parents and ‘warga emas.’ My sister from Batang Kali and her sibling plus almost a dozen grand children was the last visitor on the first day Raya.
I was lost for words. The Almighty Allah has blessed our family. Alhamdullillah.
How long time has passed since our family struggles to make ends meet. How we missed our long departed parents. I longed wished we are together again as a big family spending the months of Ramadhan & the beginning of Shawwal at our family home in Tanjung Bayan. A worthy efford.......only if, it could be done!!!
Finally I persuaded them to joint me for The Kenduri Aruah & Korban at our Kampung Tanjung Bayan this coming Eidil Adha. Hopefully they would honoured my invitation.
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1 comment:
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri & Maaf Zahir Batin Babah-From Wati dari London!
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