Thursday, January 06, 2005

Why do I keep on breathing?

Alisya Naufal


If I am being asked to give a reason why I am breathing....my answer would be to be with the two children me & my lovely wife have...Alisya Irdina & Naufal Irsyad.

Thursday, June 10, 2004

A Mother and her "tempe"

This story was sent to me by my lovely wife, been keeping it in my mail for a few years, today I decided to share it here although it is in Bahasa Indonesia. (Being a Malaysian myself, I believe some Malaysians may find it diffult to understand! Sorry!)

Selamat membaca dan merenungkan...

Ada seorang hamba Tuhan (yang berasal dari Surabaya), yang menceritakan kejadian seorang ibu penjual tempe. Peristiwanya terjadi di sebuah desa di Jawa Tengah Seorang ibu setengah baya tersebut sehari-harinya adalah penjual tempe di desanya. Tempe yang dijualnya merupakan tempe yang dibuatnya sendiri.

Pada suatu hari, seperti biasanya, pada saat ia akan pergi ke pasar untuk menjual tempenya, ternyata pagi itu, tempe yang terbuat dari kacang kedele itu masih belum jadi tempe alias masih setengah jadi.

Ibu ini sangat sedih hatinya. Sebab jika tempe tersebut tidak jadi berarti ia tidak akan mendapatkan uang karena tempe yang belum jadi tentunya tidak laku dijual. Padahal mata pencaharian si ibu hanyalah dari menjual tempe saja agar ia dapat memenuhi kebutuhan hidupnya sehari-hari.

Dalam suasana hatinya yang sedih, si ibu yang memang aktif beribadah teringat akan firman Tuhan yang menyatakan bahwa Tuhan dapat melakukan perkara-perkara ajaib, bahwa bagi Tuhan tiada yang mustahil. Lalu iapun mengangkat kedua tangannya berdoa diantara beberapa batangan kedele yang masih dibungkus dengan daun pisang tersebut. Tuhan, aku mohon kepadaMu agar kedele ini menjadi tempe, Amin.

Demikian doa singkat si Ibu yang dipanjatkannya dengan sepenuh hatinya.Ia yakin dan percaya pasti Tuhan menjawab doanya. Lalu, dengan tenang ia menekan-nekan dengan ujung jarinya bungkusan bakal tempe tersebut.

Dengan hati yang deg-deg-an ia mulai membuka sedikit bungkusannya untuk melihat mujijat kedele jadi tempe terjadi. Lalu apa yang terjadi Dengan kaget dia mendapati bahwa kedele tersebut masih tetap kedele.

Si Ibu tidak kecewa. Ia berpikir bahwa mungkin doanya kurang jelas didengar Tuhan. Lalu kembali ia mengangkat kedua tangannya berdoa diantara beberapa batangan kedele tersebut. "Tuhan, aku tahu bahwa bagiMu tiada yang mustahil.Tolonglah aku supaya hari ini aku bisa berdagang tempe karena itulah mata pencaharianku Aku mohon Tuhan jadilah ini menjadi tempe, Amin".

Dengan berharap iapun kembali membuka sedikit bungkusan tersebut. Lalu apa yang terjadi? Dengan kaget ia melihat bahwa kacang kedele tersebut??????..masih tetap begitu !

Sementara hari semakin siang dimana pasar tentunya akan semakin ramai.Si ibu dengan tidak merasa kecewa atas doanya yang belum terkabul, merasa bahwa bagaimanapun sebagai langkah iman ia akan tetap pergi ke pasar membawa keranjang berisi barang dagangannya itu. Ia berpikir mungkin mujijat Tuhan akan terjadi di tengah perjalanan ia pergi ke pasar. Lalu iapun bersiap-siap untuk berangkat ke pasar.

Semua keperluannya untuk berjualan tempe seperti biasanya sudah disiapkannya. Sebelum beranjak dari rumahnya, ia sempatkan untuk mengangkat kedua tangannya untuk berdoa. "Tuhan, aku percaya, Engkau akan mengabulkan doaku. Sementara aku berjalan menuju pasar, Engkau akan mengadakan Mujijat buatku, Amin". Lalu ia pun berangkat. Di sepanjang perjalanan ia tidak lupa baca doa dalam hati. Tidak lama kemudian sampailah ia di pasar. Dan seperti biasanya ia mengambil tempat untuk menggelar barang dagangannya. Ia yakin bahwa tempenya sekarang pasti sudah jadi. Lalu iapun membuka keranjangnya dan pelan-pelan menekan-nekan dengan jarinya bungkusan tiap bungkusan yang ada.

Perlahan ia membuka sedikit daun pembungkusnya dan melihat isinya. Apa yang terjadi? Ternyata saudara - saudara ???????? tempenya benar-benar???????????????..??. belum jadi! Si Ibu menelan ludahnya. Ia tarik napas dalam-dalam. Ia mulai kecewa pada Tuhan karena doanya tidak dikabulkan. Ia merasa Tuhan tidak adil. Tuhan tidak kasihan kepadanya. Ia hidup hanya mengandalkan hasil menjual tempe saja. Selanjutnya, ia hanya duduk saja tanpa menggelar dagangannya karena ia tahu bahwa mana ada orang mau membeli tempe yang masih setengah jadi. Sementara hari semakin siang dan pasar sudah mulai sepi dengan pembeli.Ia melihat dagangan teman-temannya sesama penjual tempe yang
Tempenya sudah hampir habis. Rata-rata tinggal sedikit lagi tersisa. Si ibu tertunduk lesuh. Ia seperti tidak sanggup menghadapi kenyataan hidupnya hari itu. Ia hanya bisa termenung dengan rasa kecewa yang dalam.

Yang ia tahu bahwa hari itu ia tidak akan mengantongi uang sepeserpun.Tiba-tiba ia dikejutkan dengan sapaan seorang wanita. "Bu...?..! Maaf ya..., saya mau tanya. Apakah ibu menjual tempe yang belum jadi ???". Soalnya dari tadi saya sudah keliling pasar mencarinya. Seketika si ibu tadi terperangah. Ia kaget. Sebelum ia menjawab sapaan wanita di depannya itu,dalam hati cepat-cepat ia berdoa "Tuhan?.saat ini aku tidak butuh tempe lagi. Aku tidak butuh lagi. Biarlah daganganku ini tetap seperti semula, Amin". Tapi kemudian, ia tidak berani menjawab wanita itu. Ia berpikir jangan-jangan selagi ia duduk-duduk termenung tadi, tempenya sudah jadi. Jadi ia sendiri saat itu dalam posisi ragu-ragu untuk menjawab ya kepada wanita itu. "Bagaimana nih ?" ia pikir. "Kalau aku katakan iya,jangan-jangan tempenya sudah jadi. Siapa tahu tadi sudah terjadi mujijat Tuhan?" Ia kembali berdoa dalam hatinya, "Ya, Tuhan,biarlah tempeku ini tidak usah jadi tempe lagi. Sudah ada orang yang kelihatannya mau beli. Tuhan tolonglah aku kali ini. Tuhan dengarkanlah doaku ini.." ujarnya berkali-kali.

Lalu, sebelum ia menjawab wanita itu, ia pun membuka sedikit daun
penutupnya. Lalu??apa yang dilihatnya Saudara-Saudara....???..? Ternyata....memang benar tempenya belum jadi Ia bersorak senang dalam hatinya."Alhamdulillah", katanya. Singkat cerita wanita tersebut memborong semua dagangan si ibu itu.Sebelum wanita itu pergi, ia penasaran kenapa ada orang yang mau beli tempe yang belum jadi. Ia bertanya kepada si wanita. Dan wanita itu mengatakan bahwa anaknya di Yogya mau tempe yang berasal dari desa itu. Berhubung tempenya akan dikirim ke Yogya jadi ia harus membeli tempe yang belum jadi,supaya agar setibanya disana, tempenya sudah jadi. Kalau tempe yang sudah jadi yang dikirim maka setibanya disana nanti tempe tersebut sudah tidak
bagus lagi dan rasanya sudah tidak enak lagi.

Apa yang dapat kita simpulkan dari kejadian ini ?
Pertama : Kita sering memaksakan kehendak kita kepada Tuhan pada waktu
kita berdoa padahal sebenarnya Tuhan lebih mengetahui apa yang kita
perlukan.
Kedua : Tuhan menolong kita dengan caraNya yang sama sekali di Luar
perkiraan kita sebelumnya.
Ketiga : Tiada yang mustahil bagi Tuhan
Keempat : Percayalah bahwa Tuhan akan menjawab doa kita sesuai dengan
rancanganNya.

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.....HE works in mysterious ways!


"And not equal are the blind and those who see, nor are equal those who
believe, and do righteous good deeds, and those who do evil. Little do
you remember!" Quran(24:58)

Tuesday, November 04, 2003

HE Works In Mysterious Ways

HE works in mysterious ways

Saturday 12th. October 2003 was the Family Day for my wife's company. So, we attended the event, held at a waterpark.

The highlight was on the lucky draw: lots of interesting (and not so interesting!) prizes to be won and as the title goes it is those who are lucky who will get the best ones..

I was hoping for the 29" TV or the HP iPAQ 5550...but then I quietly prayed, let us win something that is useful for the babies...whatever it may be.....and we got a food processor, Al-Hamdulillah!

Those who are techies (or wannabees who at least think they are!) would surely want the iPAQ but in the end, a humble crippled staff got it to everyone's surprise cuz all was like shocked to hear the guy's name being called and it took a few seconds before an applause was given.

I cannot help myself from thinking how fair the ALMIGHTY is to us.

Although the guy may not be a techie, he can sell the iPAQ to those who wants at certain price and he will have some extra cash for his family.

Although we did not get the 29" TV, the food processor will be very useful for our babies.

Whether the guy who won the iPAQ will use it or sell it off, he's entitled to get the best of what he can from the unit. If he decided to sell it, the money can be used for other purposes. If he decided to use it, he'll learn new things everyday.

I asked my wife to give him whatever software that we have for the iPAQ if he decided to keep it and I ask my wife to also tell the guy that if he decided to sell it off, it should be Rm2,000 minimum. I could not bear the feeling that he will be cheated off the iPAQ.

I realized, its not about lamenting what you could not have, but about making full use of what you have in hand and it makes me wonder, why are we always seems to not having enough of anything.

Tuesday, September 30, 2003

The Boy Who Kept Quiet

The Boy Who Kept Quiet

This happened very recently....And I broke into tears on that day...

It was a Saturday, me, Hajar & Baby Alisya went for lunch at the R&R Bukit Dukung. While we were about to enjoy our meal, I smell cigarette smoke. There was an old couple sitting next to us and the husband was smoking after his meal, puffing the smoke anywhere he liked. There was no possibilities that this couple did not realize that a baby was sleeping nearby and the smoke is not good not only for the baby but the person who was enjoying it like hell.

But no...the old bastard kept on smoking, thus we decided to move further from the ignorant old couple and managed to enjoy our meal peacefully.

While eating there came a boy, about 3-4 years of age. He stood next to Alisya's jogger and smiled at her. He seems to be very fascinated with the jogger and the mobile fan clipped to it. Throughout our meal, the boy stood there, smiling at Alisya, sometimes pointing at our baby, perhaps he's communicating something with her in his own ways.

After we have finished our meal, I went to make the payment at the counter and Hajar & baby Alisya went to buy some rambutans for our friends who'll be coming to visit us. The boy followed Alisya's jogger.

When we were about to leave, I did my duty as usual - folding the jogger and placing it inside the car. The boy observed every move I made. I got into the car, he stood next to Hajar' seat. I gave Hajar a small amount of money to give it to the boy. He took the money and off we go....towards the end of the R&R area to make a u-turn, moving toward the opposite direction.

The boy was standing on the side of the road, waving at us as we passed by....

Upon our exit, I started to feel I sad and guilty...I broke down in tears and told Hajar that I am really touched by the boy's presence. If we did not adopt Alisya & Naufal, perhaps they will be like that boy....I was really touched. I wept and cried for I wish I'd never have to depart with my two lovely bundle of joy....I just could not bear the thought that Alisya & Naufal taking the place of the boy.

If I am wealthy, I would be glad to support that boy to grow. I tried to think what's in his mind while he looked at baby Alisya and us....perhaps he wished that he could be like Alisya, happy with mum & dad who loves her with all of their hearts....perhaps...

Allah Almighty, You are so kind to let me be what I am, I will always be your servant and I will take care of Alisya & Naufal for as long as I am still breathing.....I love them more than everything else in my live and if I happen to earn more than we could use, it shall go to those who are in need...for I do not extremely wish for the wealth & comforts of life when there are others who badly wish they could have something that we take for granted.....









Friday, September 26, 2003

The Family At R&R Seremban Southbound

THE FAMILY AT R&R SEREMBAN SOUTHBOUND

This happened a few years back before I went for Hajj.

I was on the way back to Segamat with my wife Siti Hajar. We stopped at the R&R of Seremban (Southbound) for supper.

While waiting for our foods, I noticed a family – a mother father and a daughter (8-9 years of age perhaps) – was having a decent helping of food.

The family is obviously poor, judging by their clothing. The meal they were having are being paid by somebody else, somehow I overheard.

The thing that captured my attention was how happy they were. Although the hardship of living a decent life was pretty clear on the face of the father, he kept smiling and talking softly & sweetly to the daughter.

The father even declined to have other food, because he was just enjoying a loaf of bread with his mug of hot milo.

I learnt something quickly form them…..

Being happy is the main thing that you should do with your family, no matter what is happening around you.

A poor father, sacrificing his needs of having delicious food and opted for a loaf of bread as long as the family members are having better food than him. Really back to the basic, which is something that we often neglected, or take for granted.

And what have we been up to?

Complaining about some not so delicious food at a 5-Star hotel function, paid by the company, whereby some people have to work really hard to have a simple breakfast for the whole family.

Well, some of us tend to have the mind set that it is enough for us to give away some amount of our income for the needy, we have done enough for them.

Perhaps it is not fair to stereo-type these kind of people as heartless….well at least they do contribute some of their income to the needy….at least….

Till when do we want to dwell in the “at least” territory?!!!

Thursday, October 03, 2002

There's Always The First Time

THERE'S ALWAYS THE FIRST TIME

This is my first post in blogger, got his idea from AbeDib yesterday (Oct 3rd 2002).

I have not posted anything here....here's my first....

13th March 2003
I was crossing the street to office this morning and I saw a street sweeper, faithfully doing his job....
Something struck my mind....an article sent by Suhaimy - about doing well in anything you do and appreciate others in doing what they do.

Apparently, sincere appreciation is a myth nowadays at the workplace, cuz perhaps you are expected to do that and you already have your pay, so no sincere "thank you" is not important huh?

Well...the least I could do to the sweeper was smile at him.....and I did just that....something I do not know everybody in the world would do....

....did you smile to a "lesser person" this morning?